Speakers

• Founder / Creative Director, Exalt Africa
• exaltafrica.co.uk

Mwai is a visionary Zambian-born creative director and event producer whose heart beats for Africa. Her deep-rooted passion for the continent fuels her every endeavor.

Her mission is to reframe the narrative surrounding the continent, showcasing it not just as a safari destination, but as a vibrant land filled with rich experiences and boundless opportunities. As the founder of Exalt Africa and Fifty Four Mag, Mwai curates luxury events and publications that celebrate African culture, travel, art, and fashion. Her work is infused with authentic storytelling and intentional imagery, offering a fresh perspective on what Africa truly represents. In her role as Editor-in-Chief of Fifty Four Mag, Mwai collaborates with Africa’s leading photographers, designers, artists, and thought leaders, setting new standards for representation and inspiring both Africans and the world to see the continent through a different lens. She is also the author of The Chaos-Free Bride-to-Be and Africa Luxe: A bespoke collection of the most stylish venues, bucket list experiences, and cultural highlights for the ultimate celebration in Africa. Mwai’s influence reaches far beyond the written word.

An award-winning wedding and event specialist, she has been recognized as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent Under 40, Global Top 100. Her talents have also earned her prestigious accolades from
Lux Magazine, where she was named Best Wedding Planner UK in 2018 and Best International Wedding Specialist in 2019. Most recently, Mwai was honored as one of the Top 100 Luxury Planners by Over The Moon for 2023/2024.

As a sought-after speaker and brand ambassador, Mwai shares her insights at industry events and partners with luxury resorts and adventure companies, broadening the reach of Africa’s allure in the global travel market. She also serves as the Global Brand Ambassador for Africa for VOW for Girls, a global movement committed to ending the child marriage crisis, further amplifying her influence as a true champion for the continent.

• Founder/CEO
• alexcarterasks.com

Alexandra Carter is a Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School. In 2019, Professor Carter was awarded the Columbia University Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, Columbia’s highest teaching honor. Her first book, Ask for More: Ten Questions to Negotiate Anything, was published by Simon & Schuster on May 5, 2020 and became an instant Wall Street Journal Business bestseller.

Professor Carter’s teaching and research interests lie in the field of alternative dispute resolution, primarily in mediation and negotiation. She is a leading trainer on negotiation and mediation for many from the private and public sectors, including the United Nations, where she has conducted dozens of workshops for more than 80 nations, U.S. courts and federal agencies; private corporations, such as Bloomberg, Comcast NBC Universal, Amazon, and Microsoft and law firms, including Cravath, Swaine; Moore, Morrison; Foerster, Latham & Watkins; Debevoise and Plimpton; Fried Frank, and many others.

Prior to joining the Columbia faculty, Professor Carter was associated with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where she defended against a multibillion-dollar securities class action lawsuit related to the Enron collapse, served as the senior antitrust associate on several multibillion-dollar mergers, and handled cases involving copyright law. She also worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. She is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan.

Professor Carter received her Juris Doctor degree in 2003 from Columbia Law School, where she earned James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone academic honors. She also won the Jane Marks Murphy Prize for clinical advocacy and the Lawrence S. Greenbaum Prize for the best oral argument in the 2002 Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Competition. After earning her degree, Professor Carter clerked for the Hon. Mark L. Wolf, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston.

Professor Carter is a frequent media commentator on negotiation and pay equity for women, with appearances on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and MSNBC Live, Hardball with Chris Matthews, the CBS Early Show and NPR Marketplace. She is a contributor for NBC News’ Know Your Value, a news site devoted to helping women grow in their careers and reach their full potential.

• Founder and Creative Director, Imprint ZA
• imprintza.com

Mzukisi Mbane is a Creative Entrepreneur with a qualification in Bachelor of Accounting Science. Born and raised in Cape Town. He is the founder and creative Director of the internationally recognized fashion brand Imprint ZA. Imprint has shown in New York City, Milan, Morocco, Lagos Nigeria, Ghana just to name a few. And has been featured in all major local fashion publications including international publications such as Vogue Italia, Vogue Portugal, Harpers Bazaar Vietnam and more. Building a successful fashion brand that has dressed major SA celebrities and international celebrities such as Billy Porter is just one of his many achievements.

• International TV Host & MC, Executive Producer and Former Miss Universe 2019
• @zozitunzi

Zozibini Tunzi, crowned Miss Universe 2019, holds the distinction of being the longest-reigning title holder in the pageant’s history. Her win was groundbreaking, as she joined a historic moment when five black women held major pageant titles simultaneously. Zozi’s iconic natural hair, worn short and bold, challenged and transformed global beauty standards, marking her as the first woman to win Miss Universe with her natural hair.

Beyond the crown, Zozi is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, education, diversity, and inclusion.

Her influence has taken her to global stages across Africa, Asia, the U.S., Europe, and South America, where she has inspired countless women and children through her humanitarian work.

In 2022, she made her acting debut in The Woman King and hosted some of the biggest live TV events, including AMVCA and a renowned pageant show in the Philippines. She also graced the cover of the first
major diaspora magazine, 54.

This year, Zozi achieved a lifelong dream by becoming the Dark & Lovely SSA Brand Ambassador—a milestone she shares with pride alongside her mother. As if that wasn’t enough, Zozi is now exploring her passion for music, proving once again that there’s nothing this queen can’t do.

• Cultural Leader, BBC Top 100, International Model, Diversity Advocate and Writer
• @thandohopa

Thando Hopa has a diverse portfolio. She is an international fashion model and serves on the board of the African Albinism Network which helps capacitate the implementation of the UN action plan of the rights of persons with albinism. She is a cultural leader at the World Economic Forum and is currently pursuing an executive MBA at Henley Business School. She’s been recognized as part of the BBC’s top hundred inspirational women across the globe and is the first woman with albinism to be on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

• CEO, Zapphaire Events Group
• zapphaireevents.com

Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, a visionary leader in Nigeria’s events industry, has left an indelible mark over two decades as the founder and CEO of the Zapphaire Events Group. Pioneering innovative event planning, she has curated over 5,000 successful events globally, influencing architectural and design trends. Devoted to empowering brides, she authored “The Essential Bridal Handbook” and initiated the Funke Says YouTube series. Committed to societal impact, she established the Zapphaire Training Academy, shaping over 500 events professionals. Her initiatives, including the Zapphaire Connect Series and THE EVENT XPERIENCE AFRICA, foster collaboration and empower event entrepreneurs. Globally recognized, Funke is honored among the BBC 100 most inspirational women, receiving numerous awards for her exceptional contributions. With an LLB in Law, she actively engages with professional associations and serves on the Advisory Board for The Destination Wedding Planner’s Congress, exemplifying her commitment to societal enrichment.

• Wedding Photographer
• ashtonjean-pierre.com

My work is known for uplifted client experience, my authentic and elegant style with fashion flair and my
sense of emotional depth. Born and raised in West Yorkshire, England until I found and married the love
of my life in the Caribbean before starting a new chapter together in Australia. Becoming a father is the
best thing in my life, it transforms me.

• POET, WRITER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
• @modelmanka

Manka Menga aka Dr. Winifrida John Mmasi, MD is a multi- disciplinary artist who through her work involves challenging learned internalized misinformation both personally and socially. Her poetry, deliberately sensual and blasphemous is both therapy and victory over her abusers and challenges the scope of self-expression afforded to African women and queer people. She is inspired by women who through their defiance of societal norms achieved a place in both history books and hearts and minds of the society.

• Attorney & Founder, Oduberg Law & Legally Set
• legallyset.com

Kunbi Odubogun is an industry leading Business Attorney, Speaker and Digital Media Expert with over 12 years experience in the Legal and Events industries. She is a Partner at Oduberg, a boutique business law firm that provides legal services to creative entrepreneurs. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to her clients’ success, Kunbi has built a reputation as a trusted legal advisor to startups, small businesses, and creative professionals.

In addition to her work at Oduberg, Kunbi is also the creator of Legally Set – an online shop offering legally sound, attorney-drafted contracts for entrepreneurs, event pros and creative business owners; and Perfête – a luxury celebrations publication with over one million monthly impressions across platforms.

A frequent Engage! speaker, Kunbi has shared her unique knowledge of Events and Law across several prominent platforms including The Knot, Wharton, CNN, Cosmopolitan, Bridal Guide, Bella Naija and more.

She continues to empower entrepreneurs with easy to digest legal and business knowledge to ensure they are legally set to succeed.

When she is not Lawyering or Publishing, She’s juggling life as an over-caffeinated mother of two and binging Criminal Minds, because life is about balance.

• Real Weddings Editor, Over The Moon
• overthemoon.com

One of the earliest team members at Over The Moon, Shayna Seid has been covering weddings for more than four years with more than 900 features published and has seen the blog through a complete
redesign as well as been involved in the expansion to include the ecommerce platform and registries. During her studies at The New School, where she obtained a major in Journalism + Design and a minor in Fashion Communication from Parsons, she cold-emailed her way into an internship with Vogue.com Contributing Editor and OTM Founder Alexandra Macon and became an integral part of the company. In addition to running the real weddings section, Shayna also manages OTM’s fast-growing Instagram account.

• Managing Director, Chapter Communications
• chaptercommunications.co.uk

Neil’s background as an award-winning marketing communications specialist, working across a multitude of industry sectors, has seen him work in-house at some of the world’s highest profile brands including the NFL and Chelsea Football Club. His career has allowed him to travel the world delivering integrated marketing and PR campaigns for brands including Mercedes-Benz, Pepsi Co, Formula 1, Samsung, Manchester United, Heineken and Adidas.

Neil launched some of the most celebrated innovations, collaborations and ambassadorial programmes of recent times before becoming the Managing Director of Chapter, where he is credited for cementing the agency’s no.1 position, expanding areas of specialist skills and attracting clients from five continents. In 2021 Neil completed a Communications Leadership Programme in Sustainable Business Strategy at
Harvard Business School.

Today, he continues to lead Chapter which is an award-winning PR, branding and content agency for the
hospitality, leisure and lifestyle sectors. The agency is particularly strong in the private events sector,
having represented four holders of a prestigious Royal Warrant and generated hundreds of broadcast
interviews, thousands of column inches and billions of impressions for its clients.

• Engage! Co-Founder
• engagesummits.com

Rebecca Grinnals is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the business of weddings & honeymoons. She is the Founder and President of wedding and honeymoon industry consulting firm, Engaging Concepts and Co-Founder of Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summits.

Engaging Concepts is known for successfully-positioning global brands in the wedding and destination wedding industry. The company boasts a lifetime client list that includes The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Hilton Worldwide, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Asia-Pacific, Loews Hotels & Resorts, Palace Resorts, Harley-Davidson, the Kessler Collection, Disneyland Resort, various developers, venture capital firms, and many leading luxury wedding and event professionals.

Through Rebecca’s tenure at Engaging Concepts, Engage! Summits was born to bring together the wedding and event industry’s key influencers, thought leaders and tastemakers from around the globe to exchange ideas, innovate, and take the wedding industry to the next level. Named by Fortune as “the wedding industry’s most exclusive conference,” all 40 summits, experiences and retreats have been sellouts with guests coming from 45 states and 35 countries, generating an unprecedented 50 million social media impressions and counting.

Named as a BIZBASH Event Innovator: Most Innovative People in Events & Meetings, Rebecca is also a sought-after speaker, trainer, and business trend expert. She has been a featured guest on CBS’ “The Early Show,” CNN, Entertainment Tonight, CNBC and hundreds of other national and international television and radio programs. She’s been quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, Brides, and many more. And she has produced wedding events and remotes for, among others, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The TODAY Show” and “Good Morning America.”

Prior to creating Engaging Concepts, Rebecca Co-Founded Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons for The Walt Disney Company, and spent ten years developing the concept into an unprecedented success. She directed the complete branding strategy, development and implementation of the program, building it into almost a $100 million per year business for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Line. These efforts resulted in over 20,000 weddings and the coveted status for Disney as the # 1 Domestic Honeymoon Destination.

With a home base in Central Florida, today the Engage! family is exactly that. Fifteen years into Engage!, Rebecca’s two daughters have grown up with the company and the legacy of these wedding initiatives is now multi-generational.

• Engage! Co-Founder
• engagesummits.com

Kathryn Arce brings over 30 years of innovation and flawless event execution to her roles as Co-Founder of Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summits and Managing Director of Engaging Concepts.

Through her work with Engaging Concepts, Kathryn has successfully developed campaigns and global initiatives in the luxury wedding and honeymoon space for brand names such as The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Hilton Worldwide, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Asia-Pacific, Loews Hotels & Resorts, Palace Resorts, Harley-Davidson, the Kessler Collection, Disneyland Resort, various developers, venture capital firms, and many leading luxury wedding and event professionals.
In 2008, she became the Co-Founder of Engage!, which came to life to better serve the global luxury wedding and event community through unmatched summits, experiences, and retreats. Named by Fortune as “the wedding industry’s most exclusive conference,” these events bring together the wedding and event industry’s key influencers, thought leaders and tastemakers from around the globe to exchange ideas, innovate and be inspired to take their successful businesses and, in turn, the wedding industry to the next level. Since inception, all 40 events have been sellouts with guests coming from 45 states and 30 countries, generating an unprecedented 45 million social media impressions and counting.

Kathryn began her career as a Wedding Event Manager for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, where she personally planned and executed hundreds of weddings and related events. With an unyielding penchant for phenomenal customer service, Kathryn was instrumental in developing the early high standards of service Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings is known for today. She then stepped away from the wonderful world of weddings and was the Manager of Guest Services for the flagship Disney Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City where she facilitated all VIP Programs & Events. While living in NYC, Kathryn also worked with renowned wedding and special event planner Marcy Blum on the highest-profile weddings and events of the era, including Billy Joel & Katie Lee, Donald & Melania Trump, basketball legend Horace Grant, famed novelist, Tom Clancy, and more.

Kathryn has penned numerous articles on destination weddings and honeymoons which have been published in travel magazines throughout the US and Caribbean. She has produced events and live remotes for The TODAY Show, CBS’s The Early Show and “LIVE with Regis & Kathie Lee.” She was also named a BIZBASH Event Innovator Most Innovative People in Events and Meetings.

Known as a logistical maverick, Kathryn’s second-to-none grace of leadership and extensive guest service training paired with vast real-world wedding and event planning experience make her an invaluable resource for clients looking to “raise the bar” of their wedding programs.

She resides in Florida where her husband and two daughters have become respected members of Team Engage!