2025 Event Highlights

2026 Event overview

New Gen Trends in Marketing & Technology Conference, Part 5, will be held at The Venue in Melrose Arch on Tuesday, 26 May. 

Early Bird (First 50 Tickets) - R2, 800 (Excluding VAT) Book Now! Registration opens from 7:30am to 8:30am. The event finishes at 17H00. 

The marketing landscape is evolving faster than ever in 2026, transitioning from experimentation to a “maturity era” focused on retention, LTV, and AI-driven, data-backed systems. To stay ahead, marketers and businesses must adopt agile strategies, embrace AI tools for efficiency, and focus on creating genuine, high-quality content. 

The event will feature nine keynote speakers and two panel discussions, showcasing a distinguished lineup of panelists and guests. Notable speakers include Ryan McFadyen, Tamryn Taylor, Mondre Bremner, Clare Trafankowska, Sydney Rheeder, Carni Wilkens, Darren Morris, Olivia Matterson, Bridget Harpur, and former South African World Boxing Champion Ladumo Lamati from Ringside Fitness, among others.

This conference will highlight some of the most distinguished thought leaders in digital marketing, including notable recipients of last year's New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards, who collectively garnered over 40 accolades. Participants will have the opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders who will share their success stories and reveal the strategies, tools, technologies, and innovative thinking that contributed to some of the most impactful campaigns of 2025. This event aspires to equip marketers with a wealth of resources and the confidence to refine their go-to-market strategies for 2026. Attendees can expect engaging, relevant content, with access to international trends shaping overseas markets, providing them with essential tools to navigate today’s rapidly evolving ecosystem.

In a world where our ecosystem is ever-evolving, we are poised to embrace the remarkable potential of AI this year, engaging in deeper discussions about the strides we've made, the strategies we've crafted, and the transformative results achievable through its wise application. Significant changes emerge to leverage human intelligence and technology to drive culturally relevant, innovative marketing and creative transformations.

2026 Speakers & Topics

  • 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
  • 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
  • Dentsu Corporate 20230425 45

    Carni Wilkens, Chief Growth Officer at dentsu SSA

    TOPIC: TBC
    Read more
  • Hyh HOD photos Ryan Mc Fadyen

    Ryan McFadyen, Co-Founder at HaveYouHeard Agency, and Co-Founder at Probitec South Africa

    TOPIC: Growth After the Algorithm Breaks 
    Read more
  • Clare Professional photo

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

    TOPIC: TBC
    Read more
  • Bridget

    Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa

    Panel Discussion Member
    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
  • Capture jon

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

    Read more

Key Topic Takeaways

What to expect! 

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Case Studies: The success stories of brands embracing these innovative strategies reveal invaluable insights that simply cannot be ignored.

2026 Ticket fees: All Prices (excl. VAT)

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

2026 Ticket Fees: Prices Exclude VAT: To book your tickets, email stephen@newgenawards.co.za  
 

  • Early Bird (First 50 Tickets) - R2, 800
  • Standard Ticket Fees thereafter - R3, 300
  • Purchase 5 or more tickets and receive a 10% discount. (Does not apply to the Early Bird Rate)
  • Tertiary Institutions: Lecturers and Staff - R1, 500
  • Student Rate: R1, 000
  • Ticket price includes: All-day refreshments, delicious breakfast and afternoon snacks, a full buffet lunch, and 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?

  • 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.
  • 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. 

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

  • WM2024
  • Mmlogo