Bilal is Program Director for Africa & MENA at MDIF. He is a CA(SA) with 15 years’ experience in tech and media. He was former CEO of a media startup in Qatar, Social Media Editor at Al Jazeera, and a Manager in Transaction Services at KPMG.

Khumo holds a Masters in Management in Innovation Studies from Wits Business School and a BSc and Honours in Urban and Regional Planning from Wits University. She previously worked as a Project Manager at the South African Cities Network.

Murray is a communications and advocacy specialist, previously at the Right2Know Campaign, Open Secrets and amaBhungane. When not at SAMIP, he works on digital privacy, and has published a children’s book about corporate surveillance.

Mandla Langa is one of South Africa’s internationally acknowledged contemporary writers, cultural organisers and a veteran of the national liberation struggle. Mandla is a poet, short-story writer, novelist, and cultural activist.

Dinesh Balliah is a media consultant currently pursuing doctoral research at Wits University in Journalism and Media Studies, studying newsroom convergence and the impact on journalism practice in South Africa.

Mohamed Nanabhay is the Deputy CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), which invests in independent media around the world providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies.

Nishant Lalawani leads Luminate’s global strategy for funding independent media, including investigative journalism, press freedom, combatting misinformation, and innovative financial models. He also oversees Luminate’s strategy, learning & impact, and partner support teams.

Pontsho Pilane is a journalist and media trainer who has been a senior writer at Health-e News, and a health journalist at Bhekisisa centre for health journalism. She debuted as a journalist at The Daily Vox, where she wrote primarily about gender and race.

Vincent Maher is pioneer and strategist in the South Africa digital media industry, currently serving as the Head of Digital Enablement at Multichoice. Prior to joining Multichoice, Maher was the Chief Innovation Officer at Kagiso Media.