Meet our 2021 judges

Clare’s interest in the complex area of place branding was sparked whilst working on a series of Nation Branding Masterclass events, led by Simon Anholt, one of the first thought-leaders to speak about and promote the concept of place branding.  Having listened to Simon address audiences in Accra, Delhi, Dubai, London and Singapore on how policy, governance, and symbolic actions need to combine with branding and marketing to create a competitive identity and drive economic growth, she continued to follow the growth in this sector.

Gabriella Ribeiro is a global wanderer, explorer and serial entrepreneur with a varied career wrapped around tourism. She runs Trumarketing, a boutique sales and marketing firm dedicated to luxury travel clients and also heads up Explorateur Journeys, a company which curates immersive journeys for globally curious travelers that leave a footprint on one’s soul.  Additionally, Gabriella heads up The Mogul Mom where she mentors a dynamic community of female entrepreneurs running businesses, raising families and rocking both.

Septi M. Bukula is the founder and director of Osiba Management, a company that specialises in research and international business events. He is nationally recognised as a leading expert on entrepreneurship and small business development and has served in leadership roles in several international small business organisations. Using his extensive contacts in the small business field internationally, Bukula has brought several international small business conferences to South Africa since 2012.