Keynote Speakers
Prof. Dr. Marius Potgieter
North-West University (NWU), South Africa
North-West University (NWU), South Africa
Marius Potgieter is the Deputy Director of the School of Management Sciences and a Professor of Marketing at the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa. Marius has taken keen interest in marketing and business management, together with tourism and aviation, as well as consumer behaviour. Marius has travel extensively and is a strong believer of developing knowledge, deep-thinking, and comprehending the dynamic environment of the consumer and that networking with role-players is of utmost importance for disseminating research besides transferring skills and knowledge unto post-graduate candidates. The standard followed is ethical and social responsible behaviour and research from resource exploitation up to disposal, from both the consumer and the business operation’s perspective.
Africa as Developing Continent for Business, Science and Technology
The second largest continent on Planet Earth is Africa, although currently one of the world’s most unequal regions. Africa is fast rising and the Africa-wafe is expected by 2050. The sectors posing potential to transform Africa are agiculture and industry, and needed are critical policy interventions adressing specifically income inequality, the participation of woman, and gainful employment for young Africans. One major barrier in the development of Africa is structural transformation, which is still at an early stage resulting in urban migrants being absorbed into informal activities that offer little prospect of advancement. In addition, Africa has to improve its production capabilities, as well as the productivity of its human and physical capital. ‘The High Five’ key operational objectives for developing Africa: feeding Africa; powering and lighting; regional integration; industrialising Africa; and improving the quality of life of Africans. The year 2015 marked the conclusion of the Millenium Developmental Goals and the adoption of a new global development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, calls for government-private sector-partnerships and research in order to turn goals into reality.
