Welcome to the Festival of Eventing
Where ideas ignite, leaders rise, and the future of events takes centre stage. The first-of-its-kind in Africa. Curated for changemakers. Powered by people.
Welcome to the inaugural Festival of Eventing – Africa’s first large-scale, immersive gathering dedicated to the events and MICE industry. This isn’t just a conference. It’s a creative playground, a leadership lab, and a movement for those ready to shape the future of eventing on the continent.
Our 2025 programme is built around five immersive Signature Circles, high-impact keynotes, and plenary conversations designed to spark ideas, shift perspectives, and build powerful collaborations.
What to Expect
- Sunrise mixers and soulful conversations
- Immersive masterclasses and “wow” moments
- Bold voices, global stories, and visionary women leading change
- Festival feasts, expo demos, and live activations
- A vibrant space where community, culture, and creativity collide
Key Themes
Powered by People. Fueled by Innovation. Designed for Impact.
Each theme reflects the heartbeat of the African events and MICE landscape:
- Celebrating excellence and redefining innovation in eventing
- Inclusive design and immersive event experiences
- The economic and social impact of the MICE industry
- Diversity, wellness, and women in leadership
- Sustainability and futureproofing event strategies
- Event tech, AI, and phygital experiences
- Experiential marketing and commercial growth
The Five Signature Circles
- The People Circle: Leadership, Wellness & Equity
Exploring inclusive leadership, people-first management, mental health, and championing women and diverse voices in eventing.
Think empathy, allyship, and workplace evolution. - The Tech & Innovation Circle: Latest Event Tech Tools
Where digital meets physical. From AI-powered planning to blockchain ticketing and event software that changes the game, this is the playground for next-gen tech and smarter experiences. - The Experiential Marketing Circle: ROI, Storytelling & Brand Love
Dive into immersive storytelling, sponsorship ROI, and sales secrets for 2025. These sessions are all about turning touchpoints into transformation – and brands into experiences. - The Sustainability Circle: Eco-Friendly Practices & Futureproofing
Designing for impact with purpose. Sessions explore local sourcing, green logistics, and strategies to ensure your event thrives across future cycles – socially, economically, and ecologically. - The Operations Circle: The A–Z of Event Planning – Precision, Protocol & Personalisation
It’s all in the detail. Explore seamless execution, vendor management, personalisation, and scalable systems that drive flawless delivery.
Plenary Sessions & Keynotes
Where Big Ideas Take the Main Stage
- Ministers. Mayors. Mavericks: Leadership Perspectives Shaping Our Path Forward
- Plenary Panels
- Keynotes
- Fireside Chats
Featured Voices:
Keynotes, Moderators, Panelists & Circle Hosts
- Lorne Sulcas, International Speaker & Game Changer, South Africa
- Trixie LohMirmand, CEO, KAOUN International & EVP, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
- Yinka Olaito, Executive Director, Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa, Nigeria
- Dolly Nqonji, Former Vice President: Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Massmart Group, Managing Director, Lunniko, South Africa
- Thoko Modise, Stakeholder Relations, Brand South Africa, South Africa
- Lyndon Barends, Managing Director, Arena Holdings, South Africa
- Farirai Mabodza, Founder, Institute of Events Professionals, Zimbabwe
- Glenton de Kock, CEO, Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), South Africa
- Zandri Swartz, Senior Sales Manager, Century City Conference Centre, South Africa
- Lindsey Verfaillie, Senior Sales & Events Coordinator, Durban ICC, South Africa
- Tshifhiwa Tshivhenga, CEO, Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), South Africa
- Dvorah Stein, Culture Strategist, The Hive, South Africa
- Irene Vallihu, Sales & Business Executive, Durban ICC, South Africa
…and many more!!!
More Than a Conference
This is a movement of Eventurers, reimagining how we gather, create, and lead.