2026 Quality Summit & Conference Speakers
Community Health & Gender Justice Advocate
I am a committed social justice advocate and health equity leader with a strong background in community development, psychosocial support, and human rights advocacy. My work has consistently focused on advancing inclusive health systems and creating safe, supportive spaces for marginalized populations.
Deputy Director-General: Health Regulation & Compliance
Dr Anban Pillay is Deputy Director General for Health Regulation and Compliance at South Africa’s National Department of Health, where he has held senior roles for over 20 years. His work has shaped pharmaceutical policy, including medicine pricing, formularies, procurement and service delivery, as well as South Africa’s Universal Health Coverage (National Health Insurance) policy and legislation.
Learning Centre Manager at Mediclinic Learning Centre
With 24 years of experience in higher education and training. Dr Powell holds a PhD in Nursing Science from the North-West University.
She developed a model for the implementation of high-fidelity simulation and published three articles in international nursing journals on the topic.
Senior Manager: Health Informatics, Mediclinic Southern Africa
Dr Kim Smith is a digital health and health informatics leader passionate about using technology, health information, and data to improve patient outcomes and healthcare performance. As Senior Manager: Health Informatics at Mediclinic Southern Africa, she leads initiatives across digital health transformation, clinical coding, health information management and value-based care. She has contributed to the design and implementation of digital health solutions, clinical performancemeasurement programmes, and d
Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
Dr Mirriam Matandela is the Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of South Africa at the National Department of Health. She holds a PhD in Health Science with Nursing, Masters in Health Service Management (Cum Laude) and post basic diploma in Trauma and Emergency Nursing Science.
Emergency Medicine Manager, Mediclinic Southern Africa & Chief Medical Officer, ER24
Dr Robyn Holgate is the Emergency Medicine Manager for Mediclinic Southern Africa and the Chief Medical Officer of ER24. She started her medical career as an ICU and trauma nurse, and later completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBCh) at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She’s also obtained her MSc in Medicine (in Emergency Medicine).
Founder and CEO, Quro Medical
Dr Vuyane Mhlomi is a distinguished healthcare leader, innovator and entrepreneur committed to improving health outcomes in South Africa and beyond.
National Manager: Service Excellence, Mediclinic
Elzaan de Villiers is a senior communications and client experience professional with a background in healthcare, international management consulting, IT business analysis, community development and strategic communication. She is associated with Mediclinic as National Manager: Service Excellence.
Nursing Executive, Mediclinic Southern Africa
Monyebodi Hendrica Ngoepe grew up and matriculated in Polokwane. She completed her 4-year Nursing Diploma at Lebone College of Nursing in 1990, followed by a Diploma in Operating Theatre Nursing Science (1993), BCUR Degree in Nursing Administration and Education (1997), and Honours Degree in Health Care Studies (2010) through UNISA.
Health Rights Attorney, SECTION27
Khuselwa Dyantyi is a health rights attorney at SECTION27 with over a decade of experience in public interest law, specialising in socio-economic rights and constitutional litigation.
Operations Manager, DignitySA
Leigh Meinert is DignitySA’s Operations Manager and former Advocacy and Operations Manager at the Association of Palliative Care Centres. After 20 years in the education sector, she retrained as a death doula and was the first Chairperson of the Soul Carers Network, supporting compassionate accompaniment for people and families at the end of life.
Group Manager: Emergency, Trauma & Disaster Management, Netcare
Mande Toubkin is a leading South African emergency, trauma and disaster management specialist with more than 30 years of clinical, academic and strategic healthcare experience. She is Netcare’s Group Manager for Emergency, Trauma, Disaster Management, Transplant, Corporate Social Investment and Human Milk Banking, leading national programmes in emergency care, trauma systems, disaster preparedness and compassionate healthcare.
SARChI Research Chair in Digital Health, UWC
Professor (Dr) Jennifer Chipps is an Emeritus Professor at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the DSTI/NRF Decadal Plan Aligned SARChI Research Chair in Digital Health.
Her prior roles include positions at the University of Sydney, the NZ Health Research Council, the NSW Health, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Jennifer holds a PhD in Telepsychiatry from UKZN.
Emeritus Professor, Stellenbosch University
Professor Keymanthri Moodley is a specialist family physician, bioethicist, and Emeritus Professor at Stellenbosch University, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, USA. She has led five NIH-funded research projects, has extensive clinical trial experience, and has spent more than 20 years training researchers in Good Clinical Practice and research ethics while serving on numerous ethics and data safety monitoring boards.
Acting Group Chief Medical Officer, Mediclinic Group Ltd
Professor Nadiya Ahmed is a General Surgeon and Intensive Care Specialist with extensive national and international experience.
An Affiliated Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Care at the University of the Free State, she currently serves as Acting Group Chief Medical Officer at Mediclinic Group Ltd.
Adjunct Professor, University of the Western Cape
Professor Sharon Vasuthevan is a nurse leader, educator, researcher and healthcare consultant specialising in nursing leadership, education, quality and health information systems. She holds a PhD in Nursing and is a Registered Nurse.
Brian Currin
Founding Director, Concentric Alliance
Brian Currin
Brian Currin, a graduate from Stellenbosch University (BA LLB 1974), is a South African Human Rights lawyer, international mediator and peace process facilitator.
Christoff Raath
Chief Executive Officer – Insight Actuarial Solutions
Christoff Raath
Christoff Raath is a seasoned actuary with deep expertise in healthcare financing. Over the course of his career, he has served as an actuarial consultant to some of South Africa’s largest and most influential medical schemes, administrators, and managed care organisations. He specialises in financial strategy, risk modelling, benefit design, and healthcare sustainability.
Clinton Philip
Senior Specialist Product Management, Altron
Clinton Philip
With over three decades of leadership in Medical IT for Primary Healthcare, and more than a decade specialising in Occupational Health and Oncology, I bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the healthcare technology landscape. As a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and FBPM, I am passionate about driving innovation, transformation, and meaningful digital change across Altron HealthTech’s Enterprise and Oncology business solutions.
Dr Atiya Mosam
Public Health Medicine Specialist
Dr Atiya Mosam
Dr Atiya Mosam is a Public Health Medicine Specialist with over 15 years of experience in health systems strengthening, policy development, and implementation of health sector reforms. She is the founder of Mayibuye Health, a consultancy focused on strengthening health systems through primary health care reform, health financing, and evidence-informed policy.
Dr Bhavna Patel
Former CEO, Groote Schuur Hospital
Dr Bhavna Patel
Bhavna Patel completed her medical degree at UCT, and following her internship at Groote Schuur Hospital, she was in private practice for about 10 years. She then joined the Public Health registrar program at UCT and while rotating through Groote Schuur Hospital as a registrar, she was appointed as a medical manager, working in all the clinical divisions.
Dr Claude Ndlovu
Chief Healthcare Officer, GEMS
Dr Claude Ndlovu
Doctor Ndlovu is a seasoned healthcare executive and medical doctor with more than two decades of experience spanning medical schemes administration, managed care, health policy, provider relations, and clinical governance.
Dr Karisha Quarrie
Chief Medical Officer, Life Healthcare
Dr Karisha Quarrie
With a background in forensic medicine, she brings an evidence-driven, systems perspective to healthcare leadership, asking not only what happened when care falls short, but why – and how healthcare organisations can design systems that make excellent care more likely.
Dr Liza Street
Paediatrician and COO, Mammoth
Dr Liza Street
Doctor Liza Street is a South African paediatrician, health-tech entrepreneur, COO at Mammoth and founder of Ajuda. Her work sits at the intersection of clinical practice, healthcare operations and the data infrastructure needed to support a more connected and efficient health system.
Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso
Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso
Dr Nonkululeko Boikhutso is a public health medicine specialist and healthcare executive with two decades of experience in clinical operations and hospital leadership. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
Dr Rachel Moore
Chief Medical Officer, Mediclinic
Dr Rachel Moore
Dr Rachel Moore is a specialist surgeon and Chief Medical Officer of Mediclinic, where she provides strategic clinical leadership focused on clinical governance, patient safety, quality improvement and building strong partnerships between hospitals and healthcare professionals to deliver better patient care.
Dr Russel Rensburg
Executive Director, Rural Health Advocacy Project
Dr Russel Rensburg
Russell Rensburg is a health activist working towards equitable health access to quality health care for rural and underserved communities and currently serves as an Executive Director for the Rural Health Advocacy Project and the TB Accountability Consortium. He has over 15 years’ experience working on strengthening health systems, with 8 of those spent managing technical assistance in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Dr Shaheem De Vries
Chief Executive Officer, Groote Schuur Hospital
Dr Shaheem De Vries
Dr Shaheem de Vries is the Chief Executive Officer of Groote Schuur Hospital and a seasoned medical doctor with over two decades of experience in prehospital emergency care, health leadership and systems innovation. His career began in 2000 at Conradie Hospital, with a placement at Groote Schuur Hospital and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) sparking his passion for emergency medicine.
Dr Simon Strachan
Paediatrician & CEO, South African Private Practitioners Forum
Dr Simon Strachan
Dr Simon Strachan is a practicing paediatrician based in Bedfordview. Since 1996, he has been practicing at Life Bedford Gardens Hospital, offering comprehensive paediatric care with special interests in vaccinology, pulmonology, allergy, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Dr Sue Tager
Academic Medical Director at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre
Dr Sue Tager
A graduate of Wits Medical School, and a Fellow of the College of Neurologists of South Africa, Sue spent several years in private practice as a Neurologist, before returning to Academic Medicine at Wits in 2001.
Jeff Wicks
Investigative Journalist & Author, News24
Jeff Wicks
Jeff Wicks is an Investigative Journalist and member of News24 investigations team.
He is a three-time winner of the prestigious Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism, and a recipient of the Nat Nakasa award for courageous journalism in 2024.
Luis da Silva
CEO, Healthbridge
Luis da Silva
Luis da Silva is a passionate leader at the intersection of healthcare and technology, bringing over twenty five years of experience driving digital transformation in our industry. As a co-founder and now CEO of Healthbridge, Luis is privileged to work alongside Bridgians who, with a culture of “doing well by doing good”, craft innovative HealthTech solutions to liberate life through transforming healthcare.
Mapato Ramokgopa
Competition Commission
Mapato Ramokgopa
Ms Mapato Ramokgopa is an economist with over 20 years of experience in competition economics and economic regulation. Her expertise covers competition policy and antitrust, market conduct, enforcement, market inquiries and studies, and evidence-informed public policy. She is an Economist and Executive Manager in the Market Conduct Division at the Competition Commission South Africa. She has worked across several divisions, leading strategic investigations, managing special projects, and coordinating market research and sector studies.
Mark Heywood
Editor, Maverick Citizen (Daily Maverick)
Mark Heywood
Mark Heywood has nearly four decades of experience in civil society in South Africa. He has founded or co-founded leading organisations including the Treatment Action Campaign, Corruption Watch, SECTION27, the AIDS and Rights Alliance of Southern Africa (ARASA) and, in 2019, Maverick Citizen, the Daily Maverick’s social justice and activism platform.
Melanie Da Costa
CEO Designate, Netcare Limited
Melanie Da Costa
Melanie Da Costa, CFA, started her career in investments as a healthcare investment analyst in Stockbroking. Her career in investments spanned 11 years and included her role as the Head of Equity Research for UK based HSBC’s South African office.
Neil Kirby
Director and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences
Neil Kirby
Neil Kirby is a Director and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences with 30 years of legal experience, including more than 20 years specialising in healthcare regulatory law. He advises clients across healthcare and life sciences, data privacy, commercial, dispute resolution and environmental law, with particular expertise in healthcare regulation, consumer protection and the protection of personal information.
Paresh Prema
Branch Head: Health Actuarial Services, Alexforbes
Paresh Prema
Paresh Prema is the Branch Head of Health Actuarial Services at Alexforbes, leading a team that provides actuarial and strategic healthcare consulting services to medical schemes and healthcare stakeholders.
Patience Ntamane
Director and Head of Provincial Quality Assurance, Gauteng Department of Health
Patience Ntamane
Patience Ntamane is the Director and Head of Provincial Quality Assurance at the Gauteng Department of Health. She is a professional nurse and healthcare quality leader with more than 35 years of experience in nursing, healthcare management, clinical governance, patient safety, regulatory compliance and quality improvement.
Prof. Alex van den Heever
Chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
Prof. Alex van den Heever
Adjunct Professor Alex van den Heever holds the Chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Cape Town and has worked in health economics, public finance, and social security policy in South Africa since 1989.
Prof. Binu Luke
Professor, North-West University
Prof. Binu Luke
Prof Luke is a distinguished South African physician, health-systems leader and academic with extensive experience in clinical medicine, health governance and medical education. He is a professor at North-West University and adjunct professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Prof. Susan Cleary
Head of Department & Professor of Health Economics, University of Cape Town
Prof. Susan Cleary
Susan Cleary is Head of Department and Professor of Health Economics in the School of Public Health at the University of Cape Town. She joined the School in 2001, becoming the Director of the Health Economics Unit (2007-2012), Associate Professor (2011), Head of School (2022), and Professor of Health Economics (2023).
Sasha Stevenson
Executive Director, SECTION27
Sasha Stevenson
Sasha Stevenson is a human rights lawyer and the Executive Director of SECTION27, a public interest law organisation in Johannesburg.
She holds bachelors, honours and law degrees from Rhodes University and an LLM from the University of Cambridge.
Thoneshan Naidoo
MBA in Strategy and Marketing and an MSc in Electrical Engineering
Thoneshan Naidoo
Thoneshan Naidoo is a highly accomplished senior executive with extensive experience in leadership,
corporate governance, and driving strategic growth. With an MBA in Strategy and Marketing and an
MSc in Electrical Engineering, he has built a distinguished career across healthcare, finance, and
entrepreneurship. His professional journey highlights his ability to transform organisations, foster
innovation, and manage diverse stakeholders effectively.