MEET THE SPEAKERS
DAY 1 & 2 OPENING & CLOSING SESSIONS / NETWORKING EVENT HOSTS
Africa Melane, Host of the Early Breakfast show, 702 and CapeTalk
Master of Ceremonies and Conference Facilitator
Africa Melane is a renowned broadcaster who speaks to South African audiences every morning hosting Early Breakfast on 702 and CapeTalk and discussing the most topical issues of the day. A well-known Master of Ceremonies, he is an accountant by training. Africa regularly facilitates workshops for businesses on planning and budgeting, for the health sector on HIV/Aids, and in diversity training and professional development. He chairs the Board of Cape Town City Ballet, is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Cape Town Opera, and he also chairs the judging panel for the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.
Dion Chang, Founder, CEO and Doula, Flux Trends
Opening Keynote Speaker
Dion Chang will make you think differently. He is a strategic thinker, keynote speaker, a walking ideas bank and professional cage rattler. He is one of South Africa’s most respected trend analysts and founder of Flux Trends, which takes the unique view of “trends as business strategy”. For two decades, Flux Trends has helped companies identify disruptive trends that inevitably force change on their business model – anything from disruptive technologies to shifting consumer temperament to generational conflict within a workforce.
Dion is passionate about assisting companies embrace change and embedding a culture of innovation into corporate operating systems. As a result, he is used as a management consultant for businesses facing change and struggling to adapt to a new world order, and is not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions about the unintended consequences of your innovation trajectory. His “The Business of Innovation” module was crafted for business managers and executives at UCT’s Graduate School of Business. He has also lectured at GIBS and Duke CE, devised and hosted numerous immersion tours and trend conferences, published six books and sits on the advisory board of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment at WITS. Apart from being an information source for cross-industry trends for many journalists, he also writes columns for City Press and trend features for Acumen (a business quarterly for GIBS). As a seasoned career shifter, he has embarked on another new trajectory, dovetailing his 20 years of experience in “the death of old ideas and the birth of the new” and is now guiding people through life’s pivotal moments as a transition coach and certified end-of-life doula.
Deon van Zyl, WCPDF Chairperson and MD, VORTO
Speaker
Deon van Zyl holds a degree in architecture from the University of the Free State, a diploma in project management and a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Cape Town. He cut his teeth in the redevelopment of brownfield land, with exposure to land remediation, and his passion lies in development facilitation through a multi-disciplinary approach. Deon is the MD of VORTO, a specialist development management consultancy which is part of the AL&A group of companies focused on the built environment. He has been the Chairperson of the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) since 2011 and is a regular industry commentator, informed by various development industry sub-sectors aligned with the WCPDF.
SESSION 1: THE FUTURE OF MEGACITIES IN THE WESTERN CAPE
As our cities grow ever closer together throughout South Africa and transform into megacities, what do we want for the Western Cape? We can either set a Masterplan now for the future, or risk the rise of unworkable monsters.
Deon van Zyl, WCPDF Chairperson and MD, VORTO
Facilitator
Deon van Zyl holds a degree in architecture from the University of the Free State, a diploma in project management and a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Cape Town. He cut his teeth in the redevelopment of brownfield land, with exposure to land remediation, and his passion lies in development facilitation through a multi-disciplinary approach. Deon is the MD of VORTO, a specialist development management consultancy which is part of the AL&A group of companies focused on the built environment. He has been the Chairperson of the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) since 2011 and is a regular industry commentator, informed by various development industry sub-sectors aligned with the WCPDF.
Minister Anton Bredell, Ministry of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape Government
Speaker
Minister Anton Bredell has been a Member of the Executive Council for the Western Cape Provincial Government since 2009, his portfolio being Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Prior to this, he was elected to the Darling Transitional Council in 1995, and served first as the Deputy Mayor of Darling from 1997, becoming it’s Mayor in 2000. During this period, the municipality set up the first multi-purpose centre in South Africa. Thereafter, Bredell became the Deputy Mayor of the Swartland Municipality, and its Executive Mayor in 2003. As the Executive Authority for the Department of Local Government, his office supports and overseas 30 municipalities in the Western Cape. In turn, as the Executive Authority of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development, he is responsible for the Department’s goal to ensure a resilient, sustainable, quality and inclusive living environment for the people of this province.
Prof Marianne Vanderschuren, Deputy Dean Transformation and Social Responsiveness, Civiil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, UCT
Speaker
Raymond Maseko, Regional Manager, Rail Division
Speaker
Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, Provincial Head: Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation
Speaker
Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa holds an MSc in Environmental and Water Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management, a B.Tech in Environmental Management, and a Diploma in Water Care. She is currently the Provincial Head: Western Cape in the Department of Water and Sanitation and has more than 20 years of experience in the water sector. Bila-Mupariwa has extensive experience in leading the training of Blue Drop and Green Drop inspectors, as well as the moderation and compilation of Blue Drop and Green Drop reports. She also has strong technical expertise in drinking water and wastewater operations, including process control and water quality management. Her regulatory experience includes, among others, the issuing of water use authorisations, solid waste management oversight, and environmental impact assessments. Bila-Mupariwa also has exposure to cutting-edge national and international technologies and best practices in water and wastewater management.
Michael Back, Backsberg Estate Cellars
Speaker
Michael Back graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in 1975 with a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture, whereafter he spent five decades focused on growing and developing Backsberg, the farm his grandfather began. While the family’s business ventures have also included livestock, Michael chose to concentrate on wine and, later, the brandy industry, and the products of his labour have seen Backsberg awarded many times over, both locally and internationally. Committed to transformation, Backsberg has continually embraced technology, innovation and protection of the environment. He introduced roto tanks to the farm in the late 1980s, pioneered screwcap bottling in 2003, and championing carbon neutrality in 2006. He is also a strong advocator of social justice, caring deeply not only for his own employees but the wider community. In 1998, he launched South Africa’s first “empowerment wine” – Freedom Road Sauvignon Blanc – with the first bottle produced signed by then-President, Nelson Mandela in Parliament. A symbol marrying business with social change, Backsberg’s commitment to empowerment led to the completion of the Freedom Road housing project, enabling all Backsberg staff to own their homes. His bursary programme has further funded the equivalent of 150 years of tertiary education for Backsberg’s staff and their families. In 2021, Michael sold the family’s interest in the industry , and in 2023, he and his son springboarded the next chapter of the family’s agricultural journey by acquiring the fruit marketing company, C Fruit. Michael retired in 2025, having set up a legacy of innovation, integrity and impact.
SESSION 2: THE URBAN DESIGN-LED FUTURE
Why is urban design so important in SA now, and how can we ensure it will be profitable – not only in short-term economic gains but long-term legacy?
Rudi Botha, Founder & Director, URBANSTUDIO architects & urban designers
Facilitator
Rudi Botha specialises in urban design, master planning, and architecture. With three decades’ experience, he has led the planning and design of significant mixed-use nodes, transport precincts, residential developments, and large-scale master planning projects primarily across the Western Cape, with selected projects in broader Southern Africa. He holds degrees in architecture, planning, and urban design, and is professionally registered as an architect, planner, and urban designer. His approach is grounded in the role of the urban designer as mediator – navigating between strategic vision, stakeholder requirements, movement systems, public-space structure, built form, infrastructure, market realities, and implementation constraints to produce coherent, buildable, and commercially viable places. Increasingly, Urban Studio’s work is focused on private-sector developments where rigorous urban design thinking is used to unlock development value while shaping high-quality, contextually responsive environments.
Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa, Adjunct Professor, UCT African Centre for Cities (ACC)
Speaker
Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa is a Cape Town based architect and urban design practitioner, passionate about socially relevant architecture with a focus on the transformation of urban environments, in particular reimagining our cities as inclusive, affordable and liveable environments, accessible to all. His education in South Africa was interrupted when he was incarcerated on Robben Island Prison in 1981 for his role in the anti-apartheid struggle. After his release in 1986, he left for Germany, where he spent 15 years in exile. He obtained his Masters’ in Architecture at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, and is the Director of Architecture & Design Network where he has been practicing since relocating from Berlin in 2000. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from the Walter Sisulu University in 2010 for his contribution to innovative, socially relevant design and technology. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor at the UCT, African Centre for Cities, and is the former President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). Mpahlwa has received various design awards, including SAIA/Corobrik Award of Excellence in 2006 for the South African Embassy building in Berlin. He was the recipient of USA based Curry Stone Design Prize in 2008 for the Design Indaba Sandbag Low-Cost House in Mitchells Plein, Cape Town. He was also part of the technical team of advisors for the construction of the 2010 World Cup Stadia in South Africa. Mpahlwa has served in various Boards and Councils, including the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the National Heritage Council (NHC), the Robben Island Museum Council and the Board of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). He also served in the Councils of UCT and the Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
Matthew Gray, Founding Member, Matthew Gray Architects & Urban Designers
Speaker
Matthew Gray is a registered professional architect and urban designer with over 40 years of professional experience in the built environment. He is the founding member of Matthew Gray Architects & Urban Designers (established in 1992), where he has led a wide range of projects spanning residential developments, mixed-use precincts, commercial buildings, community facilities and large-scale urban frameworks. Gray holds a B.A.S. and B.Arch. from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University. He has been registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) since 1988 and is a founding member and current executive committee member of the Urban Design Institute of South Africa (UDISA). His urban design experience includes new town developments, major redevelopment precincts in Cape Town, public transport interchanges, affordable housing projects and advisory roles on significant public and private-sector initiatives. Gray is actively involved in professional forums, serving as a UDISA representative on the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) and other provincial planning platforms, contributing to policy review, public participation processes and continued professional development within the industry.
Barbara Southworth, Director: Urban Design, V&A Waterfront Holdings
Speaker
Barbara Southworth is a registered architect and planner with more than 30 years of experience working across the public and private sectors on major urban development and spatial planning initiatives. She previously served as Director: Spatial Planning and Urban Design for the City of Cape Town, where she oversaw city-wide spatial frameworks and public space programmes, before establishing the urban design practice City Think Space. In 2014, she joined GAPP Architects & Urban Designers as a director and shareholder. At the V&A Waterfront she leads urban design strategy, masterplanning and design governance for one of Africa’s most successful mixed-use precincts. Her recent work includes the Granger Bay Urban Design Framework and Masterplan, which supported the V&A Waterfront rezoning and heritage approvals, helping guide the next phase of development of the estate. Southworth has extensive experience in waterfront regeneration and precinct planning, including work on the Ilubirin waterfront project in Lagos, the Annandale mixed-use development, and multiple precinct frameworks within the V&A Waterfront. She has also contributed to national spatial planning and design guidance, including the National Treasury Good Design Guide, and led strategic campus planning initiatives such as the University of the Western Cape development framework. Southworth has participated in international urban design forums, lectures and expert panels addressing sustainable cities and public realm design, and is a founding member and former chair of the Urban Design Institute of South Africa (UDISA).
Bobby Gould-Pratt, Manager: Urban Design, Urban Planning and Design, Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town
Speaker
Bobby Gould-Pratt holds qualifications in architecture, urban design and city planning. She is a well-respected built environment specialist and professional urban designer with over 20 years’ working experience, including 15 years in the private sector with notable landscape architecture and architecture practices, and 10 years in various capacities at the City’s Urban Design Branch. Gould-Pratt’s expertise covers a wide range of sectors, predominantly focussed within the Western Cape, that includes urban infill and regeneration, public environment upgrades, transit-oriented development, mixed-use housing, and context-sensitive development in environmentally and culturally significant locations. She has contributed to policy development at both local and provincial levels, providing strategic urban design guidance to support complex planning and building approvals. She has also led the preparation of multiple planning frameworks as well as supporting implementation of various public space projects across Cape Town, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the role of urban design across the full built environment spectrum- from policy to implementation.
Gould-Pratt follows a design- led, collaborative and principle-driven approach to settlement planning and design. She is particularly passionate about creating dignified, vibrant, and people-oriented places, and about identifying integrated solutions that support resilient and sustainable outcomes for communities across Cape Town.
SESSION 3: BUILDING A PRODUCTION PIPELINE FOR THE FUTURE
What’s next in global trends, and how will this affect the future of the production process and, in particular, contracting consultants? How fast will AI evolve building plan approval? How will we insure projects, and how do we avoid cyber risk?
Allan Nenguke, Development Executive, V&A Waterfront Holdings
Facilitator
Allan Nenguke joined the V&A Waterfront as Development Executive in December 2024, bringing over 25 years of experience in the property industry. His career began in 1999 as a Quantity Surveyor at MLC Quantity Surveyors, where he contributed to major developments, including the Canal Walk Shopping Centre. In 2002, he joined Department of Public Works in Limpopo Province, where he rose to become a Senior Project Manager. Returning to MLC Quantity Surveyors in 2004, Nenguke served as Director for over nine years. During this time, he played a key role in various V&A Waterfront developments and was part of the team that supported the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and Growthpoint Properties during the due diligence process for acquiring the V&A Waterfront.
In 2017, he joined Growthpoint Properties as Head of Development and served as an Alternate Director on the V&A Waterfront Property and Investment Committee until November 2024. Nenguke holds a BSc in Quantity Surveying from the University of Cape Town and is a registered Professional Quantity Surveyor with the South African Council of Quantity Surveyors.
Dr Katherine Hyman, Head: Infrastructure Planning, City of Cape Town
Speaker
Seraj Johaar, Executive Director: Corporate and Planning Services, Drakenstein Municipality
Speaker
Seraj Johaar leads the Corporate and Planning Services cluster at Drakenstein Municipality. In addition to the usual corporate services, the Spatial Planning, Land Use, Environmental, Heritage, Building Control and Economic Development functions reside in this cluster. An admitted attorney, Johaar’s 20 years of experience extends across law, corporate governance, organisational development and strategy. Prior to joining Drakenstein Municipality, he served in senior positions at the Western Cape Government and National Government.
Nick Graham, Nick Graham & Associates
Speaker
Nick Graham is a public policy and municipal infrastructure consultant with 20+ years’ of experience. He advises national, provincial and local governments, development finance institutions, and international donors on municipal finance, service delivery models, infrastructure investment planning, and institutional reform. He started his career as a civil engineer with Ninham Shand, working on municipal infrastructure design and construction in South Africa and Mozambique. He then spent 15 years undertaking public policy work at consulting firm Palmer Development Group (PDG), becoming the Managing Director in 2015. He now runs his own consulting firm, Nick Graham & Associates, and consults to national, provincial and local government around local government and municipal services policy and legislation. Nick has master’s degrees in urban engineering, urban geography and environmental policy from the University of Cape Town and Oxford University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, and is a member of the South African Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa, and the Municipal Law Forum.
Steve Fountain, Cyber Security Strategist, CyberQ Group
Speaker
Steve Fountain is a cybersecurity strategist and business leader focused on strengthening digital resilience across complex and rapidly evolving environments. As a senior representative of CyberQ Group, he works with executives, managed service providers, and high-growth organisations to protect critical infrastructure, data and digital ecosystems. With a strong understanding of emerging risk across interconnected systems, he specialises in practical, board-level cyber strategy, crisis preparedness, DNS and network security, and human-layer risk mitigation. His work spans SMEs through to large-scale developments, with a particular focus on safeguarding infrastructure that underpins smart, sustainable cities. At the WCPDF Conference, Fountain will explore how cybersecurity must be embedded into future-proofed urban development – from smart buildings and IoT systems to connected utilities and digital public services. His message is clear: resilience, sustainability, and smart growth are only possible when cyber risk is proactively managed at design stage.
OPENING INTERVIEW DAY 2: FUTURE (HARD) TALK WITH THE INDUSTRY
Executive Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town
Speaker/Panellist
Alderman Eddie Andrews holds a Bachelor of Administration (HONS) majoring in Public Administration and Politics (University of Western Cape). Before entering public office, he played professional rugby for Western Province, Stormers and the Springboks. As a consequence of being an active community activist and wanting to do more, he transitioned into politics in 2011 as a City of Cape Town Councillor and has since served as a Sub Council Chairperson, Portfolio Committee Chairperson, and Mayoral Committee Member. He is currently serving the residents of Cape Town as the Executive Deputy Mayor and the Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment. He remains resolute in his desire to ensure that the City of Cape Town fulfils its enabling obligation and contributes sustainably towards Cape Town’s shared future.
Gerhard Cronje, CEO, Maskam Water
Speaker/Panellist
Gerhard Cronje has over 30 years’ experience in the water industry. His passion is sustainable on-site water solutions, ranging from rainwater harvesting to greywater and wastewater re-use, and more. Cronje founded four businesses, three of which he built up and sold. While studying at the (then) Cape Technicon he started working part-time at XPS Couriers, and by the time he resigned nine years later, he was a member of the company’s ManCo. In 1993, Cronje founded a domestic and commercial garden service and landscaping company, in 1994 he founded Eikestad Irrigation designing turf irrigation systems, and in 1998 he founded a Commercial cleaning company. He then resigned from XPS to focus on these companies. In 2010 one of his irrigation customers was looking for a solution to re-use his black & grey water. Cronje found this solution in the USA and partnered with Zoeller Pump Company, becoming their sole importer and distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through this, Maskam Water was born and is today the sole importer and distributor for 10 different brands. Cronje has a thorough knowledge of the water industry, is passionate about solving complex problems and has comprehensive experience in sustainable water solutions.
Bruce Wilson, Founder, Bruce Wilson Architects
Speaker
Bruce Wilson studied at the University of Cape Town [M(Arch) Prof UP; PGDIP (Property Studies)] and is the founder of Bruce Wilson Architects (BWA). He is deeply committed to creating beautiful and feasible buildings. Wilson believes in the power of good design to generate lasting value, underscoring his dedication to excellence and sustainability in both the built environment and workplace culture. This dual focus highlights his holistic approach to leadership and his ambition to leave a positive, enduring impact on the industry.
Mmotlana Keikanyemang Kehositse, Development Manager, Citra
Speaker
Mmotlana Keikanyemang Kehositse is a highly accomplished Development Manager at Citra, specializing in the end-to-end delivery of large-scale residential and commercial projects. With a solid foundation in Civil Engineering and extensive expertise in residential project management, Kehositse seamlessly steers complex developments from inception to successful close-out. Notably, he has been instrumental in managing high-value assets, including Citra’s R191 million CentralBlue Mixed-Use Residential Development. A results-oriented leader known for engineered simplicity, he is deeply passionate about delivering sustainable, high-impact property solutions.
DAY 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Department of International Relations, Wits University | South African author, scholar, media innovator, musician, speaker and broadcaster
Opening Keynote Speaker
Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh holds a DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford. His first book, Democracy and Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics (2017) won the City Press-Tafelberg Nonfiction Award. The book was accompanied by a rap album of the same name. His second book, The New Apartheid, was published in 2021 and has been one of the bestselling books in South Africa. Mpofu-Walsh is also a broadcaster, having hosted Unfiltered on SABC and a seasoned podcaster, having founded and hosted The SMWX Podcast, which has over 415 000 subscribers. He is also a Lecturer in the International Relations Department at the University of the Witwatersrand and has recently graduated with his LLB.
SESSION 4: FUNDING THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE
What new revenue streams will power local and regional growth? And where will global investors place their bets – on urban or rural areas, or both?
Africa Melane, Host of the Early Breakfast show, 702 and CapeTalk
Facilitator
Africa Melane is a renowned broadcaster who speaks to South African audiences every morning hosting Early Breakfast on 702 and CapeTalk and discussing the most topical issues of the day. A well-known Master of Ceremonies, he is an accountant by training and regularly facilitates workshops for businesses on planning and budgeting, for the health sector on HIV/Aids, and in diversity training and professional development. He chairs the Board of Cape Town City Ballet, is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Cape Town Opera, and he also chairs the judging panel for the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.
Eugene Booysen, CEO, Cape Town Stock Exchange
Speaker
Eugene Booysen lives the by Mark Twain quote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” His 25 years’ experience spans retail, corporate and investment banking, from revenue generation to infrastructure management. He has deep experience in risk management, new business creation and innovation, and launched several new businesses within the banking sector. He was a member of Barclays Africa CIB Executive Committee as Chief Innovation officer and Chief Risk officer. Booysen led innovation within the bank with a focus on adjacent business opportunities and was also responsible for driving the organisational mindset and innovation culture. The included the establishment of a “Seeker fund” for the Barclays Africa group with a mandate to make investments in adjacent and disruptive businesses and co-develop the opportunities within these independent investments. Through these, he helped engineer numerous business models from alternative energy to identity management and peer to peer finance. He has held numerous non-executive positions including the Chairmanship of financially-regulated peer to peer lending. His main pursuit has been the building of virtual distributed banking platforms to create financial inclusion and fairer financial eco-system. Having advised numerous South African corporates on digital ecosystems, technical design, commercial model development and partner ecosystem selection, he also regularly speaks globally on disruptive business approaches, innovation and risk management. Restoring dignity and pride to banking by creating financial inclusion is his passionate purpose.
Kevin Jacoby, Chief Financial Officer, City of Cape Town
Speaker
Kevin Jacoby has over 35 years’ experience in local government at both district and local level, with 30 years at senior management level as either Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As the CFO of the Corporate Finance Directorate within the City of Cape Town, he directly oversees citywide functions for and heads up the following departments: Treasury, Budgets, Supply Chain Management, Revenue, Expenditure, Grant Funding and Valuation.
During Jacoby’s tenure, the City has been able to approve a funded budget that has been adjudicated as sustainable and credible by the National Treasury, as well as being a pro-poor budget, including indigent support, pensioner rebate programmes and many other support mechanisms to uplift communities. The combined operating and capital budgets 25/26 for the City amount approximately to R84 billion, with the CFO position being one of the most senior executives in the City, reaching and influencing the organisation far beyond matters of finances. As part of the City’s Executive Management Team (Sec 57 MFMA), Jacoby joins efforts with his peers to drive the City’s value chain through collaboration in the implementation of the capital budget and project delivery. With the City being a complex system to navigate, Jacoby creates enabling working groups that are solution driven and primarily focused on efficient and accountable delivery of services, resulting in a full interface engagement between the various facets of Supply Chain Management, Legal, Forensic Services, Capital and Operating Budgets, Grant Funding and Corporate Project Management, which is inclusive of the Engineering Service Unit.
Seth Maqetuka, Cities Support Programme, National Treasury
Speaker
Seth Maqetuka brings more than 30 years of experience in human settlements, housing, and urban development across all three spheres of government in South Africa. He currently leads the Human Settlements component of National Treasury’s Cities Support Programme, where he works closely with metropolitan municipalities to strengthen strategy, policy, and implementation. Over the course of his career, Seth has held senior leadership roles in the City of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, and has contributed to major national reform initiatives, including the Presidential Integrated Serviced Land Project. He currently serves on the technical coordinating team supporting Operation Vulindlela’s titling restoration, housing, and spatial reform work, and provides technical support to the Presidential Joburg Working Group on inner-city revitalisation and affordable rental. Seth is also deeply passionate about community development work and about strengthening relationships between non-governmental organisations and local government. He has served as Chairperson of Habitat for Humanity South Africa and on the board of the Utshani Fund, an affiliate of Slum Dwellers International. Known for his practical insight and long-standing commitment to inclusive urban development, Seth brings both policy depth and implementation experience to the conversation.
Nick Ferguson, Executive Managing Director, RSA Aero Limited
Speaker
Nicholas Ferguson is the Executive Managing Director of RSA Aero, the company that owns and operates Cape Winelands Airport. With nearly 30 years of experience in commercial property development, he is widely recognised as a creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial leader in the industry, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale developments and unlocking long-term economic value through strategic investment and infrastructure planning. Over the course of his career, Ferguson has played a leading role in shaping Cape Town’s property landscape, spearheading commercial, mixed-use, and residential developments totalling more than 250,000m² of built space and over 1,500 apartments. His experience spans the full development lifecycle, from concept and feasibility through to implementation and delivery, giving him deep expertise in development strategy, stakeholder engagement, and project execution. In his current role, Ferguson leads the development of Cape Winelands Airport, overseeing the strategic vision and long-term growth of one of the Western Cape’s most significant infrastructure projects. He is focused on positioning the airport as a key regional economic catalyst that will drive investment, tourism, trade, and job creation across the Cape Winelands and broader province. Known for his forward-thinking approach and entrepreneurial mindset, Nicholas continues to play a central role in identifying new opportunities and advancing sustainable, future-focused development initiatives.
SESSION 5: REBUILDING OUR CAPACITY TO BUILD FUTURE CITIES
People power the industry – but do we have the skills to match our ambitions? How are education, industry and government working to rebuild the talent pipeline for the future?
Petra Devereux, Executive Director, Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC)
Speaker
Petra Devereux is a highly regarded leader in the built environment industry. In addition to being the Executive Director of WBAWC, she is also a board member of Master Builders South Africa (MBSA), Training Committee Chairperson for MBSA, a council member of BIBC, a representative of CASA and a management committee member of the WCPDF. A pioneering woman in the industry who champions diversity and inclusion, her career began at 18 in her family-owned construction company. Devereux has a Master of Business Administration from the University of West London, and her expertise spans construction project management, property development, marketing, tourism management, and executive headhunting. An entrepreneur at heart, she founded her own talent acquisition firm, successfully operating across Sub-Saharan Africa for a decade. Renowned for her relationship-building skills, she has worked closely with government officials, universities, employers, and international partners to drive innovation, growth, and opportunities across the sector. Her work reflects resilience, leadership, and a lasting impact on the built environment industry.
Prof Kathy Michell, Director of the Sustainability + Cyber Oriented Research Unit for the Built Environment, Department of Construction Economics and Management, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Cape Town
Speaker
Professor Kathy Michell holds a Doctorate in facilities management from the University of Salford, and a MPhil in cost engineering and BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying from UCT. She is a past Head of the Department of Construction Economics and Management and, in current position, she is also Deputy Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. Prof Michell serves as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Facilities, is the Regional Editor (Africa) for the Journal of Facilities Management and on the Editorial Board for the African Journal of Real Estate Research, the Journal of Real Estate Literature and the Journal of Civil Engineering Sciences. She currently serves as an elected member of the Board of the CIB International Council for Building and Construction Research. Michell is also a founding Director of the Africa Facilities Management Association and Past-President of the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession. In addition, she has served a four-year term on the Council for the Built Environment in South Africa and as the Africa Market Seat holder on the Governing Council of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
John Matthews, Group CEO Garden Cities NPC, and past-President Construction Alliance South Africa
Speaker
John Matthews has a B.Com degree (1985) and an MBA specialising in Strategic Management (1997), both from the University of Cape Town. His accounting career began at the Pinelands Development Company (PDC), the sister company to Garden Cities, and he joined Garden Cities itself in 1990, progressing through the ranks to become CEO in 2002. He is now Group CEO of the Garden Cities group of companies. His interests include the provision of housing and other social services to uplift South Africans sustainably. He is also the Past Chairman of the Construction Alliance South Africa (CASA); Past President of Master Builders South Africa; and Past President of the Master Builders Association Western Cape. He is the CEO of the Archway Foundation (CSI arm of Garden Cities); Chairman of the BIBC Pension Fund and council member of the Building Industry Bargaining Council (Cape of Good Hope).
Nkanyiso Mbatha, Development/Asset Manager, Boxwood Property Fund
Speaker
Nkanyiso Mbatha has extensive experience across the commercial, industrial, residential, retail, hospitality, and student accommodation sectors. His career has been built on delivering high-value developments, managing complex stakeholder environments, and driving both development outcomes and long-term asset performance. His role at Boxwood Property Fund spans the full development lifecycle—from feasibility and planning through to lease negotiations, delivery oversight, and long-term asset optimisation. Mbatha focuses on unlocking value, mitigating risk, and ensuring assets perform in line with the Fund’s investment strategy. He is also member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and serves on the Advisory Board of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Engineering and Built Environment Faculty. Mbatha is passionate about mentorship and actively contributes to the development of emerging professionals within the built environment, supporting initiatives that promote skills development, leadership, and industry transformation.
SESSION 6: POLITICAL (FUTURE) HARD TALK
With Premier Alan Winde and Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis
Deon van Zyl, WCPDF Chairperson and MD, VORTO
Facilitator
Deon van Zyl holds a degree in architecture from the University of the Free State, a diploma in project management and a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Cape Town. He cut his teeth in the redevelopment of brownfield land, with exposure to land remediation, and his passion lies in development facilitation through a multi-disciplinary approach. Deon is the MD of VORTO, a specialist development management consultancy which is part of the AL&A group of companies focused on the built environment. He has been the Chairperson of the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) since 2011 and is a regular industry commentator, informed by various development industry sub-sectors aligned with the WCPDF.
Premier Alan Winde, Western Cape Government
Speaker/Panellist
Alan Winde is a former Knysna businessman and, since 2019, Premier of the Western Cape. Determined to contribute positively to his home town, he became a councillor and then a member of the provincial parliament. In 2009, following the Democratic Alliance’s provincial victory, he became the Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, with a firm focus on growth and jobs. This same focus drove his premiership campaign, centred on improving economic and household prosperity by getting the basics right, such as education and healthcare, and improving safety and public transport. He further committed to improving government service delivery through innovation, new technology and culture change. As Premier, he has implemented several programmes to achieve these goals, including lifestyle audits for his cabinet and launching a billion-rand safety plan with over 1300 officers deployed to high crime areas. He also oversaw the province’s response to Covid-19, building an 862-bed hospital in a record six weeks. In 2022, he announced a major focus on infrastructure to help economic recovery post-Covid, including a new emphasis on improving public transport through a dedicated mobility department. Key focus areas for his current term include improving safety and growing the economy to create more jobs.
Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, City of Cape Town
Speaker/Panellist
Geordin Hill-Lewis attended Edgemead High School, obtained an Honours degree in Politics,
Philosophy and Economics from UCT, and a Masters in Finance specialising in Economic Policy from London University. Hill-Lewis became politically active during his high school years. During his studies at the University of Cape Town, he founded the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organization (DASO). He worked as Chief of Staff in the office of former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille. In 2011, Hill- Lewis was elected as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, becoming the youngest MP at 24 years old. During his time in the National Assembly, he has served on various portfolios, such as Trade and Industry and Finance, and most recently served as the Shadow Minister of Finance.
On 18 November 2021, Hill-Lewis was inaugurated as the youngest Mayor of the City of Cape Town. On 12 April 2026, at the age of 39, Hill-Lewis was elected as Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance.