Armed with an Honours degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits University, Aimée has carved an extraordinary path across stage and screen. She has appeared in international productions for Netflix, Prime Video, and Showmax, while also taking on timeless classical roles such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Desdemona in Othello, and Jill in Equus. Her passion for storytelling led her to create Sarajevo, formerly known as Cheers to Sarajevo, a work she both wrote and stars in. The production received seven Naledi Theatre Award nominations, including a nomination for Aimée’s writing in the category of Best New South African Script. It went on to win four Naledi Awards: Best Production, Best Director, Best Lead Actress for Aimée’s performance, and Best Breakthrough Performance. Sarajevo has achieved international recognition and has been presented on prestigious stages and academic platforms, including the University of Ottawa symposium, 21st Century Reflections on Sexual Violence in Wars. Beyond Sarajevo, Aimée is developing her forthcoming biopic, A Horse Named Hitler, and working on her debut novel, An Attempt at I, which she is also adapting for the stage.
Amanda Blankfield-Koseff is the Founder and CEO of Empowervate Trust, a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering the next generation of active citizens and social entrepreneurs. In 2009, while working at Afrika Tikkun, she founded the Youth Citizens Action Programme (YCAP) after recognising the need for a practical programme that would equip young people with the confidence, leadership and problem-solving skills to address challenges in their own communities. Following its success, YCAP became the flagship programme of the newly established Empowervate Trust in 2013. Today, YCAP reaches more than 300 predominantly lower socioeconomic public schools across South Africa each year, equipping learners with project management, leadership and social entrepreneurship skills while inspiring them to create sustainable community projects. Over the past 17 years, Amanda has helped empower more than 40,000 young people to become changemakers. Amanda holds an Honours degree in Organisational Communication from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and an undergraduate degree from Bond University in Australia. Outside of her professional life, Amanda is married, is the proud mother of a five-year-old daughter, and shares her home with two giant cats. She is also a singer, songwriter and guitarist, with a lifelong dream of recording and releasing an album of her original music. Her passion for creativity, education and service continues to shape both her leadership and her vision for a better South Africa.
Ariella is considered SA’s leading female auctioneer with Honours in Economics and an MBA (UCT GSB,SA – Class President & Columbia, USA). She has raised over R200 million for charity through auctions including gala events in NY, London and SA. Her Imibala Trust auction raised a record R14.25 million and she was awarded the SAIA Charity Auction of the Year Award in both 2025 & 2026. In 2025 she won the GSB WIB Entrepreneurship award. As 1 of 5 female global steel traders in 1996, Ariella spent 10 years with Macsteel International, where she ultimately ran their South American region. She returned to SA in 2005 and entered the Maritime & Mining auction sector where no women were easily found. Despite surviving 3 rounds of cancer, Ariella continues to dominate the maritime Judicial arrest auction sector with multibillion sales of oil tankers and vessels. Continually pushing boundaries, 2023 saw her as the 1st ever female auctioneer for Cricket South Africa’s Betway T20 auction of players. Ariella is regularly called upon by major banks for her advisory skills in the mining sector to help dispose of distressed assets as well as featuring as a keynote speaker for multiple business and leadership conferences.
Bellamy Bellucci is a South African born former professional ballet dancer, educator, writer, cultural commentator, advocate, model, and public speaker whose life and work reflect resilience, reinvention, and a commitment to creating space for voices that are too often overlooked. Born in South Africa and raised in Alexandra Township, Bellamy’s journey began in the arts. She trained at the National School of the Arts and South African Ballet Theatre before continuing her ballet training in the United States. She went on to build an international professional career, performing with companies in the United States, South Africa, and abroad, and was named a Top 12 finalist at Youth America Grand Prix in 2009. Following the end of her performing career due to bilateral hip replacements, Bellamy transformed her experience into a new chapter as a ballet educator and coach, sharing the knowledge gained throughout her career with the next generation of dancers. Her work has since expanded far beyond the stage. Bellamy has developed a public voice centered on identity, belonging, Jewish life, Israel, culture, and the importance of speaking authentically even when doing so requires courage. Drawing from her own experiences navigating multiple cultures and identities, she has used her platform to advocate for people who often find themselves caught between communities or feel they must hide parts of themselves in order to belong. As a speaker and commentator, Bellamy has participated in conversations and initiatives addressing antisemitism, minority representation, LGBTQ and Jewish experiences, Israel, and the power of personal storytelling to challenge assumptions. Her approach is grounded not simply in speaking about communities, but in bringing lived experience into spaces where those perspectives have historically been absent. Bellamy is currently writing her first book and developing Finding Home, a documentary tracing her journey from South Africa to the United States and Israel and exploring the deeper question of what it means to find home. She is also developing The Bellucci Method, an accessible ballet and movement platform designed to bring the discipline, artistry, and benefits of ballet to people around the world, regardless of professional experience. From the stages of an international ballet career to advocacy, education, media, and storytelling, Bellamy’s journey has been defined by an ability to continually transform experience into purpose. Her work today is ultimately about building bridges between people, challenging expectations, and helping create a world in which individuals do not have to diminish any part of themselves in order to have a voice.
Bev Wynne’s career in film began in 1987, when she answered a newspaper advert for a “girl Friday” at a production company, finding her passion by happy chance. She worked her way up the ranks over more than a decade, across documentaries, features, and television series, including the first Miss World pageant at Sun City, before finding her true home in commercials. That grounding led her, in 2001, to found Gatehouse Commercials, a Cape Town-based production services company she has built into one of South Africa’s most trusted names in international production servicing, run alongside her husband Joel. In 2026, Gatehouse’s work on Coinbase’s Your Way Out won the Grand Prix for Film Craft at Cannes Lions. Bev has been a long-serving exco member of the Commercial Producers Association (CPA), helping steer the industry through the Covid years, and has served two years on the board of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Cape Town, where she now serves as Women’s Champion. She mentors through ORT JET and is deeply passionate about ensuring women take their rightful place in the business world. A proud Jewish woman, Bev lives in Cape Town with her husband Joel and their two children, Leah (18) and Rafael (15), deeply connected to her community and faith.
Daniella Mair is a family therapist, divorce mediator, entrepreneur, and founder of Sync-In, a pioneering co-parenting platform designed to help separated parents communicate more effectively and reduce conflict for the benefit of their children. After years of working directly with families experiencing the emotional and practical challenges of separation, Daniella recognised the need for a solution that combined professional expertise with innovative technology. This vision led to the creation of Sync-In, a platform that empowers parents to manage communication, parenting schedules, shared documents, and child maintenance in one secure place. Driven by a passion for improving the lives of children and families, Daniella is committed to transforming the way co-parenting is experienced. Her work extends beyond technology through public speaking, advocacy, and education, helping parents, professionals, and organisations better understand the importance of healthy co-parenting relationships. She is also the author of One Heart, Two Homes, a children’s book that gently supports young readers as they navigate the transition of living between two homes. Through innovation, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to social impact, Daniella is helping reshape the future of co-parenting by creating practical solutions that strengthen families, support children’s wellbeing, and make life after separation more collaborative, organised, and hopeful.
We are Micaela Cohen and Dina Swartz, co-founders of Nafsheinu, an organisation dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive Jewish community for children and young adults with diverse needs and their families. We started Nafsheinu with a shared dream: to create a space where every individual feels seen, valued and genuinely included. What began as a small initiative has grown into a community offering 3 weekly programmes, holiday camps, family events, parent support, volunteer opportunities and meaningful Jewish experiences. For us, Nafsheinu is about so much more than programmes. It is about building real friendships, creating a sense of belonging and making sure that every child and family knows they have a community behind them. We feel incredibly privileged to be part of this growing community and are excited to continue building a space where everyone truly belongs.
Dr Efrat Barnes-Wald is a South African medical practitioner specialising in child protection medicine and forensic paediatrics. She obtained her MBBCh and MSc Neurodevelopmental Course Work from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her dissertation is due for submission and publication in November 2026. Since 2015 she has served as Head of the Child Abuse Unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her work focuses on the clinical assessment, management and medico-legal investigation of child abuse, including severe physical abuse, sexual abuse and abusive head trauma. She regularly provides expert testimony in High Court cases, offering independent medical opinions in complex child protection matters. In addition to her clinical work, she is actively involved in training medical students, paediatric registrars, forensic practitioners and multidisciplinary professionals, while collaborating with law enforcement, prosecutors and social services in the management of child abuse cases. Her professional interests include advancing research, education and clinical guidelines in child protection medicine.
I’m Gabi Onay – an entrepreneur, community builder, and professional chaos coordinator (provided my cortado with almond milk is readily available failing which I am simply the professional chaos). As the co-founder and co-owner of Picnic&Thrift, I’ve spent the last few years growing one of South Africa’s biggest thrift market communities, connecting over 30,000+ followers with thousands of loyal vendors and shoppers since 2019. My passion lies in creating spaces where small businesses don’t just survive, they thrive. I’m also the owner of Crybaby.Thrift, a creative brand focused on thrift clothing, upcycling, reselling, and custom apparel for both corporate and personal clients. Sustainability, creativity, and giving clothing a second life are at the heart of everything I do. I lead a team of 12 in the P&T space, and a team of 3 for Crybaby – youth development and employment opportunities is exceptionally important to my core values. I built my businesses while completing my degrees, and I’ve always believed that great ideas deserve a platform. Whether it’s mentoring young entrepreneurs, developing marketing strategies, planning large-scale events, or launching new ventures, I love turning ambitious ideas into reality. Strategy, branding, and community-building are my sweet spot. I believe the best businesses start by understanding people, because when you build with your customers in mind, everything else falls into place.
Helene Silverman Itzkin is a visionary entrepreneur and transformational leader whose career spans nearly four decades of building businesses, developing entrepreneurs, and creating lasting economic and social impact. She believes true leadership is measured not by personal achievement, but by the success of the people you enable to thrive. A pioneer by nature, Helene was one of South Africa’s first digital compositors before being recruited to Israel to help establish a groundbreaking post-production company, placing her at the forefront of a rapidly evolving global industry. For nearly a decade, she has led ORT Jet Johannesburg, the entrepreneurial development arm of ORT South Africa, transforming it into one of the organisation’s flagship initiatives. Since its establishment in 2005, ORT Jet has helped over 3,500 SMEs, currently supports 330 active businesses, and draws on a network of more than 600 mentors. When Covid-19 threatened small businesses across South Africa, Helene mobilised volunteer mentors and specialists to help entrepreneurs adapt, survive, and rebuild. Beyond entrepreneurship, Helene is a respected fundraiser, connector, and community builder, known for her collaborative leadership style, integrity, and generosity. Many entrepreneurs she has mentored have gone on to build successful businesses and become leaders themselves, a testament to leadership that multiplies impact through others.
Janine Lazarus is one of South Africa’s most experienced media and communication specialists, with nearly four decades of experience as a journalist, broadcaster, author, executive coach and strategic communication advisor. A former crime reporter, investigative journalist, radio talk-show host and television presenter, Janine built her career operating in high-pressure environments, interviewing political and business leaders, law-enforcement officials, victims, perpetrators and key stakeholders under intense public scrutiny. That frontline experience has shaped a career dedicated to helping leaders communicate with courage, clarity and credibility. As founder of Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy (JLMC), established in 1997, she has built and led a specialist consultancy advising and coaching executives, boards, leadership teams and high-profile spokespeople across multiple sectors. Her work in media readiness, crisis and reputation management, executive communication and stakeholder engagement has reached organisations and leaders across more than 40 countries. Janine is also the author of BAIT: To Catch a Killer and has appeared extensively across television, radio and print media throughout her career.
Jacqui (Jax) Martheze is a passionate leader dedicated to creating meaningful change through compassion, innovation, and community impact. After a successful career in corporate compliance and completing a B-BBEE Management Development Programme, she followed the calling that had inspired her since childhood through her aunt, Estelle Meldau, co-founder of Woodrock Animal Rescue. Today, Jax plays a key leadership role at Woodrock, overseeing daily operations, strategic growth, and initiatives that extend far beyond traditional animal rescue. She has been instrumental in developing programmes such as Paws at Work, bringing the healing power of rescue dogs into corporate spaces, the Woodrock Cat Café, an innovative initiative that raises awareness, supports rescue efforts and connects people with animals in need, and Woodrock Thrift, where she has redefined thrifting as a meaningful movement that promotes sustainability, strengthens communities, and directly supports rescue work. Passionate about investing in people as much as animals, Jax is committed to nurturing future leaders, particularly among South Africa’s youth, inspiring them to lead with purpose, empathy, and service. Her work is driven by the belief that rescue is about more than saving animals, it’s about uplifting communities, creating hope, empowering the next generation, and changing lives with compassion at the heart of everything she does.
Leora Hessen is an award-winning entrepreneur, AI educator, international speaker, and business leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning education, technology, retail, manufacturing, and the creative industries. She holds a BCom in Information Systems, is certified in Applied Blockchain Technology and AI, and is passionate about using innovation to create meaningful social impact. She is the founder of Hello Aida, a multilingual AI tutor designed to improve educational outcomes through responsible, curriculum-aligned artificial intelligence, helping learners across South Africa access personalised support in their home language. She is also the co-founder of Artjamming South Africa, one of the country’s leading creative entertainment businesses, which has inspired creativity and connection for thousands of children, families, schools, and corporate teams over the past 18 years. Leora is deeply committed to community leadership. She serves on the United Herzlia Schools Board of Governors and is a Board Member of Ben-Gurion University. She also serves on numerous community organisations, contributing her expertise in education, governance, innovation, fundraising, and long-term sustainability. Recognised internationally for her work in technology and innovation, Leora is driven by a vision of empowering people through education, building stronger communities, and ensuring that technology creates opportunity for future generations.
We are Micaela Cohen and Dina Swartz, co-founders of Nafsheinu, an organisation dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive Jewish community for children and young adults with diverse needs and their families. We started Nafsheinu with a shared dream: to create a space where every individual feels seen, valued and genuinely included. What began as a small initiative has grown into a community offering 3 weekly programmes, holiday camps, family events, parent support, volunteer opportunities and meaningful Jewish experiences. For us, Nafsheinu is about so much more than programmes. It is about building real friendships, creating a sense of belonging and making sure that every child and family knows they have a community behind them. We feel incredibly privileged to be part of this growing community and are excited to continue building a space where everyone truly belongs.
Moira Katz is CEO of National Children’s Theatre, South Africa’s foremost children’s theatre arts and education organisation, on a 4.5-acre campus in Parktown, Johannesburg. She is also Secretary of NCT Trust under Bea Swanepoel, Chair and CEO of JoziMyJozi. Moira started as Secretary in 1993 before becoming CEO in 2011. Under Moira, NCT has grown into a nationally significant force, reaching around 100,000 children a year and touring teams across many provinces. More recently, Moira has driven NCT’s growth as an NGO of choice: In 2022 she greenlit NCT’s rebranding to raise its reputation and secured a 2024 partnership with Disney, establishing the Disney-NCT Musicals in Schools Education Programme for underserved primary schools and producing The Lion King JR and other Disney titles. In 2025 she established vital Standard Bank support for NCT, alongside key funders including The Albert Wessels Trust, HCI Foundation, NAC and The Nicholson Charitable Endowment. Moira also kickstarted NCT’s new Outdoor Theatre & Amphitheatre project, now in progress. NCT is a recent six-time Naledi Award nominee/winner, and Moira is recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow and National USIBA Awards. Moira remains a driving force in using theatre arts to develop South Africa’s next generation of leaders.
I am a go-getter and the founder and force behind two empowering companies, Yogetta Kids and Write Stuff Scribe. The challenge of balancing two thriving businesses with the most cherished role of being a mom, I am a devoted single mother to a neurodiverse son. My son inspires me daily with patience and growth. This deeply personal journey shapes my approach to leadership, infusing my work with profound empathy, resilience, and heart. The two perfectly blended businesses smarts with mindful living. As a passionate community leader who redefines success by lifting others up. A fierce determined, bold, creative, and unshakeable spirit makes me who I am.
I’m Simonne Solarsh, founder and CEO of IntrinsiCurly Me. In 2017, at 46, I started a haircare company, with no background in haircare or formulating and no major funding. Before that, my career took me from retail into brand and systems roles at MTN in South Africa and Nigeria, then into running my own corporate gifting business. None of it was in haircare. I knew how to understand people, solve problems and join the dots. IntrinsiCurly Me broke almost every rule of brand building — the name, a play on “intrinsically me” that’s clever but hard to spell and pronounce. I was told a real brand needed a short name and a big budget. I had neither. What I did have was a problem I’d lived myself: I knew what it felt like to fight my own hair, and I wanted to change that for others. Today, IntrinsiCurly Me is a proudly South African, female-owned, salon-professional brand competing against multinationals and expanding internationally. IntrinsiCurly Me isn’t just a brand. It’s a movement. We don’t sell haircare. We sell self-love, confidence, acceptance. What drives me is the moment someone stops fighting their curls and finally sees their superpower.
I am currently Head of Legal for the group of companies under the Consumer Division of Lesaka Technologies Proprietary Limited. I am specialised in advising private and listed companies in a number of industries relating to M&A, private equity, corporate restructures and general corporate commercial law. My experience includes advising clients in relation to various aspects of the South African Companies Act, 2008, due diligence investigations, corporate restructures and general South African corporate governance, drafting commercial agreements, including memoranda of incorporation, shareholders agreements, subscription agreements, sale of shares agreements, share repurchase agreements, asset for share agreements and restructure agreements as well as extensive advice on broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE). I also advised a diverse range of listed and unlisted companies in local and international markets. My experience in this regard includes advising clients on cross-border/multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, securities dealings, initial public offerings, listings (primary and secondary), domestic and international capital raisings and B-BBEE structuring, advisory and compliance. I am also skilled in dispute resolution and has experience in a number of litigation matters. I have been involved in cases in the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Labour Appeal Court and the Labour Court. I have acted for a number of clients in a variety of sectors, including in insurance, mining, procurement, pension funds, corporate and commercial and public and regulatory.
