Speakers
Dr Martin Bekker
Dr Martin Bekker is an AI ethics researcher and computational social scientist at the School of Electronic and Information Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.
He is a founding fellow of the Wits MIND institute. Bekker holds degrees in Values Studies and Philosophy from Stellenbosch, Peace Studies from Bradford, Development from the LSE, and a PhD from the University of Johannesburg.
Previously, he was head of the Royal Bafokeng Administration demographic and household survey research team and served on the World Economic Forum’s advisory panel for sustainable mining and minerals.
Dr Zanele Bikitsha
Dr Zanele Bikitsha is a highly accomplished public health professional and academic, recently appointed as Vice-Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). With extensive experience in public health and preventive medicine, Dr Bikitsha has held prominent roles, including Clinical Head of the Department of Public Health Medicine at a leading academic institution.
Dr Bikitsha holds multiple advanced degrees, including an MBChB and a Master of Public Health, which underpin her commitment to improving health outcomes across communities. Her leadership in public health initiatives has been recognised both locally and internationally, where she has contributed to various health programs and academic collaborations.
As the Vice-Chairperson at SAMA, Dr Bikitsha aims to leverage her expertise in public health policy and education to enhance the company’s mission of promoting equitable healthcare in South Africa. Her previous roles include serving on various committees such as the Senior Doctors association of South Africa Committee and the Social and Ethics Committee. Dr Bikitsha currently serves on the Woman’s Wing Committee reflecting her dedication to advancing the medical profession and supporting the development of female and marginalised group medical practitioners.
Dr Bikitsha is passionate about fostering collaboration within the healthcare sector and advocating for policies that address the challenges faced by healthcare professionals and patients alike. Her vision for SAMA is to ensure that it remains a leading representative body for medical practitioners, committed to excellence in healthcare delivery.
Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso
Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso is a Specialist in Public Health Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, where she has led the organisation for the past four years. With over 20 years’ experience in the healthcare sector, her work has been firmly rooted in public health and health systems strengthening, driven by a deep commitment to improving access and outcomes for vulnerable children and communities.
She serves as Vice Chairperson of the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, a Non-Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities South Africa, a Trustee of the Phambile Trust for Tertiary Education, and a member of the Cancer Alliance. She also contributes to a range of public benefit organisations focused on advancing child and youth development.
Dr Boikhutso brings a deeply personal understanding of the social determinants of health and the realities faced by families beyond the hospital setting. She is actively involved in academic research and mentorship, with interests in patient experience, healthcare quality and sustainability in resource-constrained environments.
Her leadership has been recognised by the Future of Leadership Forum in 2024, the Superlead Awards 2025 and she is a regular speaker on healthcare leadership and the role of social investment in transforming child health outcomes.
Dr Ruhann Botha
Dr Ruhann Botha, Chairperson of the Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (a SAMA committee), is a medical doctor and emerging surgical professional with a strong track record in clinical practice, leadership, and health advocacy. He completed his MB,ChB at Stellenbosch University in 2021 and has since gained extensive frontline experience through his internship at the East London Hospital Complex and his community service year in General Surgery at Themba Hospital, where he worked across wards, outpatient services, theatre, and ICU settings
Dr Botha has a particular interest in surgery, medical education, and the health system challenges faced by junior doctors. He has completed several advanced clinical training courses, including ATLS, ACLS, and point-of-care ultrasound, and has successfully passed the Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of South Africa (Primary Examination) in 2024
Beyond clinical work, he is an accomplished leader and advocate for junior doctors. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (JUDASA), where he represents and amplifies the voices of interns, community service doctors, and early-career practitioners at a national level. His leadership journey also includes roles within student governance structures at Stellenbosch University, reflecting a long-standing commitment to representation, accountability, and service
Dr Botha is also a published researcher, with peer-reviewed publications examining surgical training and medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has contributed to discussions on curriculum reform and distributed training models in South Africa and has been presented at international academic forums
Known for his integrity, clear communication, and thoughtful leadership style, Dr Botha brings a grounded, frontline perspective to discussions on healthcare delivery, training, and the future of the medical profession in South Africa.
Prof Adam Boutall
Professor Adam Boutall is the Head of the Colorectal Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital and operates as a colorectal surgeon at UCT Private Academic Hospital.
Prof Kathryn Chu
Prof Kathryn Chu is the inaugural director of the Centre of Global Surgery and a Professor of Global Surgery at Stellenbosch University (South Africa). She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and completed her medical degree and general surgery residency at the University of California- San Francisco. She was a Fulbright scholar at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she received a Master's degree in Public Health and Developing Countries. She holds several international grants to improve equitable surgical care in sub-Saharan Africa. She has a passion for working with deeply rural communities and currently conducting implementation research on screening for diabetic foot infections with indigenous knowledge healers and community health workers.
Dr Richard Crawford
Dr Crawford is a Specialist General Surgeon and Trauma Surgery Fellow at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. He also serves as a Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. Born in Sandton, Gauteng, Dr. Crawford's surgical interests lie in Acute Care and Trauma Surgery as well as the critical care aspects of surgical patients. He is passionate about and believes in universal access to high-quality surgical care.
Dr Crawford completed his undergraduate medical education at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh). He further specialized by obtaining a Diploma in Emergency Medicine (DipPEC) from the College of Medicine South Africa and a Masters in Surgery (MMED) from the University of the Witwatersrand and received the Miller Award for Research. In 2022, he achieved a Fellowship in Surgery (FCS) from the College of Medicine South Africa. He is an ATLS instructor and has completed the HIMMMS and DSCT courses.
His contributions to the field are recognized through his roles as National Hub Director and Statistical Hub Member for the NIHR Global Surgery Research Unit in South Africa. He has successfully completed the Executive Leadership in Global Surgery from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. He is an active member of the surgical community, being involved with the Association of Surgeons of South Africa and serves as a journal reviewer for the International Journal of Surgery, the South African Medical Journal, and the South African Journal of Surgery.
Dr Crawford's philosophy centres on improving surgical care access and outcomes worldwide, particularly in underserved regions.
Dr Jesse Ehrenfeld
Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, was inaugurated as president of the American Medical Association in June 2023. He is a senior associate dean, tenured professor of anesthesiology and director of the “Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment” at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association in 2014.
Dr. Ehrenfeld divides his time among clinical practice, teaching, research and directing a $560-million statewide health philanthropy. He also has an appointment as an adjunct professor of anesthesiology and health policy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and as an adjunct professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Ehrenfeld is a consultant to the World Health Organization Digital Health Technical Advisory Group and previously served as co-chair of the Navy Surgeon General’s Taskforce on Personalized and Digital Medicine and as a special advisor to the 20th U.S. Surgeon General.
Dr. Ehrenfeld’s research, which focuses on understanding how information technology can improve surgical safety and patient outcomes, has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, and the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research. He currently serves on the National Academy of Medicine’s Health Policy Fellowships and Leadership Programs Advisory Committee.
His work has led to the publication of more than 275 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Systems and has co-authored 22 clinical textbooks that have been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Ehrenfeld has received numerous awards for his research and is a recipient of several prestigious teaching awards.
Upon his inauguration, Dr. Ehrenfeld made AMA history as the first openly gay president of the organization. For the past two decades, he has been a nationally recognized advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. In 2018, in recognition of his outstanding research contributions, he received the inaugural Sexual and Gender Minority Research Investigator Award from the director of the NIH.
Born in Wilmington, Del., Dr. Ehrenfeld is a graduate of Phillips Academy, Haverford College, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed an internship in internal medicine, a residency in anesthesiology and a research informatics fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Board-certified in both anesthesiology and clinical informatics, Dr. Ehrenfeld is a fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Medical Informatics Association.
A combat veteran who deployed to Afghanistan during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Resolute Support Mission, Dr. Ehrenfeld, for his work in capturing and supporting the lives of LGBTQ+ people, was recognized in 2015 with a White House News Photographers Association award and, in 2016, with an Emmy nomination. Dr. Ehrenfeld and his husband, Judd Taback, have two children.
Dr Sharon Harbor
Dr Sharon Harbor is a consultant in Anatomical Pathology. She graduated cum laude with her specialist degree (MMed) from Stellenbosch University, having previously completed her undergraduate medical degree (MBBCh) at the University of Cape Town in 2015.
With a firm belief in the power of evidence-based medicine and translational research, Dr Harbor’s academic work has focused on the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancers — contributing to a deeper understanding of pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and potential avenues for prevention.
A diplomate of the Royal College of Pathologists, she brings both academic excellence and clinical rigour to her work. Beyond diagnostic practice, Dr Harbor is a committed leader and advocate in the medical community. She has served on the Board of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) since 2023 and currently chairs both the South African Registrars Association (SARA) and the SAMA Women’s Wing Committee.
In these roles, she is a vocal advocate for healthcare system reform, the professional development of young doctors, and the advancement of gender equity in medicine. Her leadership is marked by a dedication to mentorship, policy engagement, and creating inclusive spaces within the profession.
Dr Sharon Harbor embodies the intersection of medical excellence and principled advocacy, working to build a more equitable and sustainable healthcare future for South Africa.
Dr Ayanda Gina
She obtained her BSC (Audiology) qualification at the University of Cape Town. She further obtained a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Intervention (MECI), from the University of Pretoria. She completed her PhD with the University of KwaZulu Natal. Dr Gina’s clinical experience involves diagnosing and managing audiological pathologies in the adult and paediatric population. She has interests in early hearing detection and intervention. Dr Gina founded the Madadeni Hospital TB hearing monitoring programme in 2010. She was the co-ordinator of the new-born hearing screening programme in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Gauteng province from 2013-2015. In 2015-2016, she was the programme manager for the Amajuba New-born hearing screening programme. The programme entailed the development of a universal new-born hearing screening programme in a semi-rural community in KwaZulu Natal. She is currently teaching in the areas of Adult Diagnostic Assessments, Rehabilitation technology and Paediatric Audiology Assessment. She is also involved in undergraduate and postgraduate research supervision. Is a member of the KZN Auditory Implant Programme and the Durban Cochlear Implant Programme, which is the first state run cochlear implant programme in KwaZulu Natal.
Prof Justus Hofmeyr
Justus Hofmeyr, MB BCh, MRCOG, graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in 1973. He worked at Holy Cross Mission Hospital, Transkei, South Africa, before specializing in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 1983, he studied fetal physiology in Oxford, England. He was Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Coronation Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand from 1988 to 2000. He has published some 250 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 50 Cochrane systematic reviews, 25 textbook chapters and 8 audiovisual teaching programmes. He is co-editor of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Database and Regional Editor of The WHO Reproductive Health Library. He is currently a consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East London Hospital Complex and Director of the Effective Care Research Unit, East London, South Africa. His research interests include improving pregnancy outcomes for women in low-resource settings.
Dr. David Jankelow
Dr. David Jankelow is a clinical cardiologist who has been practicing at Netcare Linksfield Clinic since 2000. He served as Past-President of the South African Heart Association (SA Heart®) from 2018 to 2020 and was awarded honorary life membership in 2021. He graduated with an MBBCh from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1984, completed his registrar training in Internal Medicine at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand from 1987 to 1992, and became a Fellow of the College of Medicine of South Africa in 1992. From 1992 to 2000, he worked as a consultant cardiologist at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr. Jankelow has received international recognition for his contributions to cardiology, becoming a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) in 2014 and a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) in 2019. His strong interest in disruptive technologies in medicine and cardiology began when he chaired the 2017 SA Heart® Congress under the theme “Fundamentals to Innovation.” Since then, he has been invited to deliver numerous lectures on artificial intelligence in healthcare and cardiovascular medicine, a field he remains deeply passionate about.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Jankelow maintains a strong commitment to health and fitness as an exercise enthusiast with a love for CrossFit. He proudly describes himself as an “obedient husband” and is a devoted father of three children — two sons, aged 29 and 27, who enjoy keeping him on his toes, and a daughter who affectionately insists that he is “cute.”
Dr Tamanda Kamwendo
Dr Tamanda Kamwendo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Private Law at the University of the Free State, where she also serves as Programme Director: LLB and Teaching & Learning in the Faculty of Law. Her research lies at the intersection of law, biotechnology, and public health, with a particular focus on the regulation of emerging health technologies and their implications for social justice. Her work engages critical questions concerning equity, access, and ethical governance in rapidly evolving scientific landscapes.
Dr Lerato Khatle
Dr Lerato Khatle is a Senior Strategic Stakeholder Relations leader at Discovery Health, where she works across clinical, corporate, and innovation ecosystems to strengthen collaboration and advance healthcare transformation. A medical doctor with a Diploma in Child Health and certification in Healthcare Innovation from the MIT and Harvard Medical School programme, she brings a systems-focused perspective to stakeholder strategy and clinician engagement. She is also the founder of True Consulting and creator of the True Mentorship app, initiatives focused on empowering healthcare professionals through mentorship, innovation thinking, and leadership development. Her work bridges industry and clinical practice, supporting more connected, human-centred healthcare systems.
Nokuseni Kula
Nokuseni Kula has a strong passion for nursing and nursing education, and is committed to being part of the team that develops future competent, independent nurse professionals to meet the needs of communities. Currently, she is pursuing a career in research and publication, and is enrolled for a PhD in Nursing at Nelson Mandela University, with a research focus on childhood nutrition.
She is a registered nurse with 24 years of experience in the clinical field within hospital-based settings. As a child nurse specialist, she has served as an operational manager, achieving positive child health outcomes.
She has presented papers at conferences and has been actively involved in community engagement activities in collaboration with Public Health. In addition, she has contributed as a curriculum developer for the postgraduate Mental Health Program. Looking ahead, she is eager to bring innovative ideas and drive change in the health sector to improve the health and wellness of individuals, families, and societies.
Prof Safia Mahomed
Safia Mahomed is a Professor at UNISA’s School of Law. She is an admitted attorney in the North Gauteng High Court. After practicing as an attorney for a short period, Safia pursued her academic journey in 2012. She obtained her Master of Laws (LLM) from UNISA in 2013 and her PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in 2018. Her research interests focus on questions around health law and bioethics, with specific emphasis on identifying gaps in South Africa’s healthcare framework and developing regulatory measures to address them.
Her current research trajectory involves an examination of the ethical and legal considerations for human tissue transfer and artificial intelligence in healthcare. Safia was awarded UNISA’s Principal’s Prize for excellence in research in 2019. She is a current member and former Chair of UNISA’s Biotechnology and Medical Law Flagship and a former fellow of the National Department of Higher Education’s Future Professor’s Programme (Cohort 1). Safia is an editor at the South African Journal on Human Rights, a member of the Biobanks Ethics Committee at the University of the Witwatersrand and a member of the South African Medical Association’s task team for AI in healthcare.
Prof Refiloe Masekela
Professor Refiloe Masekela serves as the Dean and Head of the School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and holds the position of Full Professor specializing in Paediatric Pulmonology. She is an NIHR Global Health Research Professor, leading research on asthma interventions in paediatric populations. Her primary research interests encompass the epidemiology of asthma, with a focus on equitable access to affordable medicines for individuals living with chronic respiratory diseases, enhancement of access to pulmonary diagnostic testing in African settings, and the design and evaluation of interventions aimed at optimising lung health in chronic respiratory disease cohorts. Professor Masekela is also a faculty member at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), contributing to multidisciplinary research initiatives that address pressing respiratory health challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
Professor Masekela is internationally recognised as a global leader in asthma and holds multiple leadership positions in prominent professional societies and networks. She serves as co-Chair of the Global Asthma Network (GAN), President of the Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), a Science Committee Member for the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and a member of the European Respiratory Society’s Global Lung Initiative (GLI) Network. At the national level, she is the President of the South African Thoracic Society. Through these roles, she contributes to the development of international guidelines, advances in asthma research, and the strengthening of collaborative networks for respiratory health across Africa and beyond.
A core component of Professor Masekela’s professional mission is research capacity strengthening and the cultivation of the next generation of respiratory health researchers in Africa. She serves as co-Director of the Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiology, Clinical and Operational Research (PATS-MECOR) programme, which provides structured training in epidemiological, clinical, and operational research methodologies to healthcare workers across the continent.
Prof Salome Maswime
Professor Salome Maswime is the Head of Global Surgery Division at the University of Cape
Town, Director of UCT’s World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Integrated
Clinical Care, and the Vice-Chairperson of the Medical and Dental Professions Board and
Council Member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. She is an Obstetrician
and Gynaecologist, a clinician scientist, a pioneer in Global Surgery education, and a Global
Health expert. Salome has worked in several hospitals as a Medical Doctor and Specialist.
She is the Chairperson of the SADC and the South African Safe Surgical Care Technical
Working Group and the President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society and
Patron of the South African Health Excellence awards. She previously served as the Interim
CEO of the Health Systems Trust, and Chairperson of the Board, and is the Vice-Chairperson
of the Lifebox Global Governance Council. Her qualifications include an MBChB,
FCOG(SA), MMED and PhD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a postdoctoral fellowship
at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She has received numerous
awards for her contribution to science and to healthcare, including the trailblazer and young
achiever award by the President of South Africa in 2017; Mail and Guardians 50 most
powerful women in South Africa in 2020; and the International Healthcare Practitioner award
from Zenith Global Health in the UK in 2025.
Prof Steven Matshidza
Prof Steven Matshidza is an Associate Professor and Head of Clinical Department of Orthopaedics at
Universitas Academic Hospital, University of the Free State and Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital.
Prof Matshidza is the Chairperson of the SAMA Free State Branch and a Member of the SAMA EST
Committee. He is a Member of UFS Senate Committee and was a Member of the Executive Committee
School of Clinical Medicine, UFS and was previously, an Executive Committee Member of the South
African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA). He is now a member of Health Committee of the Academy
of Science of South Africa (ASSAF).
Prof Matshidza was previous HPCSA evaluator, intern evaluation committee and presently a member
of HPCSA preliminary committee. He is co-founder of the Limpopo Orthopaedic Outreach, Active
member of Limpopo Rural Health matters and surgical outreach projects. Prof Matshidza is the
recipient of various appreciation certificates / awards from Vhembe district, Capricorn district,
Limpopo Health department, Rural doctors Association Limpopo, SAMA, acknowledgements from
HPCSA, National Minister of Health and RSA State President for the outreach done in Limpopo. Prof
Matshidza formed part of the team that did the first robotic assisted knee replacement surgery in a
rural Limpopo hospital.
Prof Matshidza published various international and national papers and invited as a speaker / faculty
on various international and national Orthopaedic Conferences. His interest in research focuses on,
Trauma, Musculoskeletal tumors, Arthroplasty and Orthopaedic Anatomy.
Lubabalo James Mnyaka
Lubabalo James Mnyaka is an accomplished medical microbiologist and health tech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience. Known for his visionary leadership and innovative approach to solving complex challenges, Lubabalo has been instrumental in launching groundbreaking healthcare and technology businesses that address pressing societal needs. His work spans multiple industries, including health informatics, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship, positioning him as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology and business landscape.
Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa
Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, Chairperson of The South African Medical Association, is a distinguished General Practitioner with over a decade of experience in private practice based in Durban. He earned his Medical Degree (MBChB) and a Diploma in Occupational Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Currently, Dr Mzukwa is advancing his expertise through a Master of Science in Diabetes at Warwick University, Ireland.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr Mzukwa is an active member of several prominent medical committees, including the Medical Ethics Committee (MEC) and the Socio-Medical Affairs Committee (SMAC). He also contributes to the global medical community as a Review Committee Member of the World Medical Association (WMA), where he previously served on the WMA Council.
Dr Mzukwa has been a vital member of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), representing the KZN Coastal Branch, where he formerly held the position of Branch Chairperson. He joined the SAMA Board in 2018, was elected Vice-Chairperson, and ascended to the role of Chairperson in 2021. His leadership was reaffirmed with his re-election to the Board in 2024, continuing his commitment to enhancing the medical profession. Furthermore, he chairs the Nominations Committee (NomCom) and is a member of the Remunerations Committee (RemCo), demonstrating his dedication to governance and strategic oversight within the organisation.
Dr Mzukwa’s extensive experience and active involvement in medical ethics and governance make him a valuable asset to the Board, where he plays a crucial role in guiding SAMA towards achieving its mission and enhancing healthcare in South Africa.
Dr. Mzulungile Nodikida
Dr. Mzulungile Nodikida is a dedicated and accomplished Chief Executive Officer of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). He earned his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Villa Clara in Cuba and further enhanced his medical expertise with a Diploma in Obstetrics from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).
Dr. Nodikida holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rhodes University; an Executive Master’s in Public Health (EMPH) from Peking University in Beijing, China, and a qualification in ‘AI in Healthcare: From Strategy to Implementation’ from Harvard Medical School. His diverse educational background equips him with a robust understanding of corporate governance and financial markets, making him a proficient leader in healthcare administration.
With extensive experience in leadership roles within medical associations, Dr Nodikida is committed to advancing the healthcare sector and enhancing the quality of medical practice in South Africa. His strategic vision and dedication to service excellence position him as a transformative leader in the medical community.
Sthembile Ntshangase
Sthembile Ntshangase is an Information Security Research Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg and more than nine years of experience in software research and development. She is currently part of the CSIR’s Information and Cyber Security Centre, working within the Secure Identity Systems Group.
Her work focuses on strengthening digital identity systems and advancing secure methods of identification and verification. Driven by the mission to solve real world challenges affecting people across South Africa, she has spent her career researching and developing software innovations that improve the trustworthiness, security, and resilience of identity ecosystems.
Sthembile’s professional goal is to specialise deeply in identity security, advancing technologies and frameworks that protect individuals, organisations, and critical systems in an increasingly digital and fast changing world.
Prof Rubin Pillay
Professor Rubin Pillay is a globally recognized expert in healthcare innovation and digital transformation, and a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize the future of healthcare. With a unique blend of clinical expertise, academic rigor, and entrepreneurial insight, Dr. Pillay has dedicated his career to advancing transformative solutions that enhance patient outcomes, optimize healthcare delivery, and promote sustainability, using a high reliability approach.
He currently holds the inaugural Heersink Chair of AI and Biomedical innovation at the UAB school of medicine, the USA third largest public academic medical center where he holds the positions of Associate Dean and Executive Director of their innovation Institute where he spearheads numerous initiatives at the intersection of medicine and technology, including AI-driven care models and digital health strategies.
He has authored 13 bestselling books that span healthcare futurism, healthcare innovation and artificial intelligence including "Now to Next: The Future of Healthcare" , “Code to care: A Leaders guide ti implanting responsible Ai in Healthcare” and Human Excellence in the era of ai: a neuroscientific guide to cognitive sovereignty”. His white papers on how ai and digital technologies will reshape the future of medical educations and the healthcare professions have been adopted by academic medical centers globally as has his AI liability frameworks for hospitals, clinicians and the legal profession.
Dr. Pillay’s work is anchored on the simple premise that AI and technology can and should result in democratization and demonetization of health services globally. His visionary approach positions him as a leading voice in the conversation about how AI can lead to healthcare abundance at low cost while upholding the foundational principles of patient care.
Lauren Pretorius
Lauren Pretorius is CEO of Campaigning for Cancer, a patient advocacy organisation which she co-founded in 2008 to work for the promotion and protection of the rights of patients and those affected by cancer.
Lauren has extensive experience in both corporate and non-profit organisations. She established her first company while still at school; in the next ten years she created companies in the field of branding and marketing, developing wide-ranging expertise on brand creation, management, and governance.
Working with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation gave her exposure to non-profit work. A partnership with the Children’s Fund and Foundation followed, and in 2005 she was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Breast Health Foundation. Her combination of business skills and non-profit experience led to the establishment of Prime Consulting, which assists non-profits develop sustainable and effective strategies, structures and processes.
Lauren has put her experience and knowledge to work building accredited course modules to assist non-profits; recently, under her guidance, Campaigning for Cancer has partnered with Friends of Cancer Patients to create the Patient Advocacy Incubator equipping patient advocacy organisations with professional and relevant skills.
Lauren represents Campaigning for Cancer on multiple local and international coalitions, such as the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC); the South African Health Technologies and Advocacy Coalition (SAHTAC); the Lymphoma Coalition(LC) an international alliance of 75 lymphoma patient groups across 42 countries, of which she is a director; and the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC).
Lauren has been invited to play a number of roles at national and international level. As just one example, she heads the Patient User Network, a network of 118 health-related patient groups. She is a signatory to the Presidential Health Compact.
Lauren has co-authored a number of academic papers and is in demand locally and internationally as a speaker on both cancer and patient advocacy. She’s boosting her own skills currently via a Health Technology Assessment course at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide.
Dr Ziyanda Mgugudo Sello
Dr Ziyanda Mgugudo-Sello is a Public Health Medicine specialist and healthcare leader with over 17 years of experience spanning South Africa’s public and private healthcare sectors. Dr Mgugudo-Sello advocates for the rights of different categories of medical doctors and drives initiatives that enhance professional standards, improve healthcare delivery, and champion patient-centred care. At SAMA, she is the acting Head of Professional Affairs and part of the team driving the capacitation of Medical doctors in Al.
Dr. Mgugudo-Sello obtained her undergraduate degree in Medicine from the University of Cape Town. She advanced her expertise with a Master’s degree in Public Health Medicine and earned a Fellowship with the College of Public Health Medicine, solidifying her credentials as a leader in public health medicine.
Mr Darren Sweidan
Darren Sweidan is the Head of the Health Professional unit at Discovery Health. His undergraduate training was in clinical physiotherapy. Following training in business administration Darren joined the Netcare Hospital group in 1999. He spent 3 years in hospital administration and a further 2 years in group hospital finance. He entered the field of healthcare funding when he joined Discovery Health in 2004. Until the end of 2014 Darren was responsible, with the support of the Health Professional strategy team, for engagement with Medical Specialists, General Practitioners, Dental and Dental specialists’ as well as Allied and Therapeutic Professionals. Darren now heads the Health Professional unit with continued responsibly for engagement with medical professionals in addition to the Discovery Health Value Based Care, Professional Billing Intelligence, Health Quality and Auditing Risk Management units.
Prof Sithembiso Velaphi
Professor Sithembiso Velaphi is the Clinical Head of Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), and Professor of Paediatrics with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a Paediatrician with subspecialty in Perinatal-Neonatal Medicine, and a Full Professor in Paediatrics with the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests include neonatal infections and asphyxia.