Delegates can look forward to an engaging blend of thought leadership, practical insights, and collaborative exchange – all within a setting that balances business with connection, inspiration, and purpose. Speaker information will be available soon.
Alex Jenkins is currently a Ruminant Technical Principal at Allied Nutrition covering dairy, beef, and sheep operations. He has been involved in the South African dairy industry for 18 years.
Alex has been a formulating nutritionist, a business manager, an importer and a consultant. Before coming back to South Africa, Alex travelled the world for six years with his wife and now tries to bring different perspectives to agriculture. While Alex primarily focuses on training the industry on the correct application of additives for maximum return, he is also a passionate motivational speaker and hopes to help business owners deal with the pressures of day-to-day farming. He specialises in mineral nutrition, transition cows, and rumen health. Alex will take on the challenging role of Master of Ceremonies at the SA Large Herds Conference, guiding the audience and keeping them informed as the event unfolds.
Enrike is an international food-systems and sustainability researcher, PhD candidate in Animal Science, and science communicator working across agriculture, sustainability, nutrition, and public understanding of science. Her work is grounded in a simple belief: when we understand the real story behind our food, we make better choices for our health, our families, and the world around us.
She is also a digital educator and the producer of “Informed”, where she turns complex evidence into clear, relatable stories that cut through misinformation and reconnect people with agriculture in a human, honest, and empowering way.
Frans van Bohemen is an accomplished agribusiness leader with over a decade of international experience spanning supply chain management, commercial growth, and business development across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Currently Supply Chain Manager at Nutreco Africa B.V., he oversees export operations and leads a team in the Netherlands while serving on the regional management team. His career includes senior roles in sales, business development, and product management, consistently driving market expansion, portfolio innovation, and team performance in the animal nutrition and aquaculture industries.
Frans holds two Master of Science degrees from Wageningen University — in Management, Economics and Consumer Studies, and in Forest and Nature Conservation — as well as a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry and Animal Healthcare from HAS Den Bosch. His academic work explored European dairy policy reforms, First Nations Forest planning in Canada, and the Chinese dairy market, reflecting his deep expertise in agricultural economics, rural policy, and animal nutrition.
Christo Joubert was born in the small Boland town of Montagu, where he spent his childhood growing up on a mixed fruit farm. He completed his schooling in Montagu before pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University. He later obtained a Master’s in Business Administration at the same institution.
Christo began his professional career as an engineer and subsequently held various management positions in the steel and ferroalloy industry in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. In 2012, he made a significant career change by joining Trevor Elliott’s Grasslands Agriculture in Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, as Chief Executive Officer.
He finds the complexities of a pasture-based dairy system highly stimulating, requiring extensive systems thinking—an approach that resonates with his earlier experience in the metallurgical industries.
Christo is married to Carina, an accounting teacher. Together they have two children, Karli and Jean, both currently studying at North-West University in Potchefstroom.
Sanet Grobler is passionate about people! Illuminated Growth Pty Ltd was born from this great love. To help individuals and organisations to see their potential and develop it is the driving force behind her work with children, schools, and organisations. As a speaker at various events, Sanet focuses on emotional wellbeing, building high-performance teams, and parenting.
Daniel Silke is one of South Africa’s leading Independent Political Analysts and most passionate Keynote Speakers covering South African, African and Global political and economic issues. As a renowned Futurist and commentator, his insightful, entertaining and predictive presentations on topical issues are in great demand. Silke holds a Masters Degree in South African and International Politics and has served, in a senior capacity, both as a Member of the Provincial Parliament and as a City Councillor in Cape Town He lectures and consults to major corporates, academic institutions and think-tanks both locally and overseas. He is currently the Director of Political Futures Consulting and also regularly appears in print, on the Internet and on radio & television both in South Africa and abroad. He has recently published an acclaimed new book “Tracking the Future: Top Trends that will shape South Africa and the World”.
Georgie joined forces with Pinion Advisory in 2020 and started Dairy Junction, a herd performance analytics company. She and her team currently provide herd performance data, analysis, benchmarking, and consulting advice to over 130 dairy businesses across South Africa and, more recently, the UK/Ireland.
She has extensive knowledge and experience with various herd management systems, software, and dairy data analytics, as well as budgeting, fodder flows, and strategic planning scenario analysis.
Georgie has a passion for dairy farming and enjoys driving performance through a system of target setting, benchmarking, insightful feedback, reporting, and practical on-farm advice.
John Hudson has a genuine passion for agriculture and is a seasoned agricultural finance specialist with over three decades of experience in agricultural banking and corporate finance. As Head of Agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, he played an instrumental role in growing the agricultural loan portfolio from R4 billion in 2010 to R30 billion in 2025, driving sustainable growth with a focus on profitable client relationships. His strategic vision, leadership, stakeholder engagement and market presence were pivotal in establishing Nedbank as a major force in the agricultural finance market.
Since retiring from Nedbank in 2025, John has remained active in agriculture providing strategy, consulting and advisory services to Capitec Bank, commercial farmers and agribusiness clients.
John holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Management (Honours) from the University of Pietermaritzburg and has completed several executive leadership programs, including Henley Management College and Duke University.
He has a deep interest in leadership, business resilience and sustainability and thrives on being outdoors and enjoys conservation, fishing, mountain biking, and overlanding across Southern Africa.
Guest speaker Bakkies Botha is widely regarded as one of the hardest men rugby has ever seen. Known as one of the game’s greatest enforcers, he was a key figure in the Springboks’ sustained success over many years.
John Phillip Botha was born on 22 September 1979 in Newcastle and matriculated at Vereeniging Technical High School in the Vaal Triangle. Standing at 2.02 metres, he began his provincial career with the Falcons Rugby Union before being recruited by the Blue Bulls. There, he formed a legendary lock partnership with Victor Matfield that endured until his retirement in 2015.
Botha’s robust and confrontational playing style often placed him at the centre of controversy. His physicality and short temper led to several yellow and red cards, as well as suspensions from international rugby. Despite this, his presence on the field carried immense psychological impact, earning him a reputation worldwide as the Springboks’ enforcer.
At domestic level, he represented the Bulls between 2002 and 2011, helping the team secure three Super Rugby titles. In 2011, he moved to RC Toulon in France, where he enjoyed further success, winning three European Champions Cup titles and a Top 14 championship.
Off the field, Botha was known as a consummate professional and a gentle giant. Far more than just a physical player, he was also highly skilled and decorated, proving his value as a complete rugby athlete. Bernard Laporte, former French Rugby boss and World Rugby vice-chairman, once described him as the greatest player he had the privilege to work with.
A Rugby World Cup winner, Botha retired from Test rugby in November 2014 and from all professional rugby in 2015. Following his retirement, he established a butcher business and became involved in farming.
Despite his many aggressive encounters on the field, Bakkies Botha remains one of the most recognisable and memorable players ever to wear the green and gold of the Springboks.
With two decades as a business leader, entrepreneur and coach, Justin is known for challenging the way we approach pressure, discomfort, and discipline.
His unique concept of Smart Toughness goes to war with blind grit. He blends mindset, clarity, and consistency to help leaders navigate discomfort without bravado and pursue bold goals without burning out.
In February 2025, Justin ran 10 marathons in 10 days. Not for a medal. Not for charity. But to explore discipline, resilience, and the stories we tell ourselves about struggle.
The lessons from that journey now shape the way he lives, leads, and coaches.
Whether on stage, in the boardroom, or on the mountain, Justin helps teams and individuals move from insight to action.
He’s an everyday athlete, co-host of the King Moves podcast, and author of the weekly Just Thinking newsletter.
Inspired by the humble dung beetle, Justin’s method when things get hard is simple: Stop. Assess. Pick a line. Keep rolling.
Jane Holliday is an animal and grassland scientist who obtained her MSc from the University of Natal in 2007. She has worked as a consultant in the dairy industry for the past 23 years and has also owned and managed a dairy in her personal capacity. Jane is currently a director and team leader of Intelact South Africa.
Jane has an in-depth understanding of dairy farming systems and has built up strong relationships with her consulting clients. Her skills include farm systems modelling, project management, and people liaison required for forming and working in multidisciplinary teams. Jane consults with 30 farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng regions of South Africa, looking after 40 000 cows. Two of her clients are corporate farmers milking over 5000 cows each. She has been providing this service for 15 years.
Fanie Ferreira has dedicated over 34 years to the dairy industry, demonstrating steadfast leadership and commitment to its growth and development. In 2015, Fanie was elected Chairman of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) Free State, marking the beginning of his national contributions as a member of the MPO National Board of Directors. In 2019, he advanced to the position of Chairman of MPO North, representing the entire inland region of South Africa on the MPO Board. Beyond his role at the MPO, Fanie contributed to the broader agricultural sector by serving on the Executive Management team of Free State Agriculture from 2018 to 2021.
In 2021, Fanie was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of the MPO, where he successfully steered the organisation through a critical restructuring process. During this time, he also assumed key leadership roles as a Director on the Boards of the Dairy Standards Agency and Milk SA. He additionally represents the primary agricultural industry on the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) and the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee, advocating for critical issues related to animal health and welfare. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, Fanie’s appointment as the CEO of the MPO was made permanent in October 2022. His extensive experience and strategic vision continue to guide the organisation in advancing the interests of South African milk producers.
Prof James Blignaut is an environmental and natural resource economist attached to ASSET Research and the School for Public Leadership at the University of Stellenbosch. He specialises in the economics of restoring degraded landscapes. This includes the economics of conservation and regenerative agriculture, and natural resource accounting. The latter includes a focus on on-farm nutrient, water and carbon cycles. He has published about 140 peer-reviewed scientific papers and authored or co-authored 35 chapters in books.
Tim Barry is a psychologist in private practice. He is primarily interested in the difficulties of living in a consumerist world. He focuses on how empirical research can inform useful strategies for living a meaningful life.
Dr. Justin Cohen is a Hall of Fame Speaker, bestselling author, and world authority on Human Transformation. With a career spanning two decades and 40+ countries, Dr. J applies cutting-edge psychology to deliver measurable results in leadership, sales, and organizational performance. As a leading voice in the Age of AI, he provides global organizations with the mental software updates needed to thrive in the age of exponential change. A former CNBC Africa prime-time talk show host, Dr.J’s content-rich, customized keynotes are high-energy, practical, and backed by a world-class client list including Microsoft, Google, HSBC & BMW.
Fiona Brennan is a senior research officer in Teagasc (The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority), where she leads the soil biology research programme. Her research group aims to harness knowledge of the soil and plant microbiome towards the development of sustainable, resilient agricultural systems. They assess the impact of agricultural practice on soil health, microbial-soil-plant interactions, and adaptation to climatic stress. A major research interest is the development of indicators and practical tools for the assessment of soil health. Fiona has recently co-ordinated a national-scale citizen science project on soil health and led the development of a handbook on farming for soil health. She is also an associate editor with the European Journal of Soil Science.
Alwyn P. Kraamwinkel is a respected leader in South Africa’s dairy industry, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the South African Milk Processors’ Organization (SAMPRO). He also sits on the Board of Directors of Milk SA, chairs the Dairy Standard Agency, and is a member of the South African National Committee of the International Dairy Federation.
Raised on a citrus and beef farm near Makhanda, Steve Moss developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and the natural environment from an early age. After studying mechanical engineering, he returned to the family farm, where he gained valuable practical experience before joining Just Milk 11 years ago.
Starting out managing a single dairy, Steve has grown into a share farming role and today manages four dairy hubs in the north-eastern Cape, comprising seven dairies. His journey through the dairy industry has been shaped by a passion for continual improvement, resilience, and building strong teams in challenging agricultural environments.
Steve is passionate about people, animals, and soils, believing that sustainable farming starts with caring for each of them well. He strives for excellence in all aspects of farming and is committed to building resilient and sustainable dairy systems for the future of South African agriculture.
Basil has over 25 years’ experience in farm business management, training and consultancy. He has worked extensively in Australia and overseas in grazing industries, primarily consulting to farm business owners and managers and developing and delivering farmer training programs.
Basil specialises in pasture-based grazing systems and their management. He is currently consulting to dairy, beef and sheep businesses monthly, and runs groups focused on the implementation of strategic, tactical and operational activities that drive profit.
Basil has further experience in farm feasibility studies, dairy conversions, project management and development, project monitoring and evaluation.
James is an equity partner and business manager in Rosemount Agriculture, a dairy farming business milking 2000-3000 cows in northern Tasmania, Australia.
The business was formed in 2019 and was milking 750 cows at the time of formation. It has grown through a mixture of leasing, land acquisition and share farming to its current size. The business’s goals are to look after staff, cows, and pastures to maximise farm profit and wealth creation. Key to this growth has been staff engagement and an approach of allowing staff to operate freely within boundaries.
Before moving to Tasmania, James studied commerce / Law at university before working as a business analyst for an agricultural fund. Before a stint studying medicine, he entered the dairy industry in 2017. He is deeply passionate about pastures and also providing opportunities for team growth and progression.
Outside of farming, James is supported by his wife Sophie and enjoys running after his three little boys aged 3, 5, and 7.
Arthur Goldstuck is an award-winning writer, author, analyst and technology commentator. He is founder of World Wide Worx, South Africa’s leading technology market research organisation. Among other, the Cloud in Africa project won the Business-to-Business Marketing category of the 2019 Sabre Awards Africa.
He has received lifetime achievement awards in multiple sectors, including the Distinguished Service in ICT Award from the Institute of IT Professionals of South Africa in 2013, being elected to the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame in 2021 and, for his work in training and mentorship, to the Southern African Educators Hall of Fame in 2023. In both 2022 and 2024, the global insights community Esomar named him to the Insights 250 honour roll of the world’s top innovators in market research, enterprise intelligence and data-driven marketing. In 2019, he became Honorary IT Ambassador for ORT SA.
He is the author of 21 books, including South Africa’s all-time best-selling IT book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Internet. His new work, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI: The African Edge, is being published by Pan Macmillan in 2025.
Arthur was president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa for 2024/5.
Breiffni Daly is a highly experienced farm manager with over 17 years of expertise in pasture-based dairy farming. For the past six years, he has successfully managed the 1,500-cow pasture-based herd at the Sansaw Estate in the UK. His leadership and dedication to sustainable dairy farming were recognized when he was awarded Farm Manager of the Year by Farmers Weekly in 2024.
Passionate about pasture-based systems and the power of teamwork, Breiffni will share valuable insights from his journey of managing one of the UK’s largest herds. Join him at the Large Herds Conference on 1 June, where he will discuss practical strategies, challenges, and successes in large-scale pasture-based dairy management.
Murray Bredin grew up on a dairy farm, and that foundation has shaped everything he has built since. As owner and founder of Shock Wave Engineering, he develops the monitoring and control systems that help farmers do more with less energy, managing everything from water pumps and center pivots to bulk storage silos and ice banks for thermal storage.
Murray brings an unusually broad toolkit to agriculture. His engineering background spans the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, pressure vessel fabrication, and mining slurry systems, before his focus shifted to farm automation. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, is a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), and holds PV Green Card and commercial solar qualifications — giving him a rigorous grounding in energy efficiency and demand management.
His father’s dairy farm remains his favourite test bench. Much of what Shock Wave Engineering has developed has been trialled in the field first, where the stakes are real and the feedback immediate.
Managing Director at EE Business Intelligence
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrisyelland
Chris Yelland obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Natal in 1976, and was founder and managing director at EE Publishers (Pty) Ltd, the publisher of EngineerIT, Energize, Vector and PositionIT magazines. After the closure of EE Publishers on 29 November 2019, Chris started a new company, EE Business Intelligence (Pty) Ltd, to focus on important strategic issues facing the electricity, energy and ICT sectors in South Africa and the region.
In February 2020, Chris was appointed associate consultant for leading financial services and capital markets research group, Intellidex, and energy advisor to OUTA (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse). Chris was the winner of the 2002 South African Bureau of Standards Media Award for “exceptional contribution to increasing the awareness of standardisation and related issues through the media”.
In 2003, he won a merit award in the Energy category of the 2003 Siemens Profile Awards, “recognising journalistic contribution to excellence in the field of science and technology”.
At the 2004 ABB Excellence in Technology Reporting Awards, Chris received the ABB Technology Journalist of the Year Award for 2004.
In 2009, Chris won the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) Journalism Award for “special efforts within the field of journalism to promote greater understanding of energy and its role in sustaining human endeavours”.
In 2018, Chris was awarded the prestigious South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) President’s Award for “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the South African electrical engineering industry”.
Chris is a fellow of the SAIEE, a senior member of the IEEE (USA), and a member of the IET (UK). He is also a registered Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council in the UK.
Presentation: Click here
Professor of Animal Welfare | Chairperson, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Dr Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk is a Professor of Animal Welfare and also a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare. Her interdisciplinary approach has focused on identifying measures and ways of improving the lives of farm animals under our care. She is also among the first in her field to combine experimental and qualitative methods when addressing farm animal welfare issues and was recently cited as one of the most highly cited animal welfare scientists in the world, having published over 300 peer reviewed publications.
She is recognized as a leader in Animal Welfare around the world and has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Hans Sigrist International Research Prize (Bern, Switzerland), for her outstanding achievements as an international leader working in the field of sustainable food animal production. She was also awarded the American Dairy Science Association Extension Award in 2018, the Award for outstanding contributions to the field of ruminant well-being by the World Buiatrics Association in 2016; American Dairy Science Association Award for Excellence in Dairy Science in 2013 and the 2012 Recipient of the Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service awarded by the Canadian Society of Animal Science.
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Dr Marina von Keyserlingk is a passionate and gifted speaker who is in high demand around the world to speak on a variety of farm animal welfare topics.
She is also highly sought after to sit on animal welfare advisory boards and has contributed to numerous discussions on farm animal welfare standards in Canada, the US, South America, Australia and Europe.
Presentation: Click here
Founder and CEO at The Digital Law Company
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emma-sadleir-66651117
Emma Sadleir is South Africa’s leading expert on social media law and an award winning speaker. The company she founded in 2014, the Digital Law Company, specialises in educating and advising corporates, employees, schools, parents, teachers, and universities on the legal, disciplinary and reputational risks of social media.
Emma’s areas of expertise include managing the legal consequences of using social media including defamation, privacy, hate speech and intellectual property; cyberbullying and harassment; sexting and pornography offences; the disciplinary consequences of using social media; personal and brand reputation management on social media; health and social media and online safety.
Much of Emma’s work involves creating social media strategies and policies for corporates and schools, drafting social media agency agreements and providing training and workshops on social media law.
Emma and her team have collectively addressed hundreds of blue-chip corporate clients, professional organisations, conferences and over 800,000 learners around the world – through educational talks and presentations. She also teaches media law to journalists and lawyers and lectures personal reputation management on various MBA programmes.
Emma is the co-author of two bestselling books and of the social media section of the legal textbook, “Communications Law”. Emma has appeared as an expert witness in countless disciplinary hearings, CCMA hearings, employment law cases, civil and criminal trials in the Magistrates Court, High Court and Equality Court.
Emma co-authored The Social Media Charter for the South African Human Rights’ Commission.
Presentation: Click here
Environmental Scientist, ESG Specialist and Science Communicator
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simon-gear-89286632
Simon is a distinguished broadcaster, writer, and environmental scientist with over two decades of experience. His career in broadcasting began in November 1999, and since then, he has been a familiar face on South African television and radio, appearing on all domestic channels and numerous local radio stations. Simon is renowned for his expertise, serving as the daily science and weather correspondent for Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk. He has also been a frequent guest on international stations such as the BBC, Canada’s CBC, and China’s CGTN.
In addition to his broadcasting work, Simon is a prolific writer and author. His book, ‘Going Green’ (Penguin, 2008), is a testament to his commitment to environmental conservation. He has also contributed to a wide range of magazines, textbooks, and website blogs, sharing his knowledge and insights on environmental impact assessments, air quality, and climate change.
Simon is deeply involved in environmental activism and consultancy. He is the founder of Kijani, a specialized consultancy focusing on assessing and modeling the air pollution and greenhouse gas impacts of various industries and infrastructures. His passion for conservation is further evidenced by his work with BirdLife South Africa and VulPro, where he volunteered in vulture conservation.
In September 2018, Simon made waves in the broadcasting world by launching South Africa’s first dedicated sports commentary station, 1World Sports Radio (1WSR.com). He also owns Research News Africa, a science communication site aimed at disseminating scientific knowledge to the public.
Simon’s expertise, coupled with his engaging and humorous style, makes him a sought-after speaker. He has lectured extensively at business schools, universities, and industry events, captivating audiences with his profound knowledge and passion for science and the environment. Currently, Simon serves as a science advisor on the environmental show, 50|50, where he continues to inspire others to care for the planet.
Presentation: Click here
Retired Agricultural Consultant and Researcher, South-West Victoria, Australia
After completing his undergraduate and post graduate studies at the University of Melbourne, Graeme joined the Victorian State Department of Agriculture in 1981. He worked as a Pasture Specialist Extension Officer for the first 12 years, predominantly in the dairy industry of South-West Victoria.
Graeme then moved into research, helping establish the south-west Dairy Research Unit based in the Warrnambool District Office. During his 22 years with the Unit, he conducted a range of on-farm, applied research projects in forage production and utilisation, and in soil-water-nutrient dairy industry programs. He conducted a number of projects aimed at improving the irrigation management practices and the water use efficiency of irrigation schemes on dairy farms in the region.
Upon leaving the Department he became a Consultant for Dairy Australia in natural resource management and soil-water-nutrient programs. This included managing the south-west Victorian component of the National “Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2” program.
Presentation: Click here
Selector
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gilles-larbaneix-351751134
Gelles is a forage breeder for Barenburg France, with more than 10 years of experience in various species.
Barenbrug France is part of the Royal Barenbrug Group, a globally active seed company headquartered in the Netherlands. The Barenbrug Group is an independent family business. After more than 100 years of experience, the company’s international reputation is still based on their fundamental values of innovation, quality, marketing and partnership.
Research and development in all major climate zones across the world, as well as continued innovation, have resulted in a unique range of high-quality specialty products. The company develops long-term partnerships with its customers and seed producers and participates in research agreements with major universities and institutes. Unique know-how is the basis of our wide range of products.
The Barenburg brand is synonymous with superior quality!
Presentation: Click here
Working Adventurer – What I Learnt Cycling Through Every Country in Africa.
On the 30th of June 2013, after selling everything he owned, 20kg overweight, alone, and unaided, and with no adventure experience, then 38yr old Ron Rutland left Cape Town Stadium on his bicycle to fulfill a lifelong dream and embark on a world first…a single continuous journey through every country on mainland Africa.
42,000km, 841 days and 75 countries later, Ron arrived in Brighton, England on the 17th of September 2015, just in time to watch Japan beat the Springboks in their opening game of the Rugby World Cup…an historic end to an historic journey!
The trip would forever change Ron’s life, as well as in many ways those who have heard and shared in his stories. The incredible humanity and kindness – the best of the human spirit that Ron encountered across such a diverse range of countries and cultures across Africa and Europe – flies in the face of ‘conventional wisdom’ and preconceived ideas and perceptions about so much of the world today.
This journey kickstarted an 11-year career that that has seen Ron cycle some 100,000km through 120 countries on all 6 continents, all while raising millions of rand for charity.
In his uniquely self-deprecating and humorous manner, Ron has inspired and motivated audiences around the world with tales from the road, and what it took for the most ordinary and unlikely person to achieve something quite extraordinary.
At the end of 2023, Ron hung up his pedals, and finally returned home to KZN to take up a role as Director of The Michaelhouse Old Boys’ Club.
Presentation: Click here
Steve was born in Nongoma in Zululand in 1960 and his parents were farmers in northern Zululand near Pongola.
Steve attended school at Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg where he matriculated in 1978.
After completing his 2 years National Service, Steve studied Agricultural Economics and Accountancy and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990. Steve is the founder and chairman of Colenbrander Inc., a diversified financial services group which employs over 150 staff. The business is based in Hilton and services clients mostly in the KZN Midlands.
Steve is married to Jenny. They have 4 children.
Presentation: Click here
Flexible milking regimes and milking efficiency in grazed dairy systems
Dawn Dalley is a senior scientist in the Farm Systems research team at DairyNZ, based in the South Island, New Zealand. Having been raised on a dairy farm in Canterbury and with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons 1) and PhD in Animal Nutrition from Lincoln University Dawn has strong practical and technical farming knowledge. Having spent 8 years in the Feedbase and Nutrition team in Victoria, Australia and 23 years as a farm systems researcher in NZ, Dawn has a good understanding of grazed dairy systems.
As a farm systems specialist Dawn has interests in profitable and sustainable dairy farm systems; dairy systems redesign to improve productivity and reduce environmental impact; improved crop-based wintering; alternative feeding options for grazed dairy cows; alternative milking frequencies and animal health and welfare. Dawn currently leads a large scale (740 cow) multi-year farm systems comparison at the Southern Dairy Hub aimed at reducing nitrogen losses by at least 30%.
Dawn’s presentation will focus on recent New Zealand research investigating alternative milking frequencies – once a day, three milkings in two days and 10 milkings in seven days, on milk production, labour efficiency and energy use. The presentation will also look at the impact of fixed time cluster removal, cupping technique and automation on milking efficiency.
Presentation: Click here
President of Isuzu Motors South Africa
Appointed President of Isuzu Motors South Africa in June 2020, Billy Tom carries the overall responsibility for the company’s manufacturing, distribution and sales operations in South Africa as well as its exports into Sub-Saharan Africa markets. In July 2021 Tom was also appointed Chairman of Isuzu-owned KANU Commercial Body Construction.
In addition to his current role at Isuzu Motors South Africa, Tom is also serving as the President of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa), the Automotive Business Council.
Tom has over 27 years of experience in the automotive, banking and FMCG sectors and has held executive positions at Distell, SABMiller, Standard Bank, General Motors and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa/Abi. His experience has afforded valuable insights into the development of brands and distribution of products across large geographical territories including Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Billy’s previous involvement in the automotive industry came prior to his 12-year stint at Coca-Cola, when he was integral to the development of General Motors’ premium vehicle channel and the introduction of the Cadillac and HUMMER brands in South Africa.
Billy has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Rhodes University) and a Master of Business Leadership Degree (UNISA).
Presentation: Click here
Georgie has worked in the SA dairy industry for 18 years and is the part owner manager of Dairy Junction, a herd performance data analytics and consulting company run in conjunction with ACS consulting and Waikato SA. She heads up a team of five herd performance consultants and Afi software specialists who work with over 100 pasture herds throughout the S and E Cape and KZN. Dairy Junction provides monthly analysis, bi-annual industry benchmarking data and advice in the areas of production efficiency, health, longevity and fertility. She has also recently moved into a business consulting role in addition to her DJ work. She lives in George, S Cape and has two children, two horses and a dachshund.
Presentation: Click here
Nyiko Ubisi has eleven years of on-field experience and highly knowledgeable, expertise in animal production. He is currently employed at Just Milk & No2 Piggeries – Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape as their Dairy Farm Manager, where his day-to-day running of the dairy farm and staff management includes: Pasture allocation, people management, dry cows and transition cows periods as well as vaccination and breeding program management.
Presentation: Click here
Stephen Hughes obtained his BVSc in 2001, University of Pretoria. After four years in mixed-practice, he returned to University of Pretoria, became a lecturer in the Section of Reproduction and obtained a masters in veterinary medicine – reproduction (MMedVet – Repro). He is a board certified diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, and registered with the SAVC as a specialist in veterinary reproduction. Stephen is currently a member of the Howick Veterinary Clinic: Large Animal Division. His focus is on herd health and reproduction, and bull breeding management. Stephen has two sons, Ben and Joshua, with his wife Daniela Steckler, who is also a specialist in veterinary reproduction. Their interests are camping, hiking, trail running, bird watching and just spending time in wild places.
Presentation: Click here
Sigrun is a Pasture Scientist with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture based at Outeniqua Research Farm near George in the Southern Cape.
Having grown up on a dairy farm in the KZN Midlands, pastures and veld have always been my interest. I completed a BScAgric Grassland Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and later an MSc Agric. Before moving to George, I worked at the ARC at Cedara for 19 years as a pasture plant breeder and ran the pasture evaluation trials, including the national trials. Then followed two years with the KZN Department of Agriculture as the pasture scientist, before moving to George nine years ago.
The main focus of my research at Outeniqua Research Farm is variety evaluation of various species including alternative species such as tall fescue, cocksfoot, red clover, plantain and chicory. Additionally, the evaluation of species in mixtures and the associated forage quality with a focus on finding pasture varieties and mixtures that best fit the needs of the dairy systems in the Southern Cape, especially in terms of resilience.
Tall fescue is one of the species that is being evaluated as part of the quest for greater resilience in pasture systems. Important aspects for tall fescue are seasonal growth, forage quality and composition of mixtures.
Presentation: Click here
Managing Director and specialist nutritionist at Nutroteq
Jonathan grew up on a sheep & beef farm near Adelaide in the Eastern Cape. He completed a BSc Animal Science and a BSc (Hons) Animal Science after which he completed his studies with a Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition with application in rumen fermentation dynamics all from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Jonathan is an active member of the commercial and scientific industry pertaining to animal nutrition and animal feed manufacturing. He specialises in vitamin and mineral applications and premix manufacturing.
Jonathan serves on the board of directors of 5 companies all of which operate in the Agricultural Sector and acts as an advisor to more than 50 large scale farming operations throughout the African continent.
Jonathan’s special academic interests are the relationship between vitamin & mineral nutrition, nutritional management, and health attributes in ruminants where he has authored and/or co-authored numerous publications on various topics.
Presentation: Click here
Neil Bisseker – MC Large Herds 2024
Neil Bisseker is the Marketing Manager at Northfield Engineering in Nelson Mandela Bay.
He is 57 years old and married his wife Carol-Anne in 1995. They will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next year. They have a 20-year-old daughter Gemma who is studying musical theatre in Cape Town.
Neil joined Northfield Engineering in March of 2023 and is responsible for all the marketing efforts of the business.
Neil comes from a family of journalists and did part time sports reporting for the Weekend Post during his high school years at Grey High School – where he matriculated in 1984.
After graduating with a National Diploma in Public Relations from PE Technikon in 1988, Neil completed his National Service before joining the SABC as a radio journalist in 1990.
Neil spent 7 years at the Public Broadcaster before joining the newsroom at then Radio Algoa in March of 1997.
He spent the next 25 years at Nelson Mandela Bay’s no 1 commercial radio station where he performed dual roles in the news room as Sports Editor and Assistant News Editor.
A natural progression from his on-air commitments, saw Neil develop his skills as an MC. To date, he l has officiated at countless golf days, mountain bike races and trail runs – including the Addo and Longmore 100 milers.
Neil is a passionate golfer and in 2005 was named the Telkom Golf Writer of the year by the Sunshine Tour.
He is an honorary member at Port Elizabeth’s iconic Humewood Golf Club, the only true links on the African continent.
Neil is also an avid mountain biker with questionable descending skills – as he has the scars to prove it.
I am passionate about people! Illuminated Growth Pty Ltd was born from this great love. To help individuals and organisations to see their potential, and develop it, is the driving force behind my work with children, schools, and organisations. As a speaker at various events, I focus on emotional wellbeing, building high performance teams and parenting.
I am happily married to Rudolph, and we have two beautiful children. Living and working in the Garden Route is an absolute privilege.
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JP Landman is a self-employed analyst on political-economic trends. He focuses on trends in politics, economics and demography. He has been a consultant to Nedbank Private Wealth since 2000.
In 2006 he was appointed as a member of then Pres Mbeki’s Economic Advisory Panel; in 2015 he was appointed by the President as a member of the National Planning Commission; and he is a non-executive director of the JSE listed food company Libstar.
In 2013 he was elected a Public Policy Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars in Washington DC and he spent four months in the US.
He has a BA LLB from Stellenbosch University (1978), studied Economics at Harvard (1998 and again in 2005), and obtained a MPhil in Future Studies (cum laude) from Stellenbosch (2003). In 2009 he completed a course at Oxford University Continuing Education on the economies of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India & China).
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Dr John Finn is a researcher with Teagasc, which is a state-funded institute for research, advice and education in agriculture in Ireland. He works at the interface between agriculture and ecology. As well as researching farmland biodiversity, he has over 20 years’ experience of research on the design and agronomy of multi-species mixtures. He has investigated various aspect of mixtures, and shown benefits for: yield, weed suppression, drought resilience, nitrogen replacement, reduction of nitrous oxide emissions intensity, and legacy effects.
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Lyn has been running family meetings for the purpose of succession for over 30 yrs. Her role as a facilitator was to help family reach an outcome all were prepared to accept. Lyn is married and is mother of 5 sons and grandmother to twelve of their children.She was originally a nurse and relationship counselor! He retirement has given her a new insight into how easy it is for older people to become invisible.
Presentation: Click here
Presentation: Click here