Agora SA 2026 Conference Programme

Where Ideas MET Action – 20 February 2026

Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers came together for a full day of panels, discussions and networking — celebrating the power of South Africa’s Hellenic business community.

Programme Highlights

How the day unfolded

Opening

Welcome & Opening Keynote

MC Catherine Constantinides opened the day, with greetings from the Cypriot High Commissioner, the Hellenic Republic’s Embassy, Agora SA CEO Savvas Pouroullis and the President of the Pan African Hellenic Cypriot Chamber.

Opening Keynote: Styli Charalambous, Founder & CEO, The Daily Maverick

Panel

Franchising — Thriving in a Competitive Market

Franchise leaders unpacked what it takes to build and sustain a brand in South Africa’s most competitive sector.

Featuring: Moderator: Aki Anastasiou, Leading Tech Evangelist, Futurist &
Thought Leader; Panellists; Mr Alex Protulis: Partner: Christodoulou Mavrikis Attorneys Inc, Ms Alegra Dijkstra, Business Growth Manager, Merchant Capital, Ms Andigoni Kokinos: CA(SA), Sorbet, Franchisee of the Year, Ms Val Nichas: CEO, Spur Corporation, Mr Fred Makgato, CEO, Franchise Association of SA

In Conversation

The Gen Z Guy

Aki Anastasiou sat down with Marko Stavrou, Founder of Genlink, on the next generation of South African entrepreneurship.

Panel

Digital Disruption

Tech leaders explored how AI, automation and e-commerce are reshaping the way we do business across sectors.

Featuring: Moderator: Aki Anastasiou, Panellists: Mr George Georgiadis: CEO, Ollo, Mr Petro Pouroullis: Digital lead, Tharisa Minerals, Mr Takie Tsironis, Managing Member, Compugeddon, Mr Theo Pouroullis: CEO, Safer City

Lunch & Exhibition Walkabout

Speaker

Eustace Mashimbye, CEO, Proudly SA

On backing South African-made goods, from factory floor to store shelf.

Panel

Goods to Greatness — Manufacturing to Retail

Traced the supply chain from manufacturer to retail shelf, with the people who build it.

Featuring: Moderator: Catherine Constantinides, Panellists: Mr Basil Moutafis: CEO, JCJ Sweets, Mr Eustace Mashimbye: CEO, Proudly SA, Mr Louie Cranko: Director, Demisize

Closing Keynote