Our Speakers

Ms. Eunice Smith is the Head of the UNESCO Office in Windhoek and UNESCO Representative to Namibia, a position she assumed in October 2023. With more than two decades of international experience within UNESCO, she has built a distinguished career advancing education, sustainable development, social inclusion, culture, and international cooperation across Africa, Asia, and beyond. A national of Grenada, Ms. Smith joined UNESCO in 1998 as a Young Professional and has since held a series of progressively senior leadership positions within the organization. Her extensive experience includes serving in UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences Sector, leading the UNESCO Outpost in Juba, South Sudan, and serving as Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Office in Beijing, China. In 2015, she was entrusted with the leadership of the UNESCO Office in Beijing, further demonstrating her capacity to manage complex, multicultural, and international programs. Prior to her appointment in Namibia, she served as Programme Planning Officer in UNESCO's Bureau of Strategic Planning at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, supporting organizational planning, monitoring, and reporting processes. Ms. Smith holds a Master's Degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the University of Law (England and Wales), and a Master's Degree in Tourism Management from New York University (United States of America). Before joining UNESCO, she began her professional career as a Tourism Marketing Manager with the Grenada Board of Tourism in New York. Since assuming leadership of the UNESCO Windhoek Office, Ms. Smith has championed initiatives that advance quality education, digital transformation, indigenous knowledge systems, culture, youth empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development in Namibia. She has been a strong advocate for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships, innovation, and inclusive policies that ensure no one is left behind. Through her leadership and commitment to international development, Ms. Smith continues to promote UNESCO's mission of building peace through education, science, culture, communication, and information, while empowering young people and communities to drive sustainable and inclusive development.

Ms. Grace N Hidinua Programme Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health Ms. Grace Hidinua is a distinguished public health professional currently serving as a Programme Specialist for HIV Prevention, Family Planning and Maternal Health with UNFPA Namibia. With more than 15 years of specialized experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, she has established herself as a leader in strategic program implementation and advocacy. Her expertise is supported by a comprehensive academic background. Ms. Hidinua holds a Master of Public Health in Global Health, with a focus on Reproductive Health and Population Studies, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Community Development from the University of Namibia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from the University of Stellenbosch and professional management training with the University of the Witwatersrand. Throughout her career, Ms. Hidinua has held pivotal roles across public, international, and civil society organizations including serving as a Technical Advisor on Social and Behaviour Change Communication for Family Health International, Programme Officer for Operations with the Namibia Global Fund Programme Management Unit and a Programme Manager for the IPPF affiliate in Namibia, She has she managed impactful initiatives on Sexual and Reproductive Health both in Namibia and abroad. Beyond her technical proficiency in leading and coordinating research and health programs, Ms. Hidinua is deeply passionate about the wellbeing of adolescents and young people. She is a firm advocate for empowering the next generation with the information and services required to realize their full potential within supportive policy environments.

Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma Jr. is the Governor of the Khomas Region, Namibia's political and economic hub, and one of the country's emerging young leaders in public service and governance. Appointed Governor in 2025, he is the youngest person to hold the position and is recognized for his commitment to inclusive development, youth empowerment, and transformative leadership. Prior to his appointment as Governor, Hon. Nujoma served as a member of the Windhoek Municipal Council, where he held several strategic leadership responsibilities, including Chairperson of the Management Committee, one of the city's highest decision-making bodies. During his tenure, he contributed to policy development, financial sustainability initiatives, and efforts to strengthen local governance and service delivery. A dedicated member of the SWAPO Party, Hon. Nujoma's leadership journey began in the party's youth structures, where he steadily rose through the ranks, serving in various organizational and leadership capacities. His passion for public service has been guided by a strong belief in citizen participation, accountable governance, and creating opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to national development. As Governor of Khomas Region, he has championed initiatives aimed at economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, access to finance, and youth empowerment. He is particularly known for promoting partnerships between government, the private sector, and development stakeholders to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs and strengthen regional development outcomes. Hon. Nujoma is a strong advocate for innovation, sustainable development, and youth leadership. Through his work, he continues to inspire a new generation of young Africans to actively participate in governance, community development, and nation-building, while advancing a vision of a prosperous and inclusive Namibia.

Hon. Dino Ballotti is a Namibian parliamentarian, entrepreneur, and innovation champion currently serving as Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture in the Republic of Namibia. Recognized for his dynamic leadership and commitment to national development, he has built an impressive career spanning the public and private sectors, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, economic growth, and youth empowerment. Prior to his appointment to Parliament, Hon. Ballotti held several strategic leadership roles, including serving as Executive Director for MSME Innovation and Acceleration at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), where he spearheaded initiatives to strengthen Namibia's entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the growth of small and medium enterprises. He also served in leadership positions within the Old Mutual Group and later as Head of Business and Public Sector Banking at FNB Namibia, gaining extensive experience in business development, investment promotion, and economic transformation. Hon. Ballotti holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Namibia and a Master's Degree in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He is also pursuing doctoral studies in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Development, reflecting his passion for lifelong learning and innovation-driven development. A passionate advocate for youth development, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving, Hon. Ballotti believes in empowering individuals and institutions to create sustainable impact. He is known for his commitment to fostering partnerships, promoting entrepreneurship, and advancing opportunities that enable young people to contribute meaningfully to national and regional development. His work continues to inspire a new generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers across Namibia and the African continent.

Christi Kruger is the Director of the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender at the University of Pretoria. Her work focuses on advancing intersectional, feminist, and decolonial approaches to gender, rights, and social justice in African contexts. She leads strategic research development, international collaborations, and capacity-building initiatives, including Erasmus+ and Africa–Europe partnerships. She has extensive experience in project design, policy engagement, and training of early-career scholars. Her scholarship and leadership aim to strengthen transformative knowledge production, institutional partnerships, and evidence-based interventions addressing gender inequalities and sexual and reproductive health globally. Christi holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Hon. Dr. D. P. Parirenyatwa qualified as a medical doctor from the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Nigeria. He has wide experience working in both the Private and Public Health Sectors. Parirenyatwa served as Deputy Minister of Health & Child Welfare (4yrs) and then as Minister of Health (12 yrs.), in Zimbabwe, where he championed the fight against HIV & Aids. Parirenyatwa hails from a medical family. His father the late Dr Tichafa Samuel Parirenyatwa was the first African (black) doctor in then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). The largest referral hospital in Zimbabwe was named after the late doctor. One of Parirenyatwa’s sons is also a doctor. Parirenyatwa has chaired the African Union Health Ministers and also the SADC Ministers of Health. He is a past President of the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the WHO. He chaired the UNAIDS board and co-Chaired ICASA 2015 in Zimbabwe. Parirenyatwa is a Fellow of the College of Primary Care Physicians (Zimbabwe). He promotes Continuing Medical Education and Medical Research including Traditional Medicine and is the past chairman of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Zimbabwe. He specializes in Health Policies and Health Strategies and is the Executive Director of Chest Medical. Parirenyatwa is the immediate past Vice President of the 6th SAA Executive Board. He is a Senator in the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

Martha Tholanah is a Zimbabwean feminist strategist whose life’s work sits at the intersection of women’s rights, health justice, and movement power. For over two decades, she has worked alongside women living with HIV, feminist organisations, and grassroots networks across the Global South, not as an outside expert, but as a movement insider who has built, led, and advised some of the most influential feminist collectives of her generation. Martha currently serves as a Strategic Advisor with AmplifyChange, a global fund that breaks the silence on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Martha has held multiple governance positions and power-sharing roles where she helped shape how significant funds flow to and within movements.

H.E Ms Boemo M. SEKGOMA is the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, the main inter-parliamentary organisation in Southern Africa which regroups 15 Member Parliaments. She has widespread experience in parliamentary initiatives and the management of programmes which hinge on democracy, regional integration, trade, governance, gender, human rights, constitutionalism, and the observance of the rule of law among others. She has also assisted in spearheading several regional instruments in the form of Model Laws which constitute of thematic legal norms on HIV and AIDS, free and fair elections, eradicating Child Marriages, countering Gender Based Violence, and promoting Public Financial Management, among others, which act as the gold standard in terms of the guiding benchmark for the progressive domestication of national Parliaments. Equally, Ms Sekgoma has worked with Standing Committees of the Forum to facilitate the domestication of related Treaties and Protocols which are aligned to the furtherance of the SADC regional integration agenda. One of the core objectives of the SADC-PF is to facilitate the implementation capacity of SADC by the development of progressive initiatives to address factors that undermine socio-economic empowerment and democratisation, coupled with the addressing of foreign policy, peace building initiatives, climate justice and action which have an ambit beyond SADC territorial borders. At the helm of the Forum’s Secretariat, Ms Sekgoma has also led initiatives in view of collaborating with SADC countries and interparliamentary organisations to promote compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals as well as far-sighted visions such as the SADC Vision 2050 and Africa Agenda 2063.

Kushinga Madzima, currently serving as the Chairperson of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) SAYWHAT’s Youth Sounding Board in Zimbabwe, where she contributes to the growth of SAYWHAT structures in Institutions of Higher learning through membership building. She is a law student at Great Zimbabwe University with a background in SRHR advocacy and peer education. She holds strong enthusiasm for youth development, mental health, and social justice as a whole. Guided by a mindset of progressing by trial, she envisions a society characterized by amplified youth voices, inclusivity, and rights based community transformation.

Jimmy Wilford is a seasoned Public Health Practitioner with over 15 years of experience, who is dedicated to advancing the cause of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. As the Executive Director of Students And Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT), Wilford has spearheaded initiatives for over two decades, focusing on empowering students and young people. With a strong background in program design, analysis, implementation, fundraising, and budget management, Wilford brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. His expertise extends to strategic planning , organizational development, research, and team building within the non-profit sector. Wilford’s commitment goes beyond mere advocacy; he actively champions policies and governance that foster sustainable growth and development. He has gone through various in-house programming and leadership training. His passion for young people’s public health from a non-clinical perspective led to his desire to contribute to the creation of a Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC) a platform that ensure a coordinated youth voice on SRHR issues in the SADC region.

Dr. Choolwe Mphanza Muzyamba holds a PhD from Maastricht University and an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University and a Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam. His speciality spans international political economy, public health, inclusivity, and decoloniality, with a strong commitment to addressing structural inequalities that shape health and development outcomes. Dr Muzyamba is also widely recognized for advancing participatory approaches particularly community mobilization and participatory action research to ensure that marginalized groups play a central role in shaping policies and interventions that affect their lives.