Chichi Maponya is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of Africa Travel Retail, a dynamic company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company specializes in travel retail, including distribution and retail operations, airport customer experience advisory, “sense of place” advisory and implementation, and non-aeronautical commercial services.

Her extensive experience and accomplishments as a business leader earned her the prestigious South African Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2008.

She currently serves as the Board Chairperson of the Maponya Group, a diversified family-owned enterprise founded in 1952 by her late parents, Dr. Richard and Marina Maponya. In addition to this role, she is a Trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, established by the former President of South Africa. She also sits on the Board of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) and is a Trustee of the Dr. Richard Maponya Institute for Skills and Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she serves on the boards of Boxer, one of South Africa’s largest discount grocery retailers, and Africa Realty Trust (ART), a citrus export company.

Chichi’s leadership also extends internationally through her active participation in the Middle East and Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA). She serves on MEADFA’s Advocacy Committee and as Vice President of the association, further strengthening her global influence.5

She is a member of the ACI Africa Economics Committee and ACI Africa World Business Partners, and contributes to the Airports Council International (ACI) World Economics Standing Committee, where she serves on the Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) subcommittee.

Chichi previously served as Deputy Chairperson of the South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR), which advises the Minister of International Relations. She is also a former Chairperson of Brand South Africa, the agency responsible for promoting the country as an international investment destination. Additionally, she has served as a board member of South African Tourism and 4 Africa Exchange (4AX), an alternative stock exchange.

Abdeslam Agzoul is the CEO of the Middle East and Africa for Avolta AG. Abdeslam is also the newly elected President of the Middle East Africa Duty Free Association. With more than 20 years of experience in travel, food, beverage, and retail, he began his career in Grupo Areas before joining Dufry in 2006 where he served as Head of Controlling and Deputy COO for Africa and Deputy CFO EMEA. Previously, Abdeslam held executive positions with Servair and Gategroup.

Abdeslam has a bachelor’s degree in finance and a postgraduate degree in international commerce. He also earned a PMD from IESE Business School.

PRESENTATION

With a natural curiosity and passion for compelling content, Michele is Conference Director responsible for developing and producing cutting-edge content for TFWA.

Previously, Michele spent several years with the think tanks East West Institute and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in charge of organizing high-level diplomatic events around the world. From Washington DC to Moscow, Brussels to Beijing, Michele completed impossible missions of getting heads of foreign ministries and multinational corporations talking about how to make the world a safer place. She has contributed to the New York Times and also worked as a foreign affairs columnist for the International Tribune, an Asian-American newspaper published in the United States.

Michele is a proud New Yorker who is passionate about rock climbing, running marathons, and traveling (to do both). She is aiming to visit every country in the world and is halfway there.