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Join us in Cape Town for the MEF Leadership Forum Africa, an essential gathering of industry pioneers, innovators, and stakeholders dedicated to navigating Africa’s dynamic telecommunications landscape. This premier event will address the transformative trends, challenges, and opportunities reshaping direct carrier billing, content & advertising, voice, messaging, anti-fraud efforts, and enterprise omnichannel communications across the continent. Together, we will explore how to shape the future of telecommunications and create new opportunities across Africa.

Why Attend?
Held in the iconic city of Cape Town, this event provides:

  • Expert Insights: Hear from industry leaders shaping the future of telecommunications and digital services in Africa.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, partners, and key industry stakeholders throughout the event.
  • Innovation Showcase: Discover the latest technologies and solutions driving change across Africa’s telecom sector.

This is your chance to be part of the conversation that’s driving the future of telecommunications across Africa.

Gold sponsor

Our Speakers

Valentina Ferrari

Valentina Ferrari

COO

MEF

Anzelle Robertson

Anzelle Robertson

Board Member

Waspa

Jacqui Jones

Jacqui Jones

CEO

Worldplay

Zipporah Kiarie

Zipporah Kiarie

Sales & Procurment Manager - Africa

Lanck Telecom

Alexander Vavilov

Alexander Vavilov

Market Manager - Africa

LANCK Telecom

David Hudson

David Hudson

Managing Director

CFM Africa

Eddie Andrews

Eddie Andrews

Deputy Mayor

City of Cape Town

James McNab

James McNab

Chief Executive Africa & Middle East, Chairperson of WASPA

Basebone

Jon Hoehler

Jon Hoehler

Head of Digital Content

MTN

Kevin Dawson

Kevin Dawson

Director

MCP Insight

Matt Ekram

Matt Ekram

Advisor

MEF

Sizo Nkosi

Sizo Nkosi

Telco Carrier Relations Manager

Infobip

Waheed Adam

Waheed Adam

CEO

iTouch

Ant Brooks

Ant Brooks

Managing Director

Future Foundation

Casper De Villiers

Casper De Villiers

Deputy Ciso (Co-Founder)

Clickatell

Monwabisi Mabude

Monwabisi Mabude

Senior Manager – Digital Wholesale & Content Services, Telkom

Telkom

Sabelo Nxele

Sabelo Nxele

Senior Product Manager, Interconnect; WASP & International

Vodacom

Anastasia Ivanets

Anastasia Ivanets

Business Development Manager

LANCK Telecom

Vijay Vichhi

Vijay Vichhi

Country Manager - South Africa

Digital Virgo

Type

InPerson
13:30 - OPENING & REGISTRATIONS
  • Waheed Adam, Global Board Director, MEF 
  • Matt Ekram, Advisor, MEF
In 2025, the Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association (WASPA) marks 21 years of serving as one of the world’s longest-running industry self-regulators. From the early days of premium SMS and ringtone subscriptions to today’s data-driven digital content and payments ecosystem, WASPA has evolved alongside South Africa’s mobile economy: setting standards, resolving disputes, and safeguarding consumers while enabling innovation.
 
This session reflects on the Association’s journey, exploring what self-regulation looks like in practice and how a transparent, industry-driven model can sustain both growth and credibility. Senior representatives from WASPA and its member base discuss lessons learned and what the next 21 years of digital service governance might hold.
 

  • Anzelle Robertson – Board Member, WASPA

  • Ant Brooks – Managing Director, Future Foundation

  • Jacqui Jones – CEO, Worldplay

  • James McNab – Chief Executive Africa & Middle East, Basebone; Chairperson, WASPA

  • Kev Dawson – Director, MCP Insight

Despite predictions of its decline, messaging remains one of the most trusted and ubiquitous channels for engagement across Africa. Whether driving customer authentication, payment notifications, or marketing campaigns, bulk SMS continues to underpin business communication, while new technologies such as RCS, WhatsApp for Business, and conversational AI redefine what “messaging” means.
 
 Hosted by WASPA, this discussion brings together leading messaging aggregators, operators, and enterprise partners to unpack how messaging is evolving in the region. Panelists will debate the commercial outlook, challenges around quality and compliance, and the integration of messaging within broader digital customer-journey strategies.
 

  • Anzelle Robertson – Board Member, WASPA

  • Casper de Villiers – Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Clickatell; WASPA Board Member (Treasurer)

  • Sizo Nkosi – Telco Carrier Relations Manager, Infobip; WASPA Board Member

  • Monwabisi Mabude – Senior Manager, Digital Wholesale & Content Services

  • Sabelo Nxele – Portfolio Manager: Messaging & Value-Added Services Wholesale & Carrier Services, Vodacom Enterprise Business Unit, Vodacom

Join us for a special fireside chat with the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town as he shares insights from his remarkable journey — from representing South Africa as a Springbok Rugby champion to leading one of Africa’s most dynamic cities. Together, we will explore Cape Town’s vision for business growth and and how innovation and vision can drive transformation across the continent

  • Waheed Adam – Global Board Director, MEF 

  • Eddie Andrews – Deputy Mayor of Cape Town

Explore how African operators can balance revenue protection with innovation across voice, messaging, and emerging technologies like eSIM. This session uncovers sustainable pricing, fraud prevention, and partnership models driving long-term growth in Africa’s evolving telecom landscape.

  • Matt Ekram – Advisor, MEF

  • Alexander Vavilov – Market Manager, Africa, LANCK Telecom

  • Anastasia Ivanets – Business Development Manager, LANCK Telecom

  • Zipporah Kiarie – Sales & Procurement Manager, Africa, ME Global Messaging, LANCK Telecom

Discuss the trends, opportunities, and innovative models that are shaping content creation, distribution, and monetisation in a mobile-first Africa.

  • Valentina Ferrari – Chief Operating Officer, MEF

  • David Hudson – Managing Director, CFM Africa

  • Jon Hoehler – Head of Digital Content, MTN

  • Hussein Taki – Chief Commercial Officer, Mobile Arts

Telcos are redefining their role in the digital ecosystem. This session explores how bundles, super apps, mobile money and new advertising approaches are transforming service distribution and monetization models. Panelists will discuss how telcos, merchants and content providers can create more value together, simplifying access to digital services, enhancing user engagement, and building sustainable revenue models.

  • Vijay Vichhi Country Manager – South Africa, Digital Virgo

As we close the MEF Leadership Forum Africa, this session brings together key insights and reflections from the day. Together, we will transform today’s ideas into inspiration for action—exploring how collaboration and innovation can shape the future of Africa’s digital and telecommunications landscape.

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