Theme: INTERCONNECTEDNESS

Our 2024 TEDxUniversityofJohannesburg theme is INTERCONNECTEDNESS: Threads of Inspiration, Ideas, and Impact. The theme of interconnectedness is a relevant and timely topic for a TED Talk due to the complexities and challenges of our modern world. As our global society becomes increasingly connected, understanding and embracing these connections is crucial for finding solutions to pressing issues and fostering a more sustainable, inclusive future.
In a world where every action reverberates across continents and generations, interconnectedness emerges as a guiding principle for progress. At this TEDx event, we will delve into the intricate web of interdependence that binds individuals, communities, and nations together. From the sparks of inspiration that ignite change to the dissemination of ideas that transcend borders, our speakers will illuminate the myriad ways interconnectedness shapes our world. Are we becoming exhausted from being “plugged in” 24/7? How are we coping and what mechanisms have we developed to exist in our changing society and co-exist with technology? How have our ideas, behaviours, mentality, social conditioning changed to adapt to the world changing around us?

University of Johannesburg, Arts & Culture Theatre
Corner Kingsway & University Road, Auckland Park
Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2166
South Africa

Alistair Mokoena

Professor of Practice at the North-West University Business School, South Africa

Dr Alistair Mokoena is Google's Country Director in South Africa and was named South Africa's Best Advertising and Marketing Leader by the Global Brand Awards. He is an Extraordinary Professor of Practice in Digital Marketing and Technology at the North-West University Business School and a member of Council at the University of Johannesburg. Dr Alistair Mokoena is an international keynote speaker and a Chartered Marketer with 27 years blue-chip corporate experience. He is currently an extraordinary professor of practice at the North-West University Business School. He is visiting local and international business school faculty, including the University of Oxford Said Business School.

Buyi Sondezi

Head of Department: Physics Department, University of Johannesburg

HOD: Physics Department, UJ. Professor Sondezi is a Scientist in the field of Experimental Physics of Highly Correlated Matter. Buyi is an author and launched a book, Reasons for the Longer Way, in 2022. She is also a composer, a Gospel music writer, and a recording artist. Buyi is a UJ and JBS Alumni.

Craig Wilkinson

Author and Coach

Craig is a bestselling South African author, award winning social entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, positive masculinity and dad coach. He is passionate about the crucial role men and fathers play in the lives of their children and society. He founded and runs the Non-Profit Organisation, Father A Nation, whose mission is to restore and equip men to be great fathers, mentors and role models. Craig has developed outstanding training resources on gender-based violence, positive masculinity and fatherhood which are available in written and online formats. For his work with men in communities, Craig received South Africa’s first GQ Humanitarian Man of the Year Award. As a keynote speaker and facilitator Craig covers a variety of topics in the areas of positive masculinity, gender-based violence, gender equality, male allyship, parenting, leadership and excellence.

Edward C Platt

Co-founder of Edified Media House, an organisation dedicated to unlocking human potential.

Edward C. Platt is the visionary co-founder of Edified Media House, an organisation dedicated to unlocking human potential. As an esteemed international author, coach, broadcaster, and keynote speaker, he brings over two decades of transformative experience to the global stage. An ordained minister, Edward collaborates with his wife, Emmy Morgan-Platt, and their children, Zamar and Tehillah, to impact their generation and inspire personal breakthroughs and dismantle limiting beliefs.

June Bam-Hutchison

Director, the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT), University of Johannesburg

Prof June Bam is a Director, the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) at the University of Johannesburg. With many years of experience in higher education transformation in South Africa and globally, she has led decolonial international research projects that involved many universities worldwide, focusing on feminist indigenous knowledge production and Freirean methodological approaches to understanding 'archive'. She grew up in ‘Ausi’ indigenous knowledge of plants and astronomy traditions on the Cape Flats in South Africa, during Apartheid. She has authored and co-authored a number of books and has had research and teaching positions at universities globally.

Katlego Thulare

Marketing Strategist and Brand Enthusiast

Katlego is a brand enthusiast, marketing strategist, conceptual copywriter, MC & Keynote Speaker and Author of Jou Ma Se Boek!

Nicolene Du Preez

Visionary Leader and Advocate for Progressive Educational Change

Dr. Nicolene is a visionary leader and advocate for progressive educational change, adept at navigating the complexities of the evolving educational landscape. With a keen systems thinking approach, she recognises that the future of education is a dynamic and ever-changing journey, requiring adaptability, resilience, and a proactive stance towards embracing uncertainty.

NobuLali Dangazele

Lecturer: Gordon's Institute of Business Science (GIBS)

Dr. NobuLali Dangazele is a GIBS lecturer with teaching and research interests in Strategy, Leadership, the Creative Economy, and Diversity and Inclusion. After completing her Master's in Dramatic Arts at WITS, for which she was awarded a Mandela Rhodes scholarship, she founded ShakeXperience®, an Applied Theatre company known for its award-winning African adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Renee Murphy

Director of Sales at Intrinsyx Environmental

Dr Renee Murphy is the Director of Sales at Intrinsyx Environmental and an accomplished environmental scientist specialising in endophyte-assisted phytoremediation. With a master's degree in Plant Science, Renee is an emerging voice in the environmental field, having shared her expertise at prestigious platforms, including as an international keynote speaker at NICOLA 2022 in Cape Town and with the NASA Ames Green Team. She has led groundbreaking restoration projects, harnessing the powerful synergy between plants and microbes in collaborations with organizations such as Google, NASA, the military, and the EPA.

Sello Maake kaNcube

Script Writer, Playwright, Producer and Director

Sello Maake kaNcube is a script writer, playwright, producer and Director. He is also a GBV Activist! His passion is creating theatre for social, economic, political and cooperate advocacy. Sello has been a professional actor for over 40yrs. An ardent campaigner for gender sensitivity. He introduced a campaign called: Fathers & Sons in Conversation. With a career spanning over three decades, Mr. Sello Maake kaNcube is a highly acclaimed actor, director, and producer in the South African entertainment industry. He has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions, earning him multiple awards and nominations. He holds a Masters in Screenwriting from Leeds Beckett University Maake kaNcube is also passionate about education and is establishing a performing arts academy to provide aspiring artists with formal training and book knowledge.

Timothy Maurice Webster

Author

Timothy Maurice Webster is the author of four bestselling books on human and brand behaviour. His research focuses on the link between Brain Power and Brand Influence. His EXPERTISE is on applying Neuroscience and Behavioral Science to Personal Brand Leadership, persuasion, Inclusion, Gender Equity, Executive Presence, Decision Making and Increasing Brain Resilience and Creative Problem Solving. Designing podcasts and thought leadership content for executives. Bestselling Author of 4 Human and Brand behavior books and host of The Brain and Brand Show podcast for 6 years, ranked in top 20 in 17 Countries. He was a personal leadership columnist for 10 years in the Business Report and hosted a TV show for CNBC Africa interviewing Africa's Leading Female Executives for 3 years.

Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi

Managing Director: Provantage Sport

Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi, more commonly known by his surname, Nesi, joined the team at ASEM Varsity Sports in 2014. Nesi has been at the forefront of the growth of the sporting codes: leading the inaugural Varsity Cricket Tournament, overseeing the 10 year expansion of Varsity Cup from 14 to 18 member universities and the exceptional growth of Varsity Women's Football from four teams to eight participating universities in standalone tournament. Nesi now heads up Provantage Sport as managing director. Nesi joins Provantage Sport from SuperSport, where he served as the Head of Rugby.