Hon. Najib Balala, EGH
Cabinet Secretary at Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Government of KenyaHonorable Najib Balala, EGH, was born in 1967 and is trained in International Urban Management at the University of Toronto, Canada. He underwent the Executive Program for Leaders in Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
CS Balala was early this year re-appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife by H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya. He had been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Tourism in the 2015 Government reshuffle. He moved from the Ministry of Mining, where he was appointed as Kenya’s first Minister in May 2013 and is credited with delivering the Draft Mining Bill in 2014, the first policy and institutional framework review of Kenya’s mining sector since 1940.
Hon. Balala served simultaneously as Member of Parliament for Mvita Constituency, Mombasa, and Kenya’s Minister for Tourism from April 2008 to March 2012, where he delivered the Tourism Bill and gave the sector policy and legal framework geared towards maintaining sustainability. Then, he was elected Chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 2011 and was voted Best Tourism Minister in Africa in 2009 by Africa Investor (AI).
He is credited with steering Kenya’s tourism sector to recovery following the post-election violence in 2008. He played a significant role in boosting growth and stability in the Kenyan and regional tourism sector, working closely with private and institutional investors, with conservation and regional development agencies to ensure that the economic potential of this vital sector was both prudently and sustainably managed.
Gary Grimmer
CEO of Gaining EdgeGary has over 30 years of experience in the global convention industry and founded GainingEdge in 2004.
He has consulted at the local and national level on over 100 projects in every part of the world. His experience in Africa includes the establishment of the South African National Convention Bureau, projects in 3 South African provinces and in Rwanda. He also consulted on convention center development projects in Kenya and Nigeria. He is a founding sponsor and strategic consultant to the African Society of Association Executives. Gary is a regular contributor to the industry education programs at Meetings Africa.
Gary was a lead international consultant on Destination Next, a study for Destinations International (DI) which defined the future of destination marketing. He is former Chairman of the Board of DI and was one of the first six inductees into the inaugural Dl Hall of Fame in 2014. He also received the Asia Pacific IMEX Academy Award in 2007.
GainingEdge also manages the BestCities Global Alliance which is comprised of 12 of the world’s leading destinations, including Cape Town in South Africa.
Charlotte Kemp
FuturistCharlotte Kemp, the Futures Alchemist, is a futurist and a professional speaker, Vice President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) and a past Board member of the Global Speakers Federation. Charlotte has also received the PSASA Founder's Award and is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists.
Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu
President at Kenya Medical AssociationDr. Jacqueline Kitulu is currently the President of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA). KMA is the umbrella professional association for doctors in Kenya. She is the first female to chair the 50-year-old association.
She is also the 2nd Deputy Governor of the Kenya Redcross Society and sits on several other boards such as the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, the Kenya Coordinating Mechanism for Global Funds and Kenya Consumer Protection Advisory Committee where she is the vice-chair. Dr. Kitulu is a Family Physician in private practice for the last 15 years.
She is an MBA Healthcare Management alumnus of Strathmore Business School and also holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi.
She strongly believes that public-private partnerships can go a long way in transforming the health sector in Kenya.
Aside from her busy career, she spends quality time with her husband and two teenage sons.
Nonnie Kubeka
Head of GCEB at Gauteng Convention and Events BureauNonnie Kubeka currently heading the Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau (GCEB) in South Africa. Nonnie has 21 years of experience Destination Marketing within The Business Events Industry. Highly skilled project management with a Bachelor of commerce, MBA in strategic Marketing degrees. Before heading the GCEB, she held various positions in including being a Commercial Director of the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Her current role is to create and execute business strategies to position Gauteng as a premier international MICE destination. Under her leadership, the Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau is tasked to market, promote, foster and develop business events in the province. Within her scope of work, Nonnie developed a business events strategy for the province and initiating and implementing bidding, hosting and marketing activities nationally and internationally with a view to attract business travellers and tourists to the province. Additionally, she is responsible to develop strategic partnerships with suppliers such venues, airlines, associations, educational institutions, professional conference organizers, tour operators, event and exhibition planners in South Africa and other countries, as well as support establishments and events that help put the province on the map. In her current role, Nonnie has been recognized by Forbes Africa Woman her influential role in the Business events industry, nominated in the Africa Business Leadership Awards, named amongst the Top 40 Women in MICE and recently awarded the ICCA Inspirational Woman Award 2018 by the International Conference and Convention Association. She served on the several Association boards in Africa, SAA, Airchefs, Cape Town Tourism, Sandton Tourism, SA Travel Centre and currently serving in Southern African Association of Convention Industry. Nonnie has also served as a deputy chairperson in the ICCA Africa Chapter, assisted in ICCA First Time Attendee mentorship Programme for the past 11 years , assisted in increasing Africa chapter membership by supporting the launch of the African Society of Association Executives to encourage meetings to be held and rotate around the Africa continent and contributing to co-creating the first ICCA Africa Client supplier workshop.
Maunda Land, CMP, CAE
Chief Member Engagement Officer at Florida Institute of Certified Public AccountantsAn accomplished organizational leader with substantial experience in non-profit association management. Proven ability to direct and manage the growth of association membership, resources, and program participation. Fully knowledgeable in multiple aspects of association management including organizational structure, operational budget, conference and event organization, staff management, strategic planning, fundraising, legislative affairs, marketing and utilization of technological resources. Results-oriented. Tireless in the pursuit of growth, excellence, and achievement.
Specialties: Non-Profit/Association Management, Professional Development, Strategic Meeting Management, Membership, Training, Public Speaking, Social Media, Site Selection, Insurance, Community Relations, Governmental Affairs, Event Planning
Magdalena Mook
CEO of International Coaching Federation (ICF)Magda acts as strategic partner of the ICF’s leadership, including the Board and variety of committees and task forces. Specializing in strategic planning, cultural competence, ethics, international affairs and board governance, she also oversees organizational budgets and manages professional staff of the ICF. Magda is also a trained coach – she received her training from the College for Executive Coaching, and also holds a certificate in the Fundamentals of Systemic Coaching.
Magdalena brings over a decade of experience in fundraising, consulting and association management. Prior to joining International Coach Federation in October 2005, Magda held a position of Assistant Director of National Policy and Director of Development and the Council of State Governments, a national association of state officials in all three branches of government. During her tenure at CSG, Magda also worked closely with the USAID’s US-Asia Environmental Program, overseeing the grants program in 11 nations of South-East Asia.
Hon. Prof. Githu Muigai, EGH, S.C.
Attorney General Emeritus at Republic of KenyaProf. Githu Muigai has over 35 years’ experience in the practice of law in Kenya and in East Africa. Prof. Muigai holds LLB and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Nairobi and an LLM Degree from Columbia University School of Law, New York. He was called to the Bar in 1985. In addition to the practice of law, he is an Associate Professor of Public law in the School of Law of the University of Nairobi (currently on leave of absence). He has also published extensively in the areas of international law, and human rights and has previously worked as a consultant to various international organizations, including the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He has a wide range of areas of practice which include Commercial Litigation and Arbitration, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Information and Communications Technology Law, Insurance and Banking Law, Investments Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Public, and Private International Law, Public Procurement Law.
From August 2008 – September 2011 Prof. Githu Muigai was the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, And Related Intolerance. He has also been a Judge of the African Court of Human & Peoples Rights between 2008 – 2010.
Prof. Muigai has recognized expertise in the areas of justice sector reform generally and Constitutional reform specifically. From the year 2000 to 2005, he was a commissioner to the Constitutional Review Commission where he was specially charged with the legal drafting of the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Kenya. He was a legal adviser and draftsman to the Somali peace process and was involved in drafting the Somali federal Transitional charter.
Prof. Githu Muigai served as Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya from the 29th August 2011 to March 2018.
Richard Mulvey
international KeynotesAn award-winning speaker with a range of keynotes and
Master Class programs to improve results at any level,
Richard has been selling all his life and is a prolific
the author with 20 books published in his name with 8 best
sellers. With 25 years experience as a sales motivator
he will help your sales team to close more sales and
keep more customers so that your company can
develop greater profitability and sustainability.
Sharon Newport, CAE
Executive Director of Door Security & Safety FoundationSharon Newport is the ED of Door Security & Safety Foundation. Sharon partners with leaders to successfully build cultural and strategic change in their organizations. Having served as a non-profit executive and a documentary television/film producer/actor for over two decades, Sharon’s career has focused on opportunities to be a change leader and storyteller in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., including several series for The History Channel, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. As a consultant her clients have included non-profit and for-profit organizations such as Salamander Resort & Spa, Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association and PRSM Foundation.
Sharon has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, an Executive Certificate from Georgetown University in Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership and a B.F.A. from the State University of New York, Purchase College, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Sharon is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program Scholar.
Dr. Ouma Oluga
Secretary General & CEO of Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists & Dentists' Union (KMPDU)Co-Chair - Health Workers For All Coalition
Jacqualine Price Osafo, CAE
Director, Membership and Development of Water Quality AssociationJacqualine Price Osafo, CAE, is the membership and development director for the Water Quality Association. In that role, Jackie is responsible for recruitment, retention, member benefits, sponsorship, and non-dues revenue for more than 2,500 WQA member companies that serve the water treatment industry. Jackie is the staff liaison for three sections and the Membership Committee. As the staff liaison to the Business Operations Task Force, she is responsible for designing education sessions—identifying speakers and topics—for the association’s annual convention and Boot Camp program.
As a member of the leadership team, Jackie participates in the planning and implementation of WQA’s organizational strategies and is responsible for presenting membership and development updates to the WQA board. Her accomplishments include transforming WQA’s membership model, designing member benefits for different tiers, and developing engagement strategies for WQA’s Premier members—37 member companies that generate 40 percent of the organization’s renewal revenue.
While Jackie was in a previous position at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, membership increased by 97 percent. She also developed ASGE’s diversity initiatives and programs.
Jackie is currently enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her areas of focus are Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship and Global Challenges in Business.
As a member of the Association Forum, Jackie has served as a presenter for Forum Forward, Holiday Showcase, and Association 101 and as a cofacilitator for the CAE Study Group. She also served as chair of the Membership SIG, Membership Task Force, and Forum Forward. Jackie has served on ASAE’s Membership Section Council, Membership Development Committee, and CAE Community Outreach Committee. She is the recipient of the Association Forum 2017 Association Professional Achievement Award.
Prof. Solomon Rataemane
Secretary General at World Association for Psychosocial RehabilitationProf. Solomon RataemaneHe is the head of Department of Psychiatry at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). He has special interest in child psychiatry, mood disorders and addiction medicine. He has served as deputy chairperson and chairperson of the Central Drug Authority of South Africa from 1995 to 2005. He was involved with UCLA Substance Abuse Program in collaborative research to improve Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for counsellors at SANCA Clinics in South Africa. He has previously acted as the Interim Executive Dean and Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor. He was appointed Deputy Chair of the Medical Research Council of South Africa for the triennium 2007 – 2010.He has the following affiliations:President of the African Association of Psychiatrists (2014 - 2017)Health Professions Council of South Africa (Member of the Health Committee)International Council on Alcohol and AddictionsDr George Mukhari Hospital (Chief PsychiatristWPA Zone 14 (Sub-Sahara Representative and Board Member)Chairperson of the WPA Section on Conflict Management and Conflict ResolutionColleges of Medicine of South Africa (Member of College of Psychiatry)American Psychiatric Association (International Member)Secretary General of WAPR (World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (2015 - 2018)Chairperson Ministerial Advisory Committee (National Department of Health of South Africa 2015 - 2020)
Eric L. Schmidt
Co-Founder and CEO of Event Bank- Strategic vs. Operational plans: Streamlining Associations management around the world
- Eric Schmidt: Affordable Integration - Association Management Software
As a leader in the global tech industry, Eric is focused on developing customer-centric products and transforming the way professional communities build and enrich relationships. He has incubated multiple tech startups within the software, mobile, and environmental industries, and has worked with venture capital and private equity investments in the United States and China. He also founded China Entrepreneurs — a community he built into a 20,000+ member network.