Accomplished ophthalmologist leading national eye bank operations and specialised clinical eye care. Currently serves as Lead Executive officer (LEO) of the Eye Bank Service at the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service (EBTBS) and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College (YHMC). Amsale has a proven track record in expanding corneal recovery programmes and optimising tissue procurement and storage compliance, advancing public donation awareness and mentoring future medical professionals. Combines clinical background with early experience in clinical nursing and healthcare business management.
Nega Demessie Damtew is a public relations, communication, and media professional with over 11 years of experience, almost exclusively focused on the health sector across government, private, and NGO organisations. He holds a BA in Journalism and Communication from Mekelle University, an MBA, and specialised training in media campaigns for social change.
Nega serves as Board Chairman of the Ethiopian Corneal Recipient and Volunteers Association, a registered charitable organisation in Ethiopia. Together with his team of corneal recipients, he leads initiatives to assist patients suffering from corneal blindness. Their work focuses on providing financial support to low-income patients unable to cover medical expenses, while raising public awareness and advocating for a strong culture of cornea donation in collaboration with corneal transplant centers, the Eye Bank Lead CEO, currently under the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service.
He is a Senior Editor in the Public Relations and Communication Directorate of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), leading editorial work, public health communication, and media engagement. He also serves as a volunteer Communication Advisor to the Blood for Life Charitable Association. Previously, he was Senior Public Relations and Communication Expert and delegated PR and Communication CEO at the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service, as well as Awareness Coordinator at the Eye Bank of Ethiopia.
His core expertise includes health communication, strategic advocacy, public relations, media relations, journalism, digital communication, photography and visual storytelling, and stakeholder engagement.
Megan Lee de Kock is Head of Operations at Spark Tutoring, a United Kingdom-based education company, an author and an ambassador for the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR). At Spark, her work combines operational leadership with a vision for global expansion, helping bring quality tutoring to more learners across borders.
Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) at the age of 19, Megan draws on her experience of living with cancer to raise awareness of stem cell donation and the challenges that extend beyond a diagnosis.
Her memoir, Beyond: A Story About Everything Cancer Couldn’t Take, explores the impact of chronic illness on identity, relationships and the future she had imagined. Through her experiences of treatment, travel, marriage and the pursuit of motherhood, Megan shares a personal perspective on building a meaningful life while navigating uncertainty.
As an SABMR ambassador, Megan encourages people to consider registering as stem cell donors. Through Life Beyond the Diagnosis, she also shares her experiences of CML, fertility challenges and surrogacy, opening conversations that help others feel less alone and better equipped to ask questions about their own care.
Megan graduated cum laude with an honours degree in Economics and Business Management. Her speaking brings together her experience of illness, her advocacy and the stories behind her writing, with a focus on resilience, self-advocacy and the people who help us move forward.
Dr Yvonne Holt is the Chief Medical Officer at Next Biosciences, a South African biotech company involved in cryopreservation of stem cells and human tissues, production of human biological products and genetic testing. Dr Holt graduated from Wits University as a medical doctor and has a diploma in Paediatrics and Transfusion Medicine.
Dr Holt joined Next Biosciences 19 years ago when it was founded and has worked with the various teams in the company to combine medicine, science and technology to create innovative products and services that empower people to invest and take personal ownership in their future health. She has been involved in projects to develop cellular therapies from mesenchymal stem cells to exosomes, development of biological dressing from amniotic membrane to specialised eyedrops from cord blood serum and in house implementation of genetic tests in the reproductive space.
Rucien Petersen is an experienced marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and AI educator with over 14 years of experience across traditional and digital marketing. With a background in the insurance and fitness industries, he holds a Diploma, Degree, and Honours in Brand Management, combining strategic marketing expertise with a practical, results-driven approach to business growth.
In 2017, Rucien founded Spottmedia (Pty) Ltd, a digital marketing agency established to help businesses overcome the challenges of limited time, knowledge, and resources when implementing effective marketing strategies. Under his leadership, Spottmedia has supported more than 100 businesses and entrepreneurs across industries including finance, technology, tourism, beauty, and hospitality.
In recognition of his contribution to the digital marketing industry, Rucien was nominated for the 2026 Forty Under 40 Awards in the Social Media and Digital category. His work and insights have also featured on prominent media platforms, including SABC News, e.tv, and Bizcommunity, where he shares practical perspectives on marketing, digital transformation, and emerging technologies.
Rucien's commitment to business development and education earned him the title of 2024 Top Achiever in the Stellenbosch Business School Small Business Academy Programme. Today, he focuses on helping businesses navigate the evolving digital landscape through AI marketing tools, digital strategy, personal branding, and practical training and workshops.
Beyond Spottmedia, Rucien serves on the Tygerberg Cape Chamber of Commerce Committee and is a certified coach and trainer through the Combined Skills Group. Through his work as a consultant, facilitator, and speaker, he continues to empower entrepreneurs, organisations, and business leaders with the knowledge and digital skills needed to grow and compete in an increasingly AI-driven economy.
David Thomson is a critical care subspecialist and abdominal transplant surgeon at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town. His interests are medical education and deceased donation system improvement. He created the massive open online course Organ Donation: From Death to Life and the 2-day in-person Excellence in Deceased Donation and End of Life Care course to improve education around organ donation and good end of life care. He is a past President of the Southern African Transplantation Society, and a current council member for both the International Society for Organ Donation Professionals and the Transplantation Society where he chairs the TTS Ethics Committee. He led development
“Creating a National Strategic Roadmap for Organ and Tissue Donation in South Africa” in collaboration with the International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement. He worked on the World Brain Death Project and is the lead author on the South African Guidelines for Determination of Death published in 2021. He currently heads the Transplant Centre of Excellence project at Groote Schuur and Red Cross Children’s Hospitals in Cape Town.