SA: ACT announces Arts and Culture Research Unit symposium speakers

The list features South Africa’s top thought leaders in arts, culture, hospitality, and tourism. They are ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen, University of Johannesburg’s College of Business and Economics and ACT board member associate professor Peter Baur and Swiss Hotel School director Stephen Hickmore, who will shed light on how arts and culture can reshape business and hospitality industries.

“We also welcome Erica Elk, executive director at the Craft Design Institute, and Lucky Litelu, executive chairperson of ICRD Group Holdings, a master strategist in economic empowerment through creative industries,” ACT said in a statement. “Further insights will come from Beth Arendse, a collaborative leader from the SA Creative Industries Incubator and Madeleine Lambert, a creative industries researcher, manager and facilitator, and certified leadership and performance coach.”

Completing the speaker line-up are University of Johannesburg’s professor Joel Hinaunye, Dr. Ntombi Mhlambi from the SAEInstitute, Mariapaola McGurk (ACT), professsor Raita Steyn (University of Pretoria), Margo Fargo of (Hago Consultancy), Barba Gaoganediwe (Gauteng Tourism), Erica Sao Joao (University of Johannesburg), Dr. Cameron Martin (Swiss Hotel School South Africa), Carina Kanbi (African Centre for Migration and Society) and Rolihlahla Malinga, a renowned figure in visual arts and food tourism, who will share his experience on integrating arts into South Africa's tourism offerings.

The CCI Creative Web Symposium will take place at the Swiss Hotel School in Ferndale, Randburg, on 12 September. It will be a hybrid event, allowing both in-person and online attendance from anywhere in the world with limited tickets available here.