Event overview

The New Gen Trends in Marketing & Tech Conference Part 5: Proudly Sponsored by Blue Robot Group

Tuesday 26 May | The Venue Melrose Arch | Registration: 07:30 to 08:30 | Event finishes: 17:00

The event features nine keynotes and two panel discussions. Speakers include Emilio Warmburg, Ryan McFadyen, Tamryn Taylor, Mondre Bremner, Clare Trafankowska, Sydney Rheeder, Carni Wilkens, Darren Morris, Olivia Matterson, and panel guest, Bridget Harpur, and former South African World Boxing Champion, Ludumo Lamati from Ringside Fitness, among others.

To book tickets, email stephen@newgenawards.co.za 

The conference is hosted by 'The New Generation Awards' and is proudly sponsored by Blue Robot Group.

This year, we feature nine leading influencers from the corporate and agency sectors, including recipients of last year's New Generation Awards, who collectively earned over 40 accolades. You'll get practical strategies from each keynote, as speakers share their insights, success stories, and the tools, technologies, and innovative approaches behind the most impactful campaigns of 2025. 

The marketing landscape is shifting rapidly in 2026 into a maturity era, centered on retention, lifetime value, and AI-driven, data-informed systems. To stay competitive, this event will help marketers adopt agile strategies, use AI tools to improve efficiency, and prioritize authentic, high-quality content. This evolution requires combining human intelligence with technology to deliver culturally relevant, innovative marketing. We are ready to realize AI’s potential this year and to discuss the progress, strategies, and transformative results achieved through its effective use.

This event will equip marketers with a wealth of resources and the confidence to refine their go-to-market strategies for 2026. "Come join us and be inspired".

Event Media Pack Download

2026 Speakers & Topics

  • MONDRE

    Mondre Bremner, Senior Manager: Digital Channels Strategy | Integrated Marketing & Experience at Nedbank

    TOPIC: Why Editorial Content Matters… Or Is It Really That Deep? 
    Read more
  • Tamryn Taylor Unilever

    Tamryn Taylor, Head of Marketing: Demand Generation: Beauty Well-Being & Personal Care at Unilever SA

    TOPIC: The Earned Economy: Why Culture-Powered Communities Are the Growth Engine of 2026 
    Read more
  • Emilio blue robot

    Emilio Warmberg, Regional Sales Manager at Blue Robot Group - Main Event Sponsor

    TOPIC: Moving from Passive Exposure to Active Attention
    Read more
  • Clare Professional photo

    Clare Trafankowska, Executive Head of Media and Digital Marketing at FNB

    Topic: From Personalisation to Permission: The Next Era of Customer Relevance.
    Read more
  • Hyh HOD photos Ryan Mc Fadyen

    Ryan McFadyen, Co-Founder at HYH Group and Head of Strategy

    TOPIC: Growth After the Algorithm Breaks 
    Read more
  • Dentsu Corporate 20230425 45

    Carni Wilkens, Chief Growth Officer at dentsu SSA

    We are human after all: The Transparency Gap 
    Read more
  • Darren New

    Darren Morris, Chief Executive Officer at Lucky Hustle. Darren will be joined by former World Boxing Champion, Ludumo Lamati, Ringside Fitness.

    TOPIC: Using Creativity Superpowers to Change South Africa. 
    Read more
  • Syd headshot white background

    Sydney Rheeder, Creative Innovation Lead at TBWA \ SA part of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG)

    TOPIC: CES 2026: Key Shifts from the Vegas Consumer Electronics Show - Joint Session
    Read more
  • Olivia Matterson

    Olivia Matterson, Head of Innovation at TBWA \ SA part of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG)

    TOPIC: TOPIC: CES 2026: Key Shifts from the Vegas Consumer Electronics Show - Joint Session
    Read more
  • Bridget

    Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen Group Africa

    Panel Discussion Guest
    Read more
  • Capture jon

    Master of Ceremonies - Jon Gericke, Owner, Pint Size Media, and SAfm Radio Presenter

    Read more

Key Takeaways

  • Actionable Strategies: Brands must boldly engage with culture and cultivate communities in meaningful and impactful ways.
  • Functionality: The advent of AI and technology is not just changing the game; it’s redefining how we share content and setting new benchmarks for customer expectations.
  • Personalisation to Permission: The Next Era of Customer Relevance.
  • Human-First: Key learnings to translate radical transparency into practical, human-first ways...
  • Effective Impact: The fusion of human intelligence and technology is vital for driving transformative and culturally relevant change.
  • Growth Marketing: Data is the lifeblood of effective growth, enabling brands to maximize customer acquisition, activation, retention, and relevance.
  • Credibility in Question: The future of growth lies in forging authentic credibility, sparking genuine conversations, and nurturing robust communities—moving beyond a reliance on mere automation.
  • Metrics: Marketers must meticulously evaluate the success of culture-driven community initiatives compared to traditional campaigns to truly understand their impact.
  • Context: Key learnings that can be applied to scaling impact without losing your craft.
  • Actionability: Creativity must courageously tackle pressing societal issues, transcending the confines of superficial brand campaigns.
  • Humanizing Content: Brands have a unique opportunity to blend AI with human creativity, enhancing their content, deepening community connections, and ensuring greater relevance.
  • Research: Why active attention is becoming the most valuable currency in digital marketing, what brands actually lose when they optimise purely for reach, and the hidden cost of campaigns built around passive exposure.
  • Case Studies: The success stories of brands embracing these innovative strategies reveal invaluable insights that cannot be ignored.

2026 Ticket fees: Prices (excl. VAT)

To Book Tickets Email stephen@newgenawards.co.za
To Book Tickets Email stephen@newgenawards.co.za

2026 Ticket Fees: Prices (Ex. VAT) | To book your tickets, email stephen@newgenawards.co.za 

  • Standard Ticket Fee: R3, 300
  • Book 5 or more standard tickets and receive a 10% discount:
  • Tertiary Institutions: Lecturers and Staff: R2, 000
  • Student Rate: R1, 000
  • Ticket price includes: Priceless content | all-day refreshments | delicious breakfast | full buffet lunch | afternoon snacks | full-day parking.
  • NO ONLINE TICKET SALES OR PAYMENTS: Payment Method: Standard EFT

We'll issue an invoice once you confirm the final ticket numbers. Full payment is required before the event (credit cards not accepted). No refunds for any fees. All delegate fees include 15% VAT, which international delegates can reclaim through their local VAT refund provider.

Who should attend?
Who should attend?

  • Agency & Corporate Marketing Leadership: CMOs, Marketing Directors, and Brand Managers looking to integrate innovative technology into organizational goals.
  • Digital & Performance Marketers: Specialists in digital, mobile, and social media marketing focused on increasing ROI, lead generation, and engagement.
  • Marketing Technology (MarTech) Leaders: Professionals focused on automation, AI, and MarTech systems.
  • Content Creators & Strategists: Experts looking to leverage AI and data-driven, personalized storytelling.
  • Creatives: Designers wanting to explore new tools to enhance their visual designs.
  • Data Analysts & AI Specialists: Professionals using analytics and behavioral science to influence consumer behavior.
  • Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs: Owners looking to build brand loyalty and adopt new technology tools. 

2025 Event Highlights

Testimonials

  • As a Digital Content Curator passionate about social media and the future of content, we took away valuable insights from the conference that have helped shape our marketing approach.

    - Kgabo Karabo Maila, Digital Content Curator, Instinctif Partners Africa

  • I had the pleasure of attending the #NewGenTrends in Marketing conference today, which highlighted the evolving dynamics of our industry. From AI's influence on marketing to the ever-changing landscape of media and client/agency relationships, the sessions provided great insights into where our field is headed.
    A big thanks to Stephen Paxton for orchestrating such an event.

    - Rachelle Sadie, Integrated Account Director. The Brave Group

  • Congratulations on your recent #NewGenTrends in Marketing conference. The industry has been buzzing with feedback on what a first-class industry event it was (again) 🙏 Onwards and upwards

    - Tracy Jones, Founder & MD of Dialogue

  • At Leagas Delaney South Africa, we believe that Everything Matters. From the smallest creative detail to the boldest strategic vision. That’s why we are proud to support the New Gen Conference once again. As a tech-driven, insight-led agency group, we see this platform as an essential space where innovation, creativity, and digital transformation converge to shape the future of our industry. It aligns with our core values of challenging convention, driving meaningful impact, and elevating African creativity onto the global stage. We’re excited to be part of the conversation and to collaborate with the brightest minds pushing our industry and our continent forward.

    - Ray Langa, Group CEO: South Africa, Leagas Delaney - 2024 & 2025 Event Sponsor

  • The #NewGenTrends conference was so amazing, with so many important lessons learned about how to approach marketing and branding. From using awe and wonder in your thinking to using AI for content creation and encouraging #UGC. Finally, keeping concepts such as behavioral science and customer experience top of mind in our analysis of marketing data (to aid that strategic thinking and planning) 🤓

    - Nombulelo Bridgette Mini-Matsio, Digital Marketing, Volkswagen Group Africa

  • Powerful session #newgentrends In Marketing Conference. Desh Govender, TikTok. I could listen to you all day! Thank you Stephen Paxton on a fantastic day.

    - Caley May, Group Marketing Manager, Abcon Group

  • What an insightful day spent at the New Gen Marketing Conference yesterday. Thanks to Stephen Paxton and all the speakers for the very inspiring food for thought.

    - Gabi Goldstein, Chief Marketing Officer, Student Village

  • The audience: leading minds across agency & brand
    What an incredible session at the NewGenTrends in marketing conference with my co-host Raymond Langa 👏🏾
    Thank you for the warm welcome, and the amazing feedback on the day! 

    - Desh Govender, Head TikTok Brand Marketing Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Thought-provoking content and inspiration from Gareth Cliff. Well done Stephen Paxton for putting together a fantastic day.

    - David Pugh, Head of Studio at The Studio X, RCL Foods.

Event Sponsors & Media Partners

  • Blue Robot Group Dark with no background
  • WM2024
  • MM Website LOGO
  • Blue Robot Group Light with Dark background
  • Flow Logo On White