Call for Speakers: Share Your Expertise
The University Revenue Recovery & Financial Sustainability Conference 2026 is officially inviting proposals from higher education leaders, finance executives, researchers, administrative innovators, and EdTech experts to speak at our upcoming two-day event.
We are looking for dynamic thought leaders to share practical case studies, innovative frameworks, and actionable strategies addressing the modern economic challenges facing tertiary institutions.
Speaker Profiles
Speak at the Conference
Call for Presentations.
We're building the Day 1 and Day 2 speaker line-up now. If you're leading revenue recovery, cost transformation or commercialisation work at your institution, we want to hear from you.
Dr Oliver Jan Mbhalati
Dr. Jan Mbhalati is a Director: Revenue & Expenditure at University of Mpumalanga. He holds extensive academic and operational experience in public sector finance and higher education management, Dr. Mbhalati’s research focuses primarily on higher education funding frameworks, third-stream revenue generation, NSFAS allowance structures, and the long-term financial sustainability indicators of South African public universities. His work critically examines funding equity, resource dependency theory, and strategic financial management designed to foster institutional resilience and student support across the higher education sector.
Dr Johan Tesselaar
Dr Johannes Christoffel Petrus Tesselaar is a highly accomplished Public Administration and Municipal Finance Executive with more than 36 years of experience across South Africa’s local government sphere.
Holding a Doctor of Technology (Public Administration), MBA, Honours in Public Administration, and BCom, he combines academic depth with extensive executive leadership and consulting expertise.
He has served in senior leadership roles, most notably as Chief Financial Officer at district municipality level, where he consistently drove financial sustainability, governance excellence, and institutional innovation, contributing to multiple clean audits and national recognition for performance excellence.
Dr Linda Meyer
An accomplished C-suite Senior Executive, recognised for delivering strong commercial growth and governance excellence, inspiring confidence in my leadership and strategic impact across both the private and public sectors.
Currently serving as the Managing Director of ADvTECH’s Independent Institute of Education (IIE), Rosebank International, Waterfall School of Business, Capsicum Culinary Studio and the President of Rosebank International University College in Accra, Ghana.
A visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University, CriSHET. Previous leadership roles include Chief Operating Officer, Dean and Academic Executive, Head of Justice College, Chief Director of Corporate Services, CCMA Commissioner and multiple other senior and executive management appointmentsspanning government, academia, and industry.
Extensive governance expertise, with board-level responsibilities and active service on ICT, Audit & Risk Committees, and People and Culture, ensuring robust oversight and long-term organisational sustainability. A serving board member of SAQA and Higher Health (UK), and a member of the CHE's, HEQC and AC.
Academic qualifications include a PhD (RSA), a Doctor of Business Administration (USA), an MBA (UK), a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies (UK), a B.Com in Law, a BBA, and multiple diplomas and higher certificates in occupationally directed education and training development practice, labour relations, human resource management, human resource development, and labour law.
Areas of focus include social impact initiatives, transformative enablement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and social justice. A published academic author, thought leader, and regular keynote speaker at international and regional conferences, with frequent contributions to media and policy discourse.
Francois Grobbelaar
Business Rescue Practitioner
Optime Africa
Unarine Masala
Professional Accountant (SA)
Imani Business Advisory Services
Tania Lopes
Director- Licensed Business Rescue Practitioner
Slavis Gracia
Taka Sande
Certified Director® | Board Chair, NED & Audit Committee Member | Governance, Ethics & Financial Recovery in High-Risk, Capital-Intensive Organisations | Author & Board Advisor
Taka Sande is a Certified Director®, board chair, and governance advisor dedicated to strengthening ethical leadership and institutional stability in high-risk environments. With over two decades of experience spanning boardrooms, audit committees, and national public-finance oversight, he brings a deeply practical understanding of how governance impacts financial, operational, and reputational outcomes.
Taka has governed and advised organisations managing multi-billion-rand portfolios across capital-intensive infrastructure, property development, municipalities, and private enterprises. He is frequently brought in to guide boards facing severe regulatory pressure, fiscal stress, or operational distress.
An accomplished author and international speaker, Taka wrote Roadmap to Non-Executive Directorship – The Essential Handbook and is currently authoring Governance of Corruption – A Guide for Directors. He regularly trains and speaks to boards across Africa and internationally, empowering leaders to govern with clarity, independence, and ethical courage.
Michael Goss
Founder and Managing Director
BPeO© Online
Michael Goss, LLB, M.Inst.D, is a leading Board Evaluator and recognised expert in Board Effectiveness in Corporate Governance. As the Founder and Managing Director of BPeO© Online (Board Performance evaluation Online), he has pioneered a specialised, technology-enabled approach to Board Evaluations, positioning the firm as one of Africa’s leading providers of customised Board Evaluation solutions.
Mr. Goss is also an established speaker on Board Effectiveness, most recently presenting to over 250 international delegates at the 43rd Corporate Governance Conference on Board Induction and Effective Boards, and to more than 200 international delegates at the Good Governance Academy in April 2026 on Board Performance and Effectiveness Evaluation. Under his leadership, BPeO© Online has established itself as a game-changer in the governance landscape, streamlining evaluation processes while delivering deep, actionable insights that strengthen Board performance across both public and private sector organisations.
Mr. Goss brings extensive experience in advising Boards, having personally conducted numerous Board Evaluations and engaged directly with inter alia Board Chairs, Directors, and Committee members across a wide range of industries (see LinkedIn Profile - linkedin.com/in/michael-goss-llb-m-inst-d-664712162). His work spans Board, Committee, and Individual (self and peer) evaluations, often delivered within complex, independently governed and client-led environments.
Previously, he served as General Manager of PG Governance (Pty) Ltd, a niche advisory firm specialising in Corporate Governance, Board Evaluation, and Strategy& Training. His professional foundation is grounded in a strong understanding of legal frameworks, governance instruments, and the standards set by leading professional bodies, including his membership with the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA). Mr. Goss is known for integrating practical, real-world boardroom experience with governance best practice, ensuring that evaluations not only meet statutory and regulatory expectations but also result in meaningful, measurable Board improvement.
Lebogane Mpakati
Turnaround Strategist and Business Rescue Consultant
Lebogane Mpakati is a seasoned restructuring and turnaround specialist with over 18 years of experience helping companies and organisations in financial distress. As an expert partner on Restructuring and Turnaround at Indalo Business Restructuring, she leads complex restructurings and business rescue plans for companies across industries.
Her deep expertise stems from her prior roles leading workout and restructuring at major institutions including IDC, Landbank, NEF and BDO business restructuring. She has advised companies across sectors such as mining, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and more.
Lebogane is skilled at quickly diagnosing problems and designing innovative solutions to return companies to profitability. Her financial acumen and negotiation abilities make her highly effective at stakeholder management during sensitive restructurings.
Dikeledi R. Seoloane
The charismatic and hardworking Dikeledi Seoloane, is a qualified Accountant & Tax Practitioner. She has an extraordinary commitment to her profession. She had humble beginnings having worked at Pick n Pay, Tyre 2000, Dischem Pharmacies were she learnt the operation of business from Customer Service to Finance.
She is now a Chief Accountant Officer in her own company named "Matsobanemetja Business Consulting" that offers all accounting related matters, including Bookkeeping, which touches on matters of Assets, Liabilities, Income, Expenses and Owner's Equity.
Her day to day responsibility is to make sure businesses speak a proper and progressive language that will ensure financial growth and prosperity. Through her profession, she has become financial business speaker, constantly invited to engage and share knowledge with business owners and management teams across the country. For any business to have a healthy Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, etc., it needs a financial doctor to unlock the doors of opportunities, including funding
Dikeledi R. Seoloane
Stephan Ferreira, is an entrepreneur and business leader from Pretoria with over two decades of experience in business, marketing, debt collection, risk management and call centre operations. After studying Business and Marketing at the University of Pretoria, he started my career as a salesman in the debt collection industry. In 2017, he founded Bredell Ferreira, which has since grown into one of the largest and most trusted debt collection firms in South Africa, specialising in credit control, risk management, debt collection, and legal action.
Running one of the largest call centers in the industry also gave me the opportunity to develop expertise in contact center management and BPO services. This led to the launch of Nova Call, a company providing outsourced call center and communication solutions to businesses across industries.