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2024 Speakers

Our speakers are chosen for their industry knowledge and insight. If you would like to be considered as a speaker for AHIF 2025 please contact mala.patel@thebench.com

Hon. Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta

Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Republic of Namibia

Hon. Lola Ade-John

Minister of Tourism, Federal Ministry of Tourism
Nigeria

Herman Aindongo

Ecologist
Donald Hamer Conservation Leadership Program

Michael Aldridge

Founder & CEO
KOFISI

Jutta Berns

Head of Sustainability
IPP & Karingani

Jillian Blackbeard

Chief Executive Officer
Africa's Eden

Ewan Cameron

Director, Africa
Westmont Hospitality

Philip Chapman

Chief Executive Officer
RMB/FNB Namibia

Sebulon Chicalu

Director
Tourism & Gaming, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Andre Compion

Managing Director
FlyNamibia

Fiona Craw

Vice President – Hotels & Hospitality Group, Sub-Saharan Africa
JLL Africa

Chris Du Toit

Head of Commercial
Collins Group Residential

Mark Dunford

Chief Executive Officer
Knight Frank

Lara Dupre

Co-Founder & General Manager
Le Palais d'Akwa

Dr. Peter Ebertz

Managing Director & Head of Hotels
Art-Invest Real Estate Management

Erwan Garnier

Senior Director Development - Africa
Radisson Hotel Group

Wayne Godwin

Co-Chief Executive Officer, JLL Africa
Head, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Africa

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

Gys Joubert

Managing Director
Gondwana Collection

Peter-Hain Kayapua

Founding CEO
Uakii Wilderness Safaris

Khalil Ketari

Senior Consultant – Asset Management
Kasada Capital Management

Lullu Krugel

Partner, Strategy& and Chief Economist
PwC South Africa & PwC Africa ESG Platform Lead

Markus Lehnert

SVP International Hotel Development & Affiliations
Marriott International, Inc.

Ram Lokan

Principal - Investment
Kasada Capital Management

Naiara Lopez Giner

Tourism Advisory Lead
Colliers MENA

Paul Mack

Group Executive Director
The Latitude Hotels Group

Tonderayi Prosper Mageza

Consulting Expert
UNESCO-UNEVOC

Laurinda Marsh

Key Account Manager Global Projects - Africa
Hansgrohe

Haitham Mattar

Special Advisor, UN Tourism
Managing Director MEA & South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts

Bornventure Mbidzo

Acting Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Tourism Board

Mehdi Morad

Vice President Operations Africa, Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles
Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems

Paola Musoni

Head of Real Estate
RSSB

Chris Nader

Co-Founder
ENVI Lodges

H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Vice President
Republic of Namibia

Nangula Nelulu-Uaandja

Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

Thami Nkadimeng

The Message Architect
Thami Nkadimeng Group

Folaseto Akin Olugbade

Investment Professional
Actis

Dupe Olusola

Managing Director & CEO
Transcorp Hotels Plc.

Gitta Paetzold

CEO
Hospitality Association of Namibia

Joe Pietersen

Founder
Nkombe Rhino NPC

Dr. Mmatsatsi Ramawela

Managing Director
Africa Tourism Connect

Lopang Rapodile

ESG Manager
Kasada Capital Management

Francois van Schalkwyk

Executive Director
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Alain Sebah

President
Louvre Hotels Africa

Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya

Chief Executive Officer
African Wildlife Foundation

Lee-Anne Singer

Chairperson
FEDHASA Cape

Mark Somen

Former Director
Soho House North America

Zarna Soni

Chief of People
CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)

Paul Kendall Stevens

COO - Middle East & Africa
AccorHotels Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC

Johan Steyn

Chief Executive Officer
Artificial Intelligence for Business

John Steytler

Chief Executive Officer
Development Bank of Namibia

Rishabh Thapar

Director
HVS Middle East & Africa

Connie-Marlene Theyse

Head: Enterprise Banking, High Touch & Mid Corporate
FNB Commercial

Haddis Tilahun

Founder & Chairman
United Africa Group

Daniel Trappler

Senior Director Development: Southern & Eastern Africa
Radisson Hotel Group

Jules Ugo

Chief Executive Officer
LOTUS Arabia

Bisey Uirab

Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Airports Company

Wytze van den Berg

Vice President International Operations EMEA/ Vice President EMEA WorldHotels
BWH Hotels

Jameel Verjee

Founder & CEO
CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)

Marc Wachsberger

Chief Executive Officer
The Capital Hotels & Apartments

Trevor Ward

Managing Director
W Hospitality Group

Matthew Weihs

Group Managing Director
The Bench

Amos Wekesa

Chief Executive Officer
Great Lake Safaris & Uganda Lodges