AFRICAN UNION YEAR FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: WEBINAR ON HERITAGE AND TOURISM, AN ASSET FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (28 SEPTEMBER 2021)

Dr Albino Jopela

Dr. Albino Jopela is the Head of Programmes at the African World Heritage Fund. He has a Doctoral degree in Archaeology from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa where he is currently a Research Fellow. He was a lecturer of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Eduardo Mondlane (2008-2017) and associate researcher at Kaleidoscopio (Research in Public Policy and Culture) both in Mozambique, and World Heritage Advisor of ICOMOS between 20015-2018. His professional interests include heritage management (custodianship) systems, rock art, liberation struggle heritage in Africa and World Heritage.

Mrs Phakamile Hlazo

Phakamile Hlazo is the award-winning founder of two travel brands, Zulu Nomad and in Africa Travel. She is also the co-Chair of the SATSA Access, Inclusivity and Diversity Committee (previously the SATSA Transformation Committee), Phaka is a seasoned strategist, and a hands-on operational lead with vast experience in the implementation of strategic change initiatives in Africa and Asia. Her consulting career has seen her work for clients including the World Bank Group, Stanlib, Telkom and ABSA.

Phaka believes that technology innovation is a necessary enabler for truetransformation and inclusion in all tourism sectors, as such, Zulu Nomad is a social enterprise whose core purpose is to be an enabler to African tourism capacity and enterprise development at scale. The inAfrica marketplace connects rural and urban providers of authentic, immersive African experiences with travelers from all walks of life and source market, whilst providing a powerful booking management system to African tour operators and hosts.

The recipient of various awards and scholarships, Phaka was in April 2020 named one of the 100 Inspiring Women Founders in Travel by Travel Massive. In 2019 she was named one of the 200 Young South African’s in the Entrepreneurship category by the Mail and Guardian and was named one of 25 Trailblazers in Tourism by the same publication. In 2010, Phaka was awarded a Chinese Government Scholarship, spending a year studying the Chinese language and economy in Shanghai, China. She subsequently spent 2 years living and working in Shanghai, kicking off her change management consulting career, whilst traveling extensively in Asia.

Phaka completed her MSc International Business and Finance through a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship at De Montfort University (UK) in 2006. In 2005, Phaka was named one of the 100 Brightest Young Minds in South Africa. Zulu Nomad is an active member of the global Travel Massive community and collaborates on impact projects with startups in South Africa, Nigeria, and internationally.

Dr Thabo Manetsi

Dr Thabo Manetsi currently serves in the position of Chief Director for Heritage and Tourism Integration at the National Department of Tourism (South Africa). He has extensive experience in the area of Government policy formulation, strategy development and management in heritage and tourism sectors in South Africa. Previously, he has held senior management positions at the South African Heritage Resources Agency and the National Heritage Council of South Africa. He holds a PHD Degree in African Studies (heritage resources management) from the University of Cape Town (South Africa). He continues to publish his work on various platforms in the academia and Government journals.

Alyssa K. Barry

Alyssa K. Barry is a Senegalese architect-urbanist with experiences in the fields of architecture, urban planning, international cooperation, cultural heritage and contemporary art. She is particularly interested in the notion of “Africanity” in today’s African cities and societies and their place within globalization, and strongly believes in the role of culture as a vector of sustainable development for the African continent. She currently works as an African Cultural Heritage Specialist at UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre.

Mr. Khwezi kaMpumlwana

He has worked on research, governance, program implementation and capacity building related to of tourism and sustainable development in with special reference to cultural heritage and liberation heritage for the past 26 years

– Is a member of SA MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION AND ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Sites) – his committee memberships include Interpretation and Presentation Scientific Committee;

– was part of the first management team that established Robben Island Museum

– is founder and director of Zenalia Consulting (offering solutions in textual content solutions, innovation and strategy)

– was first CEO of Nelson Mandela National Museum

– has co-curated numerous exhibitions related to cultural heritage and liberation heritage

– is Co-Editor of the new book Robben Island Rainbow Dreams; co-author of articles like Memory and Representation; Social Inclusion in museums;

– currently serves a World Heritage Specialist at the National Heritage Council of South Africa

– in addition to pursuit of alignment of selected liberation sites with the World Heritage programme;

– his work includes:
+ interface with the African Liberation Heritage Program;

+ planning input for sustainable development & benefit realisation at various resistance and liberation sites in South Africa

– as one of the founders of what has become known as the liberation heritage programme has collaborated with AWHF and colleagues all over Africa on pursuit of positive applications of the Roads to Independence Heritage.