Johannesburg to Welcome Africa’s Largest AI Event – Highlights, Speakers, and Dates

Dates and venue: 12–15 October 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre and adjacent venues in pretoria, with satellite sessions for regional partners. Expect a full-day cadence: morning keynotes, afternoon workshops, and evening networking with visitors from across the continent.

Practical tips: book early-bird passes now, use the official app to build your personal schedule, and plan to connect with potential income gains for your team. For visitors, accommodation packages are offered near the venues, and special rates apply for African startups and researchers. Travel between Johannesburg and pretoria is straightforward via roads and high-speed train links in the metropolitan area.

Ethics and safety: organizers enforce a clear rule against copying or stealing materials; participants should respect IP and confidentiality. A strict policy on sexual harassment is in place, and authorities coordinate with venue security to ensure a safe environment for all attendees. The event includes dedicated spaces where tellers from local communities share direct insights into how AI affects everyday work and public services.

Take action now: register, plan your travel, and join a community aimed at practical transformation across borders. This special gathering will help African teams move from pilots to deployed solutions with measurable impact.

Dates, Location, and How to Register for Africa’s Largest AI Event

Register by October 15 for early-bird pricing. Dates: 26–28 November 2025. Location: Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg, near Sandton and OR Tambo, with easy access from major highways. cecil and city authorities back the event to boost human-centric AI projects across the region.

To register, visit the official portal, select your attendee type (solo traveler, team pack, or media), enter your details, and choose a payment method. For traveling professionals, the solo traveler option helps with quick entry. You can pay online by card, or load funds at atms with prepaid cards; on-site registration may be available if spaces remain.

Pricing tiers are fair: Early-bird attendee from R1,200; standard R2,400; student R600. Groups of five or more qualify for a 10% discount. Prior attendee feedback confirms that pricing stays accessible, namely the demographic, namely tech teams, researchers, and leaders.

Travel and logistics: Fly into OR Tambo, then use the Gautrain to Sandton or rideshare to the venue. Nearby hotels provide easy access to the floor plan. The infrastructure around the fairgrounds supports large crowds, with multiple fuel stations and reliable transit links. Travelers should plan to arrive on the morning of day one; the route network and signage aid smooth movement. Authorities coordinate security with visible coverage, and armed personnel are on-site for safety. Aids for accessibility include ramps and seating options, and tall ceilings improve air circulation.

On the floor you will find more than 10 labs and demonstration booths spread across five zones. Themes cover responsible AI, data governance, and human-centric design. Prior to the sessions, a paper with analysis previews key insights; during the event, speakers share live demos; on the second day, a hands-on workshop track helps translate ideas into practice. After the event, a recap paper consolidates takeaways for leaders and traveler communities, including smmes networks.

Register now through the official site, download the event app, and secure your spot before slots fill. For questions, contact the authorities. This is your chance to connect with human-centric innovators and to engage with a diverse audience of traveler and leader communities.

Speakers Lineup: Keynotes, Panels, and Session Topics

Select three keynote talks that bridge policy, enterprise, and research to maximize value for delegates. The notes above detail the lineup. Over the past year, Africa’s AI initiatives have intensified, and the scheduled talks blend real cases with practical steps you can apply in a bank, in healthcare, and in insurance settings. These events bring delegates from groups across the continent, and you will learn practical frameworks you can implement quickly.

Speaker profile emphasis combines hands-on experience with governance expertise, offering perspectives from England and regional groups to illuminate how declared standards translate into day-to-day decisions.

Keynotes

The opening keynote outlines regulatory certainties, data sharing norms, and consent frameworks for cross-border AI projects; it sets a practical baseline for compliance teams and product leads.

A second keynote spotlights a bank-wide AI deployment, showing how automation-powered workflows reduce toil while preserving rigorous controls and traceable decision logs.

A third keynote dives into medical AI, detailing validation, clinical workflow integration, and approaches to monitoring safety in high-stakes environments.

Panels & Sessions

Panel on security and crime risk examines patterns in crimes such as ransom, kidnapping, and criminal activity targeting financial services; it includes responses from incident responders and risk managers.

Panel on financial services explores models for fraud detection, insurance pricing, and risk governance, with concrete examples from regional banks and insurers; another focus is cross-border data sharing and the value of interoperable standards.

Session on governance, ethics, and systemic bias discusses how to audit datasets, address past biases, and de-risk AI deployments across groups and use cases.

Session on healthcare and medical AI covers patient safety, real-world evidence, and the role of clinicians in monitoring algorithms; it also reviews cases where automation improved outcomes and where it required human oversight.

Session on policy and enforcement compares regulatory approaches, including England’s framework, and outlines select steps for organizations to implement compliant practices while maintaining innovation.

Tracks and Sessions: From AI Strategy to Responsible Deployment

Enroll in the Strategy and Governance track to learn how to translate business goals into AI objectives and to set guardrails that endure as you scale, including the rhodes ecosystem and regional pilots.

Navigate five tracks across practical areas: strategy alignment, data stewardship, deployment operations, ethics and risk, and industry-focused themes. Each track offers case studies, hands-on demos, and a state of readiness checklist to help leaders, guests, and teams stay aligned. Expect updates on the latest information, with insights from leaders and guests who will fuel growth and share how they learn across medical, financial, and industrial contexts, while addressing real-world constraints, often with tall agendas and powerful demos, fueling growing capabilities across sectors.

Tracks and Content Overview

Within the program, sessions are organized by themes such as AI strategy, data protection, and deployment playbooks. Very concrete outcomes include risk scoring methods, project prioritization, and measurable impact. The schedule supports enrollment flexibility, allowing teams to join sessions in two or more areas, with cell-level controls and privacy practices baked in. The update briefs cover regulatory shifts and technical standards that affect implementation, with information you can act on quickly, said by program leads.

Speaker Highlights and Takeaways

Expect leaders from financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing, plus guests from rhodes partners and research centers. They share practical lessons on building an AI program that scales with governance, security, and user impact in mind. You’ll walk away with a 90-day action plan: a prioritized list of pilots, a forward-looking roadmap, and templates for risk assessments that address criminal threats and extreme scenarios, including kidnapping, enabling fast, responsible responses, and a practical update that you can apply within your team.

Venue Logistics at The Rand Club: Access, Map, Amenities, and Security

Plan to arrive 60 minutes before scheduled events to complete badge pickup, security checks, and route planning at the cecil street entry. Wear your event lanyard, have your ID ready, and keep your profile handy so passes align with the roster. This reduces little delays during daily crowds moving through the surroundings and neighboring buildings.

• Access and entry – The Rand Club offers two main access points: the cecil street door and a side entrance near the vendors alley. Present your badge; security will verify the passed credentials against the scheduled list. If you bring gear, coordinate with the events team to use the loading zone and avoid congested doors.
• Map and wayfinding – A clear map panel in the foyer marks the main hall, the second floor, meeting rooms, cloakroom, and restrooms. Follow the signs to the staircase or elevator; staff can print a pocket map on request, and the event app provides step-by-step directions within the venue.
• Facilități – The venue includes a café, hot drinks station, water fountains, cloakroom, charging points, and quiet zones for calls. A metropolitan lounge area offers business conversations and informal meetings; restrooms are accessible on every level.
• Security and safety – Bag checks precede entry; metal detectors operate during peak crowds. Uniformed staff patrol corridors and entrances; if you need aids, ramps and captioned displays are available. In an emergency, follow PA announcements and posted signs; avoid leaving valuables unattended to reduce risk of robbed incidents. For night events, additional lighting is provided; after hours security remains on duty.
• Vendors and events – The trade floor hosts many vendors; each space has a profile in the attendee directory. Load-in windows are scheduled, with shipments arriving before 09:30. Use the vendor map to locate your booth and coordinate with events staff. The vendor spaces connect to multiple worlds of events.
• Accessibility and additional support – The club offers accessible entrances, lifts, and ramps; staff can arrange sign language support on request. For those wearing devices or equipment, keep cords and gear tidy to avoid tripping hazards.

Ticketing: Prices, Pass Types, and Registration Steps

Buy your pass in advance to lock in the lowest price and secure access to the most sought-after sessions.

Prices and Pass Types

Prices are published in ZAR and include VAT. Early Bird Delegate Pass: 1500 ZAR; Standard Delegate Pass: 2100 ZAR; VIP Pass: 4200 ZAR; Student Pass: 900 ZAR. A second-tier Expo Pass is available for exhibitors and visitors focused on demos, priced at 800 ZAR. The largest event offers a powerful lineup of talks, tracks, and hands-on workshops; passes include access to main sessions and the building’s common areas. A portrait wall and networking lounges are located in the main hall, with VIP seating for lounge access. Delegates from England and other regions can attend under the same terms; check consulates for visa guidance if needed. To support equality, pricing tiers include discounted options for students and local citizens.

Be mindful that scams and unofficial ticket vendors exist. Purchase only through the official site or authorized vendors listed there. In cases of suspicious calls or messages, report to the help desk. If a payment is denied, try an alternative method or contact calls for assistance; the support team replies within hours. The event also promotes safe transportation options with official vendors operating during peak hours, and on-site windows for badge pickup.

Registration hours span from early morning to late evening on event days, with hours posted on the site. Windows and kiosks at the venue provide quick check-in once you arrive, and you can also complete most steps online before you come. The welcome desk signals your arrival and guides you toward the appropriate building entrances and exit routes.

Pași de înregistrare

Pasul 1: Select your pass type (Delegate, Student, VIP, or Expo) and add any workshops or networking add-ons.

Pasul 2: Enter attendee details, including full name, organization, role, and citizen status. If you are a local citizen, choose the corresponding option to ensure eligibility for local discounts.

Step 3: Complete payment using one of the supported methods. If your payment is denied, retry with a different method or contact calls for assistance; the support team responds within hours.

Step 4: Receive the e-ticket by email. Save it to your phone or print it at one of the on-site windows. Bring a valid ID matching the registration name.

Step 5: On arrival, head to the Welcome Desk to collect your badge and then follow the posted directions to the main halls or exit routes. Clear exit signage and staff directions ensure safe egress after sessions or at the end of the day.

Remote Participation: Live Stream, On-Demand Content, and Networking Tools

Use the live stream as your primary participation channel and supplement with on-demand access to capture every session you miss.

This approach keeps you public-connected, near the action, and avoids unnecessary transportation time while letting you engage with the event’s ecosystem from your own space.

The live stream setup delivers 1080p video with adaptive bitrate on a four-camera mix and backstage feeds, plus real-time captions and moderated Q&A. Latency stays below 15 seconds for smooth participation; you can switch between tracks focused on industry, research, or policy, and all sessions include a public chat you can later export as contact leads.

On-demand content arrives within two hours after a live session ends; the library includes keynote talks, deep-dives, and hands-on exercise demos. With more than 150 talks and 40 workshops across three days, you have a robust choose-your-own-adventure, searchable by topic, author, or region. Access lasts six months, and you can download assets such as slide decks, a short film reel, and transcripts for offline review.

Networking tools connect you to the right people: AI-driven matchmaking introduces you to peers with complementary interests; virtual lounges enable quick chats, and guided sessions help you make productive connections during designated times. You can select focus areas such as foreign trade, industrial tech, or local economics, then contact participants directly to set up 1:1 calls or small-group discussions. Association groups, comunitate channels, and official guides help you navigate the platform and protect your data. If youre planning to participate, fill your profile with interests to improve matches.

In addition, accessibility options include live transcripts and translated captions, with a simple search to jump to topics of interest. For public participants near Johannesburg, offline options let you view content at a later time and in a comfortable setting, such as a dedicated public lounge or a home office. The system stores your preferences to reduce friction on subsequent days.

Data considerations: streaming uses about 1–1.5 GB per hour at 1080p; plan a reliable wifi or cellular backup. If you join from abroad, you can participate without on-site travel, and you can RSVP for in-network sessions, including dinner networking events to connect with peers and potential partners in a relaxed setting.

To maximize impact, prepare a concise portfolio reel or case study video, carry digital business cards or a ready-to-export contact list, and update your profile to highlight your sector, languages, and preferred topics. Sync your calendar with the event schedule to lock in high-priority meetings and avoid conflicts on the date.