Marketers to expect exciting insights into SA’s youth choices The third Sunday Times Generation Next Youth Marketing Conference @ST_GenNext | #GenNext2017

Marketers to expect exciting insights into SA’s youth choices

The third Sunday Times Generation Next Youth Marketing Conference

@ST_GenNext  |  #GenNext2017

Brand marketers and advertisers can expect a very informative and exciting insight into the changing preferences and motivations of SA’s youth market at the third Sunday Times Generation Next Youth Marketing Conference happening at the Sandton Convention Centre on 11 May 2017.  The Conference takes place ahead of the prestigious Sunday Times Generation Next Awards, which acknowledge the country’s best-perceived brands and celebrities, based on the results of the annual survey conducted by HDI Youth Marketeers.  The survey is now in its thirteenth year, and this is the third year the Conference has been hosted in tandem.

Taryn Westoby, head of Times Media’s Events division, which hosts the event on behalf of the Sunday Times says, “the line-up of topics and industry specialists secured to elucidate the drivers of SA’s increasingly mature youth market, promises to deliver exceptional benefit to the industry.  It is the aim of the Sunday Times to provide brands and advertisers with the tools they need to effectively engage an audience that will be the income earners and spenders of the future.  We believe the Conference adds significant context to the research the Sunday Times has commissioned from HDI.”

The programme will include:

• An overview of the 2017 research by Catherine Bothma, MD of HDI Youth Marketeers;

• Discussion of digital and social media disruption, with Mbuluma Silumbwe (Senior Social Media Analyst at Ornico) and Sbu Mpanza (Social Media Content Creator, YouTuber)  alongside members of the HDI Junior Board of Directors (JBoD). Yashini Paydayachee (News Anchor, eNCA) will host the discussion;

• #Kellman20 list presenting 20 Influential Millennials To Watch, with Arye Kellman;

• Youth entrepreneurship, with Siya Beyile (CEO, The Threaded Man & Siya Beyile Holdings (SBH);

• A discussion on youth trends and insights, with David Malonza (MD, HDI Youth Marketeers East Africa), Happy Ngidi (Chief Marketing Officer, Proudly South African), Raphael Griffiths (Muvhango actor) alongside members of the HDI Junior Board of Directors (JBoD). Lynette Ntuli (CEO, Innate Investment Solutions) will host the discussion;

• The role and place for youth ambassadors, with Fhatuwani Mukheli (Art director / Photographer, I See A Different You);

• The responsibility of marketing to youth, with Nikki Bush (Creative parenting expert, speaker and best-selling author, Nikki Bush & Associates);

• A debate on creative advertising, with Jineil Kandasamy (Creative Director and partner, Grid Wordwide), Tshepiso Malele (Marketing Manager, Brand South Africa), Garreth Amoore (Head of Creative and New Business, HDI Youth Marketeers), and members of the HDI JBoD.  The panel will be hosted by Lesole Kodisang (Head of Strategic Planning Director, Unit 5);
• Fact or fiction – what is really true about youth perceptions in SA?  Members of the JBoD discuss the issues with Arye Kellman.

Headline partners for the 2017 Sunday Times Generation Next include Nedbank and Brand South Africa (An official custodian of Nation Brand), Proudly South African and Kotex.  Other partners include Adidas, BOUNCE SOUTH AFRICA, Maybelline New York, Vodacom NXT LVL, Avon, KidZania Johannesburg, SandtonCity, Shell and CliffCentral.