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Albert Bredenhann

Pixel Pro Media

 AI - The Game Changer 

Wed 12 August @11:00 - 12:00

Fri 14 August @11:00 - 12:00

Albert Bredenhann is one of South Africa's most in-demand voices on practical AI for business. As founder of Pixel Pro Media, a marketing and AI training agency, he helps business owners cut through the hype and actually use AI to save time, win clients, and grow.

His sold-out Ultimate AI Workshops have run across the country, from Pretoria to Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Welkom and Nelspruit, teaching everyday business people how to put tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini to work in the real world. He has also written an ebook on AI to help beginners get started with confidence.

Albert's career runs from IT executive (former MD of Jump Shopping, then South Africa's leading online shopping search engine) to professional photographer and videographer, to building Pixel Pro Media into a full-service marketing and training agency. He is also the author of multiple books, including the Afrikaans title Wimpers op Lakens, and a social media influencer with a loyal following of more than 400,000 across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

Based in Pretoria, Albert spends his time helping South African businesses and individuals get comfortable, and creative, with the AI tools reshaping the way we work.

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Tennille Gay

Salty Red Kids

From Children’s Clothing to a Lifestyle Brand: How Storytelling, Local Manufacturing and Emotional Connection Are Shaping Modern Retail

Thurs 12 August @12:30-13:30

I’m Tennille Gay, founder and owner of Salty Red Clothing, a proudly South African clothing and lifestyle brand inspired by childhood adventure, family connection and bold African-inspired storytelling.

After 13 years in the corporate world and becoming a mom to three little ones, I felt pulled toward creating something more meaningful and creative. Dressing my own children had always brought me so much joy and I struggled to find clothing that felt playful, colourful and truly different. That passion ultimately became Salty Red.

What started as a children’s clothing brand has grown into a broader lifestyle collection including family matching, ladieswear and safari-inspired pieces, all designed in small batches with a strong focus on quality, comfort and locally made craftsmanship.

More than just clothing, Salty Red is about connection between family, travel, nature, storytelling and proudly South African design.

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Tracy Symons

SAFI

South African Furniture Initiative

Thurs 12 August @14:00-14:30

South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) is a South African industry association representing and advocating for local furniture manufacturers across the value chain. As a non-profit organisation, SAFI supports the growth of the sector by promoting South African design, manufacturing capability and craftsmanship in both domestic and international markets.

SAFI works to strengthen industry visibility, facilitate market access and connect manufacturers with buyers, partners and development opportunities across retail, corporate, hospitality and export channels. Its membership includes a diverse range of producers, from small-scale artisans to high-volume manufacturers, spanning solid wood furniture, bespoke design, contemporary lifestyle ranges and hospitality-focused solutions.

Through trade platforms, exhibitions and strategic engagement, SAFI showcases the depth and capability of South African furniture making, highlighting quality production, design innovation, sustainability awareness and skills development within the sector.

At local and international trade shows, SAFI serves as a collective voice and platform for manufacturers, creating opportunities for meaningful business connections and long-term partnerships.

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Yvette Robeck

Novel Art & Frames

Seasonal by Design: How Our New Collections Make Retailers the ‘Go-To’ Destination—through Story Telling

Thursday 13 August @10:00-10:30

Yvette Robeck is a high-impact global executive and creative director with a proven track record of driving commercial growth, creative direction, and end-to-end product development within the international homeware sector.

With an elite portfolio featuring collaborations with global giants such as Zara Home, Aldi, Lidl, TJMaxx and TK Maxx, amongst others, Yvette brings world-class design strategy and international retail insight to her curation of the Novel Art and Frames stand at SARCDA.

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Alessia Pinna

Alessia (Ally) Pinna

You Have a Product. Do You Have a Brand?

Thurs 13 August @11:00 - 12:00

Alessia (Ally) Pinna is a brand strategist, designer, and creative director based in South Africa, working across service-based and product-based industries for over 13 years, locally and internationally. Her work is built on a simple position: branding is strategy first, decoration second, and no brand holds up in the market without that order being right.

She works with founders one-on-one, building their brand strategically so it's ready for market and positioned to grow without needing to be redone every time a trend or the market shifts under it. Marketing agencies regularly bring her in as strategist and creative lead on product-based clients who skip that step completely and aren't ready for the campaign about to be built around them, usually because the business treated branding as a logo instead of the strategy behind it.

That two-way relationship has given her a close view of what separates a brand that can carry a big retail order from one that only looks like it can. Ally speaks on brand strategy as the thing that has to be right before the marketing, the packaging, or the stand ever gets built.

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Vuyisile-Mshudulu

City of Johannesburg

The value of trade and investment in driving small business growth in South Africa – Key lessons and opportunities for SMME driven economic growth and development

Thurs 13 August @12:30-13:30

Vuyisile Mshudulu is a specialist and activist in the cultural and creative industries. He is a seasoned Arts Administrator and Policy maker with expertise in the cultural and creative industries from all spheres of government and in the private sector. Mshudulu has served in several positions of responsibility in institutions operating in the cultural and creative industries. He has a passion for cultural diplomacy and brings a vast experience in managing programmes and projects of national and international scale and importance.

Mshudulu has been invited as an expert in various international seminars, conferences and panel discussions to present papers, provide expert analysis and speak on various aspects of the Creative Industries. Mshudulu is the Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage in the City of Johannesburg. He has previously held position of Deputy Director for Creative Industries at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Vuyisile Mshudulu is a seasoned practitioner in the Cultural and Creative Industries with specialization in the following areas:
• Arts Administration
• Policy and Strategy Development
• Strategic Planning
• Programme Design and Management
• Cultural Diplomacy
• Facilitation Services
• Programme Directing and
• Exhibition Design and Management

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Tieg O'Sullivan

KV Art - Dala and Teddy

 Business Yoga: How Flexible Brands Win Buyers 

Thurs 13 August @14:00-14:30

Tieg O'Sullivan is the Business Development Manager at KV Art, the parent company of South African brands Dala and Teddy.

He works closely with retailers, distributors, and commercial partners to develop new products and build strategic partnerships across South Africa and international markets.

With a background in software engineering and business development, Tieg combines analytical thinking with a passion for creativity, manufacturing, and brand growth. At this session, he'll share insights into building partnerships that create value for both brands and customers

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Connor Fick

KV Art - Dala and Teddy

 Business Yoga: How Flexible Brands Win Buyers 

Thurs 13 August @14:00-14:30

Connor Fick is a Brand Development and Marketing professional at Dala, where he has been part of the team for over two years.

His work focuses on brand management, product and packaging development and creating engaging brand experiences across both retail and corporate channels.

Passionate about creativity and strategic thinking, Connor enjoys helping shape brands that inspire learning, creativity, and innovation.

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Alessia Pinna

Alessia (Ally) Pinna

Is Your Brand Ready for the Order That Changes Everything?

Thurs 13 August @11:00 - 12:00

Alessia (Ally) Pinna is a brand strategist, designer, and creative director based in South Africa, working across service-based and product-based industries for over 13 years, locally and internationally. Her work is built on a simple position: branding is strategy first, decoration second, and no brand holds up in the market without that order being right.

She works with founders one-on-one, building their brand strategically so it's ready for market and positioned to grow without needing to be redone every time a trend or the market shifts under it. Marketing agencies regularly bring her in as strategist and creative lead on product-based clients who skip that step completely and aren't ready for the campaign about to be built around them, usually because the business treated branding as a logo instead of the strategy behind it.

That two-way relationship has given her a close view of what separates a brand that can carry a big retail order from one that only looks like it can. Ally speaks on brand strategy as the thing that has to be right before the marketing, the packaging, or the stand ever gets built.