Blockchain Conference

arel de Jager began his career as a Chemical Engineer in the energy industry. He now works as a consultant for the Blockchain Academy, facilitating a wide range of blockchain related training courses and presentations. Through the academy, he also delivers customised, industry-specific training to audiences ranging from the inexperienced to executive level.

Carel is also a public speaker, where he often illustrates his ability to explain technical use cases for blockchain technology in a simple and practical way.

He’s interest in blockchain technology grew from building an Ethereum mining rig in 2016. Being an engineer, he delved into the technicalities of his newly developed hobby and quickly realised that the mathematical problems his mining rig were solving would change the world. The study of this technology became his passion.

As a consultant at the Blockchain Academy, Carel has been invited onto television shows (SABC1), coached numerous executives on the technology and presented about specific aspects of blockchain use cases to clients such as the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Werksmans Attorneys, Discovery and SAICA. He has a thorough understanding of blockchain technology, especially on a deep technical level and often uses practical examples to illustrate concepts.

Providing Venture Capital through the Crypto Currency Market to create real businesses for real people, supported by the power of the blockchain.

Ian Bessarabia is a popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to central banks, commercial banks, financial institutions and corporate enterprises. Having worked for 25 years at some of the world’s largest financial institutions Ian has the unique insight into the ‘non-tech’ aspects that come into play when designing AI decentralised platforms.

He helps organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchains, and the Internet of Things.

Former Head of South African Operations for ConsenSys, and a 20 year veteran of financial markets, Ian Bessarabia, has founded On the Edge, Blox for Business in order to consult to financial players, central banks and regional bodies to improve business processes through the adoption of blockchain and smart contract solutions. In addition, they intend assisting start-ups and early-stage initiatives either on a partnership basis or as social good mentors.

Ian was previously a senior executive at Thomson Reuters and BDM at SWIFT. He holds a B.Com from the University of South Africa and has been involved in community projects. Also,Ian is a sought-after international blockchain and crypto speaker who has spoken at conferences around the world.

Just launched and with a unique skill set, On the Edge, Blox for Business has already had numerous approaches from businesses and individuals across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Growing up in South Africa during the 1990’s, Kim witnessed much inequality and poverty. After backpacking through 18 developing countries and while working for various NGO’s by rebuilding and strengthening communities around the world she was frequently made aware of the financial burdens, lack of adequate resources, and need for access to low-cost capital throughout the developing world. Currently, as part of the Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) and as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (NSF GRFP) Kim conducts interdisciplinary research allowing her to contribute to large-scale economic issues that impact the availability of and accessibility to basic needs. Recently, Kim co-founded, Topl, a tailor-made blockchain technological infrastructure enabling socially-beneficial investments into any region in the world, and in particular into emerging markets.

Paul is a seasoned professional in financial markets and emerging-market technologies. He has deep-level FinTech, InsurTech and Big Data eco-system knowledge, including utilisation of leading-edge technologies that underpin the eco-system’s development. His focus for the last 2-years has become the inherent benefits in Blockchain technology and the nascent opportunities this presents for a decentralised global economy. In particular, his experience has extended into cryptocurrency launches, acting as an advisor both formally and informally, and in the construction of Whitepapers and token economics, mechanisms and distribution.

Prior to this, his passion for the environment saw Paul developing a green technology business, with a view to matching projects and technology in the eco-system to drive beneficial results in low-impact energy generation. Technology was the underpin, and the related benefits the driver.

Paul gained an expert level of understanding of the markets, competition, geographic, macroeconomic and global factors impacting customer experience in his 20-year financial services career, culminating in the position of Group Treasurer & Head of Global Markets for multiple banks. This has given him a highly developed level of Risk-awareness and enable him to become fully proficient in the language of change management.

His focused and motivational leadership skills have been developed over time in order to allow him to create personal impact and influence on colleagues and counterparties to dive the win-win outcome. He exhibits an influential and performance driven nature, utilising initiative, conceptual thinking, communication skills, energy and commitment to focus on exceptional results. He utilises his superior level of communication skills that enable him to articulate risk and commercial reward in a meaningful manner. He is an experienced Change leader able to bring about cultural change evidenced by multiple successful geographical relocations.

MBA Cum Laude- specialising in corporate and global strategy, supply chain and blockchain technology. Senior consultant and manager at IQ Business. Agile management of a software team. C++/C# development. Solution analysis and architectural design. Bitcoin/Blockchain consultant. CTO Africa Nexus Bitcoin Solutions, owner of the first Bitcoin ATM in South Africa, author of the most popular Bitcoin ATM application, CoinATMRadar.

Rudi's Specialties: Helping C Level Teams Strategise for Growth in Low Growth Markets using Disruptive Thinking - Business Model Re-Design, Business Turnarounds, Systematic Innovation, Competitive Strategy. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, Brand Strategy, Brand Architecture, Re-branding, Branding Systems, CI Design, Brand Turnarounds, Web Design, Web Development, Expert Systems Design, Strategic Planning Expert Systems, Decision Sciences, Social Media Strategy, Social Media Implementation - Social Tools Development

Ms. Soko is one of the very few African women under 30 to be fully involved in the Blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
She took up interest in Blockchain technology since 2016 and has worked as a freelance Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Consultant for an online investment firm.
With the help of her qualification as a training facilitator and assessor, she has been able to create a number of YouTube tutorials and has currently completed a Blockchain and Cryptocurrency learner guide for beginners.
She is currently an ICO advisor for fundplatform.io, an ICO that is currently running and was able to raise $310,000 in the first 15 minutes of opening.
With a background in Finance and Administration, Ms Yaliwe Soko has served as a Financial Administrator and Operations Manager for reputable companies such as Oando Trading Limited a subsidiary of Oando PLC, Kuluvuyo Consultancy and Wellness as well as Blandford Africa and has sound knowledge of the oil and gas industry as well as corporate governance and corporate policies.