South Africa is stepping boldly into the future of workforce development as the Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) lands in Johannesburg for its second South African edition on May 5–6 at the Radisson Sandton. Backed by the Department of Tourism and supported by leading industry players, the platform is laser-focused on one urgent priority: bridging the gap between education and employment to reduce youth unemployment through a regionally aligned human capital strategy.
Honored to have the Honorable Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, deliver the opening speech at our event. Her presence underscores the importance of tourism in our region and her commitment to fostering growth within this vital sector. We sincerely appreciate her support and look forward to her inspiring words as we begin this significant occasion together.
A Regional Call for Seamless Graduate Employment
At the heart of this edition is a unifying theme: Seamless Graduate Employment. That means aligning all stakeholders – from hospitality brands and tourism authorities to higher education schools and universities – around one simple goal: making sure young people don’t just graduate, but get hired.
This is the driving topic at the School Directors Alliance (SDA) Summit, held alongside FLC. The summit attendees include academic leaders from across South Africa to co-create scalable solutions with government and business – inspired by the voices of students themselves.
The Challenge: Future-Facing Talent Meets Real-World Industry
Student teams from leading institutions will present solutions to the central project question: “How can tourism and hospitality establishments in South Africa implement futuristic sustainable practices to minimize their environmental impact?”
More than just academic theory, these ideas will be judged by a Strategic Board of industry trailblazers, including:
- Sandra Kneubuhler, MD Sub Saharan Africa, Radisson Hotel Group
- Craig Erasmus, VP Operations Fairmont Africa & Mantis
- George Cohen, MD, Saxon Hotels
- Hubert Ummels, Founder, GameChangers Group & FLC Platform
- Busi Marule, Director People & Culture, Four Seasons
- Judi Nwokedi, Chair, Gauteng Tourism Authority
- Andreas Lackner, VP Africa & Indian Ocean, Hilton
- Monika Iuel, Chief Tourism Officer, Wesgro
- Daphne Kruijsse, Area Manager, Booking.com
- Lebogang Mpye, Executive Manager, CATHSSETA
- Jerry Mabena, Chairman, TBCSA
These leaders represent the powerful board backing FLC’s vision for an inclusive, future-proof talent pipeline in hospitality and tourism.
Powered by Purpose
The event is made possible by a committed group of change-making partners:
- Platinum Partners: Accor, GameChangers Group, Hilton, Saxon Hotel Villas & Spa,Radisson Hotel Group, Four Seasons
- Gold Partners: Vision Linens, Diversey, Boundless
- Silver Partners: Topia, Motsamayi Tourism Group, Julius Meinl
- Bronze Partners: Kingscom, BrandDrvn
- Network Partner: FEDHASA
From South Africa to the World
Winners of the South African edition will advance to the Finals in Dubai (Q1 2026) to compete with fellow FLC champions from all over the MEA region — showcasing their potential on an international stage.
Hubert Ummels, founder of the FLC Platform:
“This is not just a moment. It’s a movement. Our job is not only to train young people, but to rally the system around them. This platform creates the conditions for youth to thrive, and for The Middle East and Africa to lead the continent in hospitality and tourism talent innovation.”
—The End—
About the MEA Future Leaders Platform
The MEA Future Leaders Platform is the leading platform that creates a community to tackle (future) challenges in the hospitality and tourism industry across the MEA region. By connecting top-tier students, school directors, industry leaders and government representatives, the platform aims to collaborate on an annually selected, region-specific strategic topics. Through advocacy and impactful development programs, we aim to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals, aligning educational outcomes with industry needs and shaping a forwardthinking human capital strategy for the region.
Media Contacts:
Mike Richters: mrichters@kingscom.com
Anna Aye: aaye@kingscom.com
