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Nasreen Watson is the Founder of AI STRATA, an AI strategy, governance, and ethics initiative focused on responsible and equitable AI adoption. She holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy specialising in the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), a BA Honours in Philosophy (cum laude), and a BA in Human Resource Management from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Nasreen previously served as a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, where she worked within the Department of Philosophy and contributed to teaching, curriculum support, and student development. Her research and public work focus on AI ethics, governance, digital literacy, and educational equity. She is also ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certified in Artificial Intelligence Management Systems. Nasreen has presented at national and international conferences, delivered a TEDx talk titled ???From No Chair to Africa???s AI,??? and published thought leadership pieces in the Mail & Guardian on AI governance and digital ethics.

Engaged Scholar, Human Rights Advocate & Sociologist Results-driven human rights advocate, sociology expert, and organizational leader with a strong background in Higher Education and Community Development in Non-Profit Organizations. Over a decade of experience collaborating with NGOs, development partners, and academic institutions to drive social development and capacity-building initiatives. Holds a Master's Degree in International Human Rights Law, an Honours Degree in Sociology. and a Bachelors degree in law. Currently obtained a dual Ph.D. in Sociology & Organizational Science while actively involved in international teaching and local mentorship programs. Passionate about preserving cultural dignity and combating epistemic injustice. Proven track record in research, decolonization, community engagement, human rights advocacy and engaged scholarship locally & internationally.

I am a Business Information Technology graduate with a strong focus on innovation, digital solutions, and emerging technologies. I previously served as an ambassador at the University of Johannesburg Technopreneurship Centre and am now an IBM Z Student Ambassador Alumni, experiences that strengthened my leadership, collaboration, and understanding of enterprise computing. Through hackathons and project development, I have gained practical experience building solutions that address real-world challenges, including initiatives that leverage data and technology for meaningful impact. My technical skill set includes programming languages such as Python, C#, and JavaScript, with growing interests in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. I am driven by a passion for problem-solving and continuous learning. I aim to use technology to create impactful, scalable solutions while expanding my expertise and contributing to the evolving digital landscape.

Blessing Chiparausha is university librarian at Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD in information science from the University of South Africa. He has published refereed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers on the use of information and communication technologies in academic libraries, mainly focusing on the use of social media, free and open-source software, and related digital applications.

Lindsey Wallett ??? Founder, Consultant, and Operational Strategist Lindsey Wallett is the Founder and CEO of See-Contact Solutions, a consulting practice that helps organisations simplify complex operations, implement practical technology solutions, and improve customer-facing processes. With more than 13 years of experience across healthcare, customer operations, product services and digital transformation, Lindsey specialises in identifying the operational friction that quietly drains time, money and energy inside businesses. Her work focuses on turning that friction into measurable improvement through better processes, smarter technology adoption, and clearer operational strategy. Through See-Contact Solutions, Lindsey works with SMEs and technology startups to diagnose operational inefficiencies, optimise service environments such as contact centres, and guide organisations through digital transformation initiatives that are practical and commercially grounded. Her approach focuses on helping growing businesses build operational foundations that scale without unnecessary complexity or wasted cost. Lindsey???s career spans customer experience operations, product management, implementation strategy and organisational change. This cross-functional background allows her to bridge the gap that often exists between leadership teams, operational environments and technology delivery. She is also deeply passionate about leadership and the role it plays in shaping resilient organisations. Lindsey believes strong leadership is not just about strategy, but about creating environments where people can grow, challenge ideas and build systems that work better for both employees and customers. Alongside her consulting work, Lindsey is committed to developing practical frameworks, tools and conversations that help organisations and leaders navigate an increasingly technology-driven business environment.

I am a technopreneur and developer focused on creating digital solutions that improve productivity, organization, and collaboration. I build mobile and web applications with an emphasis on practical problem-solving and user-friendly design. I am also involved in a technopreneurship center where I support innovation through mentorship, project facilitation, and partnerships. Alongside development work, I engage in academic and research activities that explore how technology can enhance knowledge and data management. My goal is to continuously grow my skills in software engineering and digital innovation while contributing to meaningful, real-world solutions.

Tebatso Mamabolo is a youth development and sustainable development practitioner with a strong academic and leadership background rooted in social impact and community engagement. She holds an Honours degree and is a second-generation graduate of the University of Johannesburg, where she has also served in multiple leadership capacities that strengthened her commitment to inclusive education, student success and civic responsibility. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the League of Dignity NPC, a youth-led organisation advancing dignity, gender justice and community empowerment through education, advocacy and locally driven development initiatives. Tebatso is also an academic facilitator and works closely with the University of Johannesburg???s Community Engagement Division, supporting student-centred learning, service-learning projects and institutional partnerships with community organisations. She serves as the Co-Executive Producer of TEDxYouth Johannesburg, contributing to the strategic curation of ideas, youth leadership development and the delivery of platforms that amplify young African voices and innovation. Her leadership experience further includes serving as South Africa???s UNESCO Ambassador for the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) initiative, where she contributed to youth-focused advocacy on education, health, gender equality and leadership across diverse stakeholder platforms. She is a former Miss UJ APK and later led the pageant programme with a strategic focus on leadership development, social responsibility and impact-driven student initiatives. Tebatso???s professional interests centre on youth leadership, gender-based violence prevention, sustainable development and the role of higher education in advancing social justice. She is particularly passionate about creating pathways for young people, especially young women, to become confident, ethical and purpose-driven leaders who contribute meaningfully to their communities and to Africa???s broader development agenda

Kutloano Malahlela is a visionary community development practitioner currently pursuing a Master of Arts (MA) in Community Development. He holds both an undergraduate and an honours degree in Community Development, both obtained with distinction from the University of Johannesburg. Originally from Pretoria, he founded The Eye of Hope Community Development Organization at the age of 14, focusing on poverty alleviation, education, and African-centered development. Under his leadership, the organization has impacted over 2,000 beneficiaries, sustained a school feeding scheme, and launched a Spelling Bee in South African Indigenous Languages to promote literacy and preserve African heritage. Kutloano has represented the University of Johannesburg in Germany, France, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe through transdisciplinary and youth leadership programmes on sustainable education and decolonial scholarship. Deeply passionate about African heritage, his work centers on restoring cultural pride, promoting indigenous knowledge systems, and advancing Afrocentric approaches to development. His contributions have earned him recognition as one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans (2023) and an African Future Leaders Honoree.

Tony Onazi Oche is a lawyer, a data protection compliance professional and an AI governance expert with a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) and a master's degree in security studies, and he is currently a PhD candidate in international relations at the University of Pretoria. Tony is the CEO and founder of Amanitrust, a company that provides data protection compliance as a service and consults for top financial institutions in Nigeria and abroad. Tony is currently a research assistant at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, where he assists with providing research on global and regional trends in data protection. Tony has led the data protection audit for data processors and controllers in Nigeria in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act and other data protection standards. ??

A PhD candidate in Applied Mathematics and lecturer in the Department of Finance and Investment Management at the University of Johannesburg. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences, Honours and Master???s degrees in Applied Mathematics. She has several years of experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students. Her research focuses on mathematical modelling of crime dynamics using systems of differential equations, drawing on concepts from ecology and dynamical systems to study interactions between communities, law enforcement, and correctional facilities. This work combines theoretical analysis, including stability and bifurcation analysis, with numerical simulations to inform evidence-based policy and intervention strategies. Beyond research, she is passionate about innovative teaching, science communication, and changing negative perceptions of mathematics, particularly among young women. She is actively involved in academic development initiatives and is committed to making mathematics accessible, relevant, and impactful both within academia and beyond. A beauty in math inspiring others to see the beauty in math.

Nombulelo Tholithemba Shange is a Sociology Lecturer at the University of the Free State. Her doctoral research explored Indigenous Knowledge Systems, focusing on ritual and healing practices, and she has published widely on feminism, decoloniality, race, and ecological justice.

Professor of Higher Education Research at Rhodes University. She leads several international research projects focused on higher education as a public good in the era of neoliberalism. She is a member of the Academy of Science South Africa and has a B rating from the National Research Foundation. She has won awards for her co-authored book Understanding Higher Education, and for her contribution to internationalisation