Robin Hardin CEO of Bloomage Property Fund
Robin Hardin CEO of Bloomage Property Fund Senior executive and motivated achiever with more than 15 years of proven track record of high performance and transformational leadership across multiple geographies. Specialties Include Business development, Project and programme management, Strategy development, Marketing management and strategy (including planning, research, communication, channel management, and pricing management, leading teams, including multicultural and/or virtual teams, Business process improvement and optimization, Sales and key account management.
Andreas Bjorlow Head of Corporate Real Estate Services at Elevante Property Services Ltd
Andreas Bjorlow Head of Corporate Real Estate Services at Elevante Property Services Ltd I use my broad operative and consulting experience in real estate and associated activities as a service provider in Corporate Real Estate Services attending to the needs of corporate occupiers primarily in the southern Indian Ocean Islands.
Michael Aldridge CEO of KOFISI
Michael Aldridge CEO of KOFISI Michael is a successful entrepreneur with over 20 years business experience in multiple sectors, including business services, retail and hospitality. Michael founded KOFISI in 2014, a hospitality-led, shared workspace provider, delivering sophisticated offices, flexible desks, meeting and event spaces; supporting productivity for all types of enterprise operating in Africa. KOFISI is now one of the largest providers of workspace on the continent and is a chosen provider for large and multinational corporations, with some of the world's most recognised brands among it's client list for bespoke office design and five star services. The company has won numerous awards for Office Design, Operating Services and CSR programmes. KOFISI currently has 8 Centres in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria with more Centres opening in 2024 in Morocco and Rwanda. Michael qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen from the ICAEW in 2003 and holds an MA in Social and Political Sciences from St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge University, obtained in 2002. He is passionate about family, wellness, and creating systems to support training and entrepreneurship globally.
Daniel Trappler Senior Development Director of Radisson Hotel Group
Daniel Trappler Senior Development Director of Radisson Hotel Group Hotel Brokerage, Finance Raising, Feasibility Studies, Investment Appraisal, Project Concept Development, Hotel Valuation, Asset Management, Investment Packaging, Market Analysis, Business Plans, Operator Selection
Eleni Georgopoulou Founder & CEO of YourHost
Eleni Georgopoulou Founder & CEO of YourHost With over six years of experience as the founder and CEO of YourHost, I lead East Africa's premier property management company that operates in the short-term rental industry. YourHost helps property investors and developers in the African continent generate the highest possible yield for their assets in a smart and effortless way. At YourHost, we are committed in unlocking property's value by using sustainable design practices, hospitality practices and cutting-edge technology. As an individual and leader, I am passionate about hospitality values, tech innovation, and impactful design practices. I leverage my skills in customer relationship management, team leadership, and public relations to deliver innovative tech solutions and out-of-the-box design practices. My goal is to create a community where all three pillars are accessible to everyone, anywhere. Therefore, this is the mission of YourHost; to disrupt Africa's existing real estate landscape towards a greener, impactful, and well-balanced future.
Wayne Troughton CEO of HTI Consulting
Wayne Troughton CEO of HTI Consulting Involved in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries for the past 30+ years. Held operational management positions in hotels in the United Kingdom and South Africa and led a specialist hospitality advisory and brokerage firm consulting to blue chip clients in the Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure sectors in 51 countries in Africa and the Middle East over the past 25 years. Specialties: Hotel and mixed-use market and financial feasibility studies, operator selection, valuation analysis, business and financial advice, management contract negotiations, brokerage and finance raising.
Naila Hanoomanjee CEO & Managing Director of Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd
Naila Hanoomanjee CEO & Managing Director of Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd Naila is currently the CEO and Executive Director of Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd., a public company whose main shareholder is the Government of Mauritius. Landscope was created in Dec 2016 following the amalgamation of five State Owned Companies involved in real estate. Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd. owns a diverse portfolio of assets worth MUR20bn, comprising of business and industrial parks, office buildings, retail complexes, industrial buildings, a Conference Centre and a sizeable land bank in prime locations in Mauritius. Naila has over 20 years experience in the real estate sector both in Mauritius and in London. She was a Senior Associate at Gardiner and Theobald LLP in London where she worked for several years on projects ranging from GBP10 to GBP90m, in the office and educational sector. She then spent two years as Associate Director with McBains working in the project Monitoring team. Her clients included Deutsche Bank, OCBC Bank and HSBC . She returned to Mauritius in 2015 to join the State Property Development Company as CEO. The State Property Development Company was subsequently amalgamated into Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd. Naila now leads a team of 250 dynamic individuals and has been behind the development of Riche Terre Business and Industrial Park, the renovation of the Port Louis Waterfront, the creation of the digitalised agricultural land bank among other projects. Naila is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and qualified Project Manager. She is a Member of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and a member of the PQSC (Professional Quantity Surveyors Council).
Nicolas Vaudin Managing Director of Lavastone Properties
Nicolas Vaudin Managing Director of Lavastone Properties Experienced Real Estate development management professional with a demonstrated history of working in the Real Estate and Hospitality industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Real Estate Development, Hotel Management, Golf Resorts, and Cross-functional Team Leadership. Strong professional graduated from Michaelhouse and University of Surrey.
Vanita Hooloomann Managing Director of Rider Levett Bucknall (Mauritius) Ltd
Vanita Hooloomann Managing Director of Rider Levett Bucknall (Mauritius) Ltd Vanita Hooloomann, Managing Director at Rider Levett Bucknall (Mauritius) Ltd and Director at Rider Levett Bucknall (Indian Ocean) Ltd, is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), U.K., and member of the Association for Project Management (MAPM), Northern Ireland and the Professional Quantity Surveyors’ Council (PQS), Mauritius. She holds a Master of Science (Hons) in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Quantity Surveying both from the University of Reading, U.K. She has over 17 years’ experience in the construction industry having previously worked in the U.K., Middle East and now Mauritius. Vanita has been delivering cost consultancy, financial monitoring, and contract administration advice to clients in various key sectors namely commercial, healthcare, residential, retail, education, amongst others. Together with RLB, she has been part of some prestigious projects in the Indian Ocean Region. She is also a mentor to many graduates in Mauritius and serves on the Assessment Panel for the PQS, Mauritius.
Andrew Davies Chief Operating Officer at Lisa SA (Pty) Ltd
Andrew Davies Chief Operating Officer at Lisa SA (Pty) Ltd Innovative and results driven leader focused on achieving success in highly demanding and challenging environments across a diverse range of sectors. An established track record in software and telecommunications businesses from early stage to established.
Mikayla Benkenstein CEO of Hodari Africa
Mikayla Benkenstein CEO of Hodari Africa Hi, I’m Mikayla Benkenstein, a dynamic project manager and the Chief Executive Officer of Hodari Africa. I’ve worked at other project management companies in my time, and I felt that the old-school way of doing things was not the best and that there was a way to service clients better. This is why I got started with Four Collaboration, and this is still what we are all about at Hodari Africa. But, like everyone else, I had to start somewhere. Both my grandfather and mother were involved in the construction industry, so it was something I was familiar with, but I initially wanted to become a chartered accountant. Thankfully, I had a change of heart while I was at university and decided to move into project management. In my final year, I was selected to do an internship at Growthpoint, and I loved every minute of it. Through my experience as an intern working for Growthpoint, I was approached by Mace Management Services SA to work as an intern for them, which means I was already working by the time I wrote my final exams. This helped me gain project management experience in commercial development and hotel and leisure, as I worked on the V&A Waterfront Silos precinct development. I specialised in procurement management and also developed my project financial management and project controls experience by developing and managing six of the projects delivered as part of the V&A Waterfront silos precinct development. After cutting my teeth working for other companies, I became one of the founding members of Four Collaboration, a tailor-made, best-in-class professional project management and construction management services company created to better respond to changing market conditions and client-specific requirements. Then, in 2022, Four Collaboration was approached by Hodari Africa Real Estate Solutions with the proposal for a permanent merger of our teams to manage future developments throughout Africa and beyond - taking us from a small firm with big capabilities to an even bigger firm with even greater capabilities. If you’re interested in learning more about Hodari Africa or want to pick my brain about project management, you’re welcome to connect with me.
Amelia Beattie CEO of Liberty Two Degrees
Amelia Beattie CEO of Liberty Two Degrees With extensive experience spanning 25 years in the Property and Asset management industry, Amelia Beattie is the Chief Executive of Liberty Two Degrees which manages South Africa's most iconic assets, namely Sandton City, Eastgate Shopping Centre and Nelson Mandela Square among others. In 2023 under Amelia's leadership, L2D was featured in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies list, which acknowledges listed companies that have earned the highest returns for their shareholders over the past five years. The company now form part of the Standard Bank Group. Passionate about property for the difference that it makes in people's lives and to the broader economy, she has served the industry over the years in various industry bodies including SAPOA, SA REIT Association and the Women’s Property Network (WPN). Amelia has been involved in various education initiatives within the SAPOA and WPN Trusts and is a founding member of the WITS University Industry Advisory Board of the School of Construction Economics and Management. She is also the chairman of the Bokamoso Education Trust. She was awarded Top Women in Property for 2023 by the Standard Bank Top Women Awards, and was among the first 50 women CEOs to be identified and selected as part of the Africa.com Definitive List of Women CEOs, leading corporate Africa in 2021. Amelia is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS – UK).
Guy Briggs Partner & Executive Director of dhk Architects
Guy Briggs Partner & Executive Director of dhk Architects An architect and urban designer / planner, with 30 years experience working on projects around the world. Based in Cape Town since 2010, and with dhk Architects since 2012 - where I am a Partner & urban design principal, as well as executive director responsible for business development, business strategy, governance and risk. I serve as company secretary on on dhk's board of directors, and as non-executive director with our interiors business - dhk. I regularly talk at conferences and events, publish articles and papers, and have lectured in the UK, USA and South Africa. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London), and an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism (London). I have previously served as a member of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront design review committee, and as Cape Town city representative for the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Before moving to Cape Town in 2010, I was a panel member and co-Chair of the Bristol Urban Design Forum, and head of its Strategic Urban Design Advisory Group. I have also been a panel member of the London Borough of Hackney Design Review Panel, a guest critic at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) for MA Urban Design reviews (2006 – 2008), and for the design studio at the London School of Economics Cities Programme (2001). I am a member of the Urban Design Institute of South Africa (UDISA), served on the steering committee from 2012 to 2021, and was UDISA Chairperson from 2018 to 2021. My work in practice, research and teaching is driven by a strong belief in the need for a socially responsive approach to urbanism and development, in which places are shaped and created by and for the people that will use and inhabit them.
Vinesh Chintaram Partner & CEO of VISIO Architecture Planning Design
Vinesh Chintaram Partner & CEO of VISIO Architecture Planning Design Vinesh Chintaram is a Mauritius based Professional Architect and Urban Planner trained and with work experience in France & Germany respectively. He is an award-winning professional. He received the prestigious BDA Prize (2006, Saxonia, Germany) as outstanding young architect and planner. He was also awarded the Architecture Prize 2006. Vinesh obtained several other recognitions and was published both locally and internationally. Vinesh has more than 15 years active experience across the African continent in the field of strategic programming, planning and sustainable architectural design. He is the principal architect and Chief Executive Officer of VISIO, one of leading architectural practices in Mauritius, Indian Ocean and East Africa. VISIO (previously known as LSA) has over +40 years of activities with more than 1600 completed projects. Global Real Estate Congress awarded VISIO with the Most Promising Brand 2020 in field of Architecture and Planning in East Africa. Besides, Vinesh is recognised as a social entrepreneur (socio-architect) which describes his actions to fight poverty and promote resilience-oriented business activities. He set up the platform "Vision Network Africa" to promote sustainable business development at grass-roots across Africa. He is actively involved as one of the focal points for the AfCFTA in East Africa. He further created the platform "BIZBOO" to boost business activities at intra-African level.
Mike Devereux Chief Development Officer at Valor Hospitality
Mike Devereux Chief Development Officer at Valor Hospitality Mike is a gifted manager. He has a great balance of people skills and technical ability that allows him to manage highly complex and varied projects, and to get a demanding job done in excellence while keeping his relationships intact. Mike brought much needed structure and order to a key role in the business. Mike has much value to add and can be relied upon to get results.
Somaya Joshua Head: Commercial Property Finance: Pan Africa (outside South Africa) at Absa Group
Somaya Joshua Head: Commercial Property Finance: Pan Africa (outside South Africa) at Absa Group I have over 20 years' experience in Financial Services both within South Africa and Globally. My global approach to client centric solutions and risk management provides a unique perspective to the range of multinational clients supported. My experience has allowed me to provide pragmatic solutions in commercial real estate, risk analysis, business process and risk management. My subject matter expertise has impacted external and internal stakeholders (including multinationals) in both strategic, financial and operational management. I have managed change in different environments, developed high performing teams and partnered with other Executives on an ongoing basis. This results in positive outputs for the Company I am part of and innovative solutions to our clients.
Samuel Karuiki CEO of Mi Vida Homes
Samuel Karuiki CEO of Mi Vida Homes A senior Business, Finance and Investment Executive, with over 16 years of experience in Corporate
Deva Marianen Managing Director of Safyr Capital Partners Ltd
Deva Marianen Managing Director of Safyr Capital Partners Ltd Deva is the Founder of the Safyr Group which is a well-established financial services group in Mauritius focusing primarily servicing African business. In addition to being a passionate entrepreneur, Deva specialises in capital markets with a strong focus on private equity and has, in the past, served as a member of the Listing Committee in Mauritius. He acts as an advisor to several large institutions and family offices. Throughout his career, Deva has led various mergers and acquisitions in such sectors as agriculture, financial services, healthcare, and renewable energy. Deva is also the founder and CEO of Safyr Capital, which is the investment banking arm of the SAFYR Group.
Rael Phillips CEO of Totalstay
Rael Phillips CEO of Totalstay With a background in residential property (investment, development, management) and online tech, I lead the ops and tech side of Totalstay with a systematic approach and an aim to streamline processes with relevant, logical problem solving.
Arti Ram General Manager at Victoria Urban Terminal
Arti Ram General Manager at Victoria Urban Terminal Experienced Corporate Real Estate Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the commercial real estate industry. Skilled in Transactions, working with Landlords, Lease Administration, Management, Commercial Real Estate, and Due Diligence. Strong consulting professional graduated from Cass Business School (London).
Joshua Raphael CEO of Parket pty Ltd
Joshua Raphael CEO of Parket pty Ltd I'm the founder & C.E.O. of Parket where we are building technology that radically improves the performance of one of the oldest and unexciting industries - parking! Parket provides a turnkey parking solution that works from the ground up with our digital access control (license plate reader), cloud based management software and world class user app. Combining the latest technology with an age-old asset we're able to reduce costs dramatically, improve the experience of parking while driving sustainability. I’ve also co-founded a cryptocurrency mining platform that demystifies the mining of digital currencies, making it more accessible to the public. Newmint Capital is a hosting facility that we built from the ground up, to provide a transparent, efficient and simple mining solution. As a Civil Engineer turned full stack web developer, I have a passion for Django, Linux, Python, Vue.js and using automation as an enabler.
Gaetan Siew Chairman at VISIO Architecture Planning Design
Gaetan Siew Chairman at VISIO Architecture Planning Design Trained as an architect, this is where he developed his creativity. Throughout his professional career he has learnt that being an architect means to translate the imagination into reality. The same methodology applies to resolve complex problems into concrete solutions. As founding partner of Lampotang & Siew Architects Ltd (now VISIO) since 1981 in Mauritius, he worked internationally (Mauritius, France, India, Madagascar, Mayotte, Seychelles, Swaziland, and Tunisia) on projects such as Airports, Hotels, Commercial and Leisure, Urban planning and Heritage projects.
Fiona Thomas Head of Client Coverage-Mauritius at Standard Bank
Fiona Thomas Head of Client Coverage-Mauritius at Standard Bank 25+ years of emerging markets financial services experience, a proven track record in building robust corporate relationships at global C-suite level through exceptional communication, consistently delivering excellence and transformational opportunity identification. Strong financial acumen, technical proficiency, results-driven leadership and a passion for mentoring talented young bankers. Demonstrative leadership of cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams, originating and implementing strategy for Sub-Sahara Africa that has resulted in fourfold growth in revenue over a 5-year period. Well-travelled and successful in navigating cultural challenges. Analytical but practical mindset applied to problem-solving, a genuine passion for business development; multi-sector experience with a deep specialisation in agribusiness and CPG. An accomplished academic, earning a Degree in Accounting and a Post-Graduate Degree (bestowing two globally recognised designations) earned on a part-time basis, gaining valuable experience simultaneously.
