2026 IBSC Annual Conference
St. Stithians College
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
June 29 – July 2
Speakers
Hear from these compelling speakers to kickstart new ideas and engaging conversations.
Seth Sandile Mazibuko
From Stone Throwing to Stone Breaking and Now to Stone Gathering
Monday, June 29, 3:00 PM
Seth Sandile Mazibuko was the youngest leader of the South African Students' Organisation that planned and led the Soweto uprising and student march on June 16, 1976. He was also the youngest political prisoner held captive on Robben Island Prison in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Raised and educated in Soweto, the then 16-year-old was arrested in July 1976 and held in solitary confinement for 18 months before being charged, tried, and sent to Robben Island for seven years. While imprisoned, Mazibuko completed his Matric (grade 10) through correspondence and then earned his bachelor’s in education degree from the University of Southern Africa (UNISA).
After his release from Robben Island, he worked as a teacher at St. Ansgar’s College and Bophelo Institute, and later became the principal of Bophelo Institute, Mike Morrison College, and First National College. Dedicated to advancing education, Mazibuko continued to study with UNISA while working as an educator and attained a master’s degree in education. He embarked on his post-graduate degree when Clarke Atlanta University in the United States invited him as one of the African Scholars to work on joint research investigating education in African countries focusing on economic, social, and political transition in Africa. He continued his research and studies in Scotland and France.
Mazibuko is currently the COO of Moral Regeneration Movement. Previously he held roles in education and human resources for the governments of South Africa and Sweden. Mazibuko was the final chairperson of the Release Mandela Campaign and has served in the Free the Children Alliance fighting against detention and imprisonment of children, the Human Rights Commission, Committee on Immigrants and Xenophobia, and as chancellor of the June 16 Development Foundation.
Zeblon Zenzele Vilakazi
The Real Question Is Not What Young Men Achieve, But Who They Become
Tuesday, June 30, 9:00 AM
Currently in his second term of office, Zeblon Zenzele Vilakazi has served as vice-chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand since January 2021. A distinguished nuclear physicist by training, he grounds his leadership in the belief that universities must combine academic excellence with real-world impact and graduates should leave not only highly skilled but also socially conscious.
Vilakazi completed his PhD at Wits in 1998, then went on to a postdoctoral fellowship at CERN in Geneva. In 1999, he joined the University of Cape Town, where he established South Africa’s first experimental high-energy physics research group, contributing to the ALICE experiment (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) at the Large Hadron Collider. His career has also included senior leadership roles as group executive for research and development at the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa and as director of iThemba LABS.
Professor Vilakazi sat at the helm as Wits marked its centenary in 2022, guiding the university through its 100-year milestone while positioning it for its next century of impact, innovation, and global engagement. He has worked extensively in international science, including engagements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. In 2010, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. In 2022, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, one of the highest honors in global science. His work continues to span research, leadership, and international collaboration, with a strong focus on positioning African scholarship at the center of global knowledge production.
Drum Busters
Connecting Teams Through Rhythm
Tuesday, June 30, 10:45 AM
All attendees get to engage in the Drum Busters djembe workshop. More than entertainment, this shared experience connects people. Drum Busters is a leading South African experiential company specializing in interactive African drumming programs designed to unite people through participation. Working alongside professional performers, facilitators, and master drummers, Drum Busters transforms audiences into active participants, creating unforgettable experiences that inspire collaboration, communication, and leadership. Because when people create rhythm together, barriers disappear and teams discover what they can achieve as one.
Sibusiso Sizatu
All Hands on Deck
Tuesday, June 30, 3:15 PM
An accomplished sailor with 18 years of experience, Sibusiso Sizatu of Cape Town is a highly skilled helm and tactician recognized for his leadership and strategic approach on the water. His impressive track record in competitive sailing includes multiple Lipton Cup campaigns, second place at the 2007 Mirror Nationals, and notable results at international championships. After an impressive podium finish in the 2023 Cape2Rio race leading the Alexforbes ArchAngel crew, he skippered the Alexforbes Angel Wings crew to victory in the 2025 Cape2Rio race.
As an instructor at the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) Sailing Academy, Sizatu is passionate about mentoring young sailors and inspiring the next generation to take up the sport. The award-winning documentary Ukuwela, screened on Showmax, tells the story of his journey to success and highlights his dedication to sailing and mentorship.
Outside sailing, Sizatu enjoys running, soccer, and spending time with his family whenever possible. He draws inspiration from elite sailors such as Pete Burling, the youngest helm to win the America’s Cup, and from mentors like Roger Hudson who have shaped his own sailing journey. Known for his unpredictable style on the water, Sizatu thrives in challenging conditions and embraces every opportunity to grow and share his knowledge.
Sizatu’s commitment to his crew and making sailing accessible to all underscores his philosophy: The sport is open to everyone and anyone can achieve success with passion, dedication, and teamwork.
Isak Pretorius
Deep Gratitude
Wednesday, July 1, 9:00 AM
Isak Pretorius is a seasoned African executive and humanitarian leader with over 20 years of experience driving social impact, economic development, and cross-sector partnerships across the continent. He currently serves as group CEO of ForAfrika, an African-founded and -led organization that has spent over 40 years making an impact across the continent and highlighting a vision to see Africa thrive.
A passionate advocate for Africa’s growth, Pretorius is recognized for bridging the gap between nonprofit and for-profit sectors to deliver sustainable development. He has advised governments, global donors, NGOs, and businesses on designing high-impact, scalable strategies that support African communities, economies, and ecosystems.
A respected global speaker, Pretorius has riveted audiences at TEDx, the United Nations, the Clinton Global Initiative, and other prominent business and development forums.
A long-standing member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Pretorius currently serves as Africa regional chair meritus and chair of the Global Deal Network. He received the group’s impressive YPO Africa Impact Award.
Leila Fourie
Boys in the Global Economy
Wednesday, July 1, 2:00 PM
Johannesburg Stock Exchange Group CEO Leila Fourie has over 30 years of international experience, primarily in financial services. Along with serving on multiple boards and holding senior roles in banking, capital markets, and payments, she was the inaugural co-chair for the United Nations Global Investors for Sustainable Development convened by the UN secretary general in 2019 and was appointed to the UN Global Compact Board in June 2024.
Previously Fourie served as the executive responsible for consumer finance at Australia’s largest bank, The Commonwealth Bank of Australia; as the New South Wales vice president of the Economic Society of Australia; on the Board Audit Committee of Lifeline Australia; and as CEO of the Australian Payments Network.
Before moving to Australia, Fourie served on the board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as executive director and previously worked for one of South Africa’s largest banks, Standard Bank, as Card Division managing director. During this time, she served as chairman on the board of Diners Club and member on Discover’s Chicago-based Diners Club International Advisory Board. Fourie started in Standard Bank’s Investment Bank as global director credit analytics, capital, and portfolio management for South Africa, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Russia, Brazil, and Argentina.
Fourie has a PhD in economic and financial sciences and won the Economic Society South Africa Founders’ award in 2012 for best master’s economics thesis in the country. She has published articles in academic journals and actively advocates for policy development in various sectors. Standard Bank named Fourie Business Woman of the Year in 2021 and the Women in Tech® Global Awards honored her with the Women in Technology Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
She is an active rock climber, mountaineer, and cyclist and plays the piano in her spare time.
Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo
The Power of Relationships
Thursday, July 2, 11:30 AM
In the late 19th century, Alex van den Heever's family was instrumental in establishing Afrikaans as an official language in South Africa, a language associated with oppression. Growing up, van den Heever experienced all the privilege and material benefit of the Apartheid regime's policies. Renias Mhlongo is from a family of hunter-gatherers in the greater Kruger National Park. Apartheid segregation laws forced them from their land. Refusing to be educated in the oppressor's language, Mhlongo abandoned school at age 10—destined for a life of poverty.
Years later, van den Heever and Mhlongo were thrown together as guide and tracker at Londolozi Game Reserve to lead safaris for discerning travelers. Their 30-year journey together has taken them from tracking leopards at Londolozi Game Reserve to following grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park and speaking internationally.
Van den Heever and Mhlongo have been the subjects of several TV news documentaries, most notably by CNN International. These two men have broken through the barriers of their backgrounds and formed a bond that has changed both their lives forever. The duo co-owns Kruger Untamed safari camps in Kruger National Park, which holds the distinction of being the only concession to achieve a perfect score on an environmental audit. Many view this relationship as a model in a democratic South Africa.