Connect with us
Anglostratits

Events

Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa 2026 Announces Award Recipients: Vimbai Masiyiwa and Colin Bell to Be Honoured in Nairobi

Published

on

Hospitality

The recipients will be celebrated as part of the event programme, including exclusive one-to-one interviews in which they will share reflections on their life stories, leadership journeys and the milestones that have shaped their impact on African hospitality

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 16, 2026/APO Group/ –FHS Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com/Africa), organised by The Bench, is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the prestigious FHS Africa Awards.

 

This year’s honourees are Vimbai Masiyiwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, who will receive the Leadership Award, and Colin Bell, CEO of Natural Selection and former CEO of Wilderness, who will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award.

Both awards will be presented in Nairobi during FHS Africa 2026, taking place from 31 March to 1 April 2026. The recipients will be celebrated as part of the event programme, including exclusive one-to-one interviews in which they will share reflections on their life stories, leadership journeys and the milestones that have shaped their impact on African hospitality.

As Co-Founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, Vimbai Masiyiwa is shaping a new era of African hospitality. The company operates a portfolio of luxury safari properties in Zimbabwe, grounded in conservation, sustainability and community empowerment.

Hospitality, at its best, connects guests to wild places in meaningful ways while safeguarding those places for generations to come

Under her leadership, Batoka Africa has championed responsible tourism that protects biodiversity while creating meaningful economic opportunity for local communities. Masiyiwa is recognised for advancing gender inclusion in leadership and for building an African-owned brand that competes confidently on the global stage while remaining deeply rooted in shared value and local impact.

Commenting on the award, Vimbai Masiyiwa said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the FHS Africa Leadership Award. For us at Batoka Africa, hospitality is about stewardship, of land, of culture and of opportunity. This recognition reflects the dedication of our teams and the communities we work alongside in Zimbabwe. I look forward to sharing our journey in Nairobi and celebrating the continued evolution of African-led hospitality.”

Colin Bell is one of the most influential figures in African conservation tourism. Through his leadership at Natural Selection and previously at Wilderness, he has helped shape a model of high-end, conservation-driven safari experiences that balance commercial success with environmental stewardship. Over the course of his career, Bell has played a central role in expanding conservation tourism into new territories, strengthening partnerships with governments and communities, and demonstrating how hospitality can directly support biodiversity protection and local livelihoods. His work has positioned African safari tourism as a global benchmark for sustainable luxury.

Colin Bell said: “I’m deeply grateful for this recognition from FHS Africa. Hospitality, at its best, connects guests to wild places in meaningful ways while safeguarding those places for generations to come. I look forward to reflecting on that journey in Nairobi and celebrating the collective effort of so many people who have shaped Africa’s conservation tourism story.”

Matthew Weihs, Growth Director at The Bench, added: “Vimbai Masiyiwa and Colin Bell are two exceptionally worthy winners. Both have redefined what leadership in African hospitality looks like – purpose-driven, commercially astute and deeply committed to community and conservation. We cannot wait to showcase their stories and personal journeys on stage in Nairobi at FHS Africa 2026.”

FHS Africa 2026 will bring together hospitality investors, owners, operators and industry leaders from across the continent and beyond for two days of forward-looking discussion, high-level networking and celebration in Nairobi.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa).

 

Energy

African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 reúne líderes do setor energético que impulsionam reformas em Barbados, Angola e Marrocos

Published

on

African Energy Chamber

Líderes do setor energético de Barbados, Angola e Marrocos participarão na AEW 2026 para debater reformas, oportunidades de investimento e estratégias que moldam o futuro crescimento do setor energético

CIDADE DO CABO, África do Sul, 13 de agosto 2026/APO Group/ –Três altos responsáveis governamentais e reguladores que estão a moldar o futuro dos setores energéticos de Barbados, Angola e Marrocos irão intervir na African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, que decorrerá na Cidade do Cabo, de 12 a 16 de outubro. A sua participação surge num momento em que cada um destes mercados está a avançar com reformas importantes destinadas a atrair investimento, expandir as infraestruturas energéticas e reforçar a segurança energética a longo prazo.

 

Reunindo ministros, entidades reguladoras, empresas petrolíferas nacionais e investidores globais, a AEW 2026 constitui a principal plataforma do continente para a definição de políticas energéticas e parcerias comerciais. Os debates abrangerão as áreas de upstream, licenciamento, estratégias de transição energética, desenvolvimento de infraestruturas e integração regional, com os líderes governamentais a desempenharem um papel central na definição do panorama de investimento nos mercados africanos e internacionais.

Kerrie D. Symmonds, Ministro da Energia, Desenvolvimento Empresarial e Comércio de Barbados e Ministro Sénior Coordenador do Setor Produtivo, participa na conferência num momento em que a nação caribenha prossegue uma estratégia energética de dupla vertente. Após a sua nomeação em fevereiro deste ano, Symmonds tem supervisionado políticas que apoiam a meta de Barbados de atingir 100% de eletricidade renovável até 2030, ao mesmo tempo que abre o setor offshore do país a novas explorações.

O investimento na energia assenta em instituições sólidas, políticas claras e quadros de investimento competitivos

Em junho, o governo lançou negociações diretas para 19 blocos em águas ultraprofundas, cobrindo mais de 62 000 km², criando oportunidades para exploradores internacionais a par do investimento contínuo no armazenamento em baterias e na modernização da rede elétrica. Na AEW 2026, a participação da Ministra Symmonds deverá destacar a estratégia de Barbados para alinhar a segurança energética com o crescimento económico e o investimento privado.

Posicionado para oferecer uma visão sobre um dos maiores programas de investimento a montante de África, Alcides Andrade, membro do Conselho Executivo da Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis de Angola (ANPG), junta-se à AEW 2026 num momento em que a organização implementa uma estratégia de 60 mil milhões de dólares até 2030. A ANPG está também a apoiar grandes projetos, incluindo Agogo, Begonia, a Fase 3 do CLOV e os projetos de gás de Quiluma e Mabowueiro.

À medida que Angola trabalha para estabilizar a produção de petróleo e expandir a capacidade de refinação interna, Andrade estará em posição de debater as reformas regulatórias e as oportunidades de investimento que impulsionam a próxima fase de crescimento do país.

Entretanto, Salwa Didi, Diretora da Divisão de Avaliação Offshore do Gabinete Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos e Minas (ONHYM) de Marrocos, junta-se à AEW 2026 num momento em que a agência empreende a maior reforma institucional da sua história. A transformação do ONHYM numa sociedade anónima apoiada pelo Estado confere-lhe maior flexibilidade para angariar capital, criar filiais e atrair parceiros estratégicos. A reforma coincide com os progressos no Projeto de Gás de Tendrara, com os renovados esforços de exploração offshore e com o avanço contínuo do Gasoduto Nigéria-Marrocos, reforçando a ambição de Marrocos de se tornar um centro energético regional que ligue os recursos de gás africanos aos mercados europeus.

«O investimento na energia assenta em instituições sólidas, políticas claras e quadros de investimento competitivos», afirma NJ Ayuk, presidente executivo da Câmara Africana de Energia. «Barbados, Angola e Marrocos estão a demonstrar diferentes abordagens para libertar o seu potencial energético, e a AEW 2026 proporciona uma plataforma importante para que estes líderes interajam diretamente com investidores e com a indústria.»

A participação dos ministros Symmonds, Andrade e Didi reforça o papel da AEW 2026 como a principal plataforma do continente para o diálogo entre governos e o setor privado. Realizado ao longo de cinco dias no Centro Internacional de Conferências da Cidade do Cabo, o evento reúne decisores políticos com os investidores e promotores que impulsionam a próxima geração de projetos energéticos em África.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

Continue Reading

Events

Data Centre Summit Connects Africa’s Digital Growth with the Power Systems Needed to Sustain it

Published

on

Data Centre Summit

The programme will examine why data centres are emerging as a new industrial powerhouse and what coordinated action is required from operators, hyperscalers, utilities, independent power producers and investors to capture Africa’s share of global demand

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 13, 2026/APO Group/ –The Data Centre Summit returns for its second edition on 29 October 2026, co-located with the C&I Energy + Storage Summit at The Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg.

 

Following its debut alongside Enlit Africa in Cape Town, the Summit responds to a clear industry need: a platform that connects the growth of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure with the power, cooling, financing and sustainability challenges shaping data centre development across Africa.

The programme will examine why data centres are emerging as a new industrial powerhouse and what coordinated action is required from operators, hyperscalers, utilities, independent power producers and investors to capture Africa’s share of global demand.

Cooling will be a central focus, with sessions exploring the shift from air to liquid cooling as rack densities increase. Discussions will consider deployment at scale, high-performance infrastructure, water availability, waste-heat reuse and the pressure that freshwater scarcity places on cooling decisions.

A South Africa country spotlight will assess the wheeling landscape, grid congestion, regulatory developments and investor sentiment influencing near-term project delivery. The programme will also explore the operational realities of maintaining 24/7 power supply through renewable blending, co-location and evolving generation technologies.

A dedicated case study will unpack how Cape Town, the first African city to launch a formal data strategy, is balancing spatial planning, resource constraints and public transparency against the rapid site approvals demanded by hyperscale growth. This will be paired with a cross-sector conversation on how surging digital workloads are drawing municipal grid capacity and independent power producers into closer alignment, and what coordinated, energy-led siting means for the next wave of facilities coming online across the continent.

Parallel masterclasses will focus on implementation, practical data centre design for African conditions and the barriers limiting clean energy investment. These sessions will address project bankability, power availability, execution risk, grid instability, contractor capacity and blended-finance solutions, giving delegates concrete tools to move projects from concept to bankable reality.

Co-location with the C&I Energy + Storage Summit, created by VUKA Group, places data centre operators in direct conversation with the customers, energy providers, financiers and technical partners responsible for powering Africa’s digital backbone.

For more information and to download the Data Centres Summit Johannesburg programme, visit https://apo-opa.co/3TXHxJ5  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Continue Reading

Business

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum’s digital webinar series kicks off on 26 August

Published

on

“Insights, market intelligence and strategic discussions”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 13, 2026/APO Group/ –The organisers of the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum (DCMI), co‑located with the DRC‑Africa Battery Metals Forum, have announced the first dates of its exclusive, upcoming, high-impact digital webinar series.

While the event was meant to take place in Kinshasa from 7 to 8 October, the event organisers, VUKA Group, postponed the in-person Forum to 2027 to align directly with the DRC Government’s updated national policy frameworks and to allow the revised roadmaps for the $58 billion Master Plan for Industrialisation (Plan Directeur d’Industrialisation, PDI) to mature.

The digital webinar series will kick off on 26 August and run until 2027, providing convenient access to the insights, market intelligence and strategic discussions planned for the live event.

Expert speakers and moderators confirmed to participate in these webinars include:
– Edmond Cibamba Diata, Lawyer, Elite Law Firm, DRC 
– Shantha Bloemen, CEO, Mobility for Africa, Zimbabwe
– Bryan Mav, Sales Team Manager & Brand Manager, Moderne Construction, DRC

– Ghislain Kabumba Baderha, Doctoral Researcher, UOB, DRC
– Jem Kishabaga, Managing Director, Renewable Energy, DRC
– Prof. Hercule Kalele Mulonda, Technical Director, CCB and Representative of CAEB, DRC
– Marc Nyunzi Mutambala, Capital Markets Manager, FSD Africa, Kenya

The first four editions of the digital webinar series will focus on the following:

Webinar 1: 26 August 2026, 10h30–12h00

UNLOCKING THE DRC’S INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL:  The A-to-Z masterclass strategy

The DRC masterclass examines how the nation can harness its mineral wealth for sustainable growth and industrialization. Experts will discuss policies to move beyond raw exports, enforce security and strengthen ESG standards. Priorities include local beneficiation, human capital development and tailored financing to balance global markets. By defining collaborative actions and investment pathways, the session seeks to accelerate value addition, enhance competitiveness and position the DRC as a responsible global leader in the minerals value chain.

Webinar 2: 23 September 2026, 10h30–12h00

FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE & INDUSTRIALISATION DEVELOPMENT

The panel on infrastructure and industrialisation highlights the DRC’s need to move beyond raw material extraction by focusing on local transformation. Building resilient industries will drive job creation and strengthen the economy. Experts will examine how transport, energy and logistics projects accelerate industrialisation, with case studies such as ports, railways and cross‑border initiatives. By prioritising strategic development and leveraging mineral revenues, the DRC can unlock sustainable growth and position itself as a competitive hub within the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Webinar 3: 21 October 2026, 10h30–12h00

NEW TECHNOLOGIES DRIVING THE GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION

This session explores how technology and ESG‑aligned investment can transform the DRC’s critical minerals sector. With global demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper rising, responsible sourcing and compliance are essential to build investor confidence. Discussions will focus on local processing, advanced metallurgical methods, renewable energy and automation to accelerate industrialisation. By shifting from raw exports to in‑country beneficiation, the DRC can strengthen sustainability, unlock long‑term value and position itself as a competitive player in the global energy transition.

Webinar 4: 18 November 2026, 10h30–12h00

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN

This discussion explores how strategic partnerships can strengthen the DRC’s critical minerals value chain. By fostering collaboration between governments, regional integration systems and investors, the focus is on building resilience and supporting sustainable growth. Key themes include industrialisation through global partnerships, prioritising sectors for development and aligning with international partners. With effective models of cooperation, the DRC can unlock socio‑economic benefits, enhance competitiveness and establish a stronger foundation for a sustainable and inclusive minerals sector.

DRC’s transition
DCMI unites government, industry and investors to accelerate the country’s transition from raw‑material extraction to high‑value manufacturing, underscoring the nation’s opportunity to convert mineral wealth into infrastructure, jobs and sustainable economic growth.

The DRC’s Ministries of Mines and of Industry and Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) are official partners of the event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Continue Reading

Trending