Speaker sheet
Thato Sebastian-Charles Mmereki
Author · Strategic executive · Sovereign venture capitalist · Johannesburg
A former aide to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Thato has worked as a journalist and technical producer at the SABC, Director: Strategic Communications in the Office of the Premier, Chief Financial Officer of the China–South Africa Youth Forum and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Transcontinental Council for Strategic Cooperation. He speaks on memory and power, political risk in African markets, Africa–China relations and institutional governance. His memoir, What Light Cannot Touch, publishes in 2026.
- 40+
- Keynotes and panels delivered
- 9
- Countries hosted in
- 70%
- Repeat institutional clients
- 3 days
- Average confirmation time
Signature topics
- What the record leaves out — Memory, power and the archive — how institutions decide what a country remembers.
- Reading political risk where power is exercised — Mapping veto points, regulatory calendars and institutional memory in African markets.
- Two political grammars: Africa and China — What breaks bilateral partnerships, and the structures that hold them.
- Institutions that outlive their founders — Governance, succession design and delegated authority tested before it is needed.
Formats
- Keynote — 35–45 min, no slides, moderated questions
- Fireside or panel — 45–60 min
- Executive workshop — half day, closed room
- Reading & conversation — 60 min, from the memoir
Audiences
- Universities and research institutes
- Sovereign and development finance institutions
- Corporate boards and executive committees
- Literary and cultural festivals
- Bilateral trade and diplomacy platforms
Logistics
- Typical audience size
- Keynotes 300–2,000 · Fireside and festival 150–600 · Boardroom and executive workshop 8–40
- Fee range
- On application. Indicative bands are shared with the first reply; reduced rates for universities, public institutions and non-profits, and a waived fee for selected school and library programmes.
- Travel
- From Johannesburg. Economy for regional travel, business class beyond eight hours, plus accommodation for overnight engagements.
- Lead time
- Six weeks minimum for keynotes; twelve weeks preferred for international dates.
- Technical
- No slides. A lectern or two chairs, a lapel or handheld microphone, and a glass of water.
- Recording
- Permitted with written agreement; the author retains rights to the recording of his remarks.
How to book
- 1. Send the brief — Email mmereki@gmail.com with date, city, venue, format, audience profile and expected size, and whether travel and accommodation are covered.
- 2. Hold and reply — A reply within three business days confirming availability, a provisional hold on the date, and the indicative fee band.
- 3. Agree terms — A one-page letter of engagement covering fee, travel, recording rights, cancellation and any book supply for the room.
- 4. Confirm — The date is released from hold on signature and a 50% deposit where a fee applies.
- 5. Prepare — A short call with the moderator or programme chair two weeks out, plus final run sheet, arrival time and technical check.
- 6. After the event — Recording, photography and follow-up materials exchanged; signed copies arranged on request.
“He does the rare thing on a stage: he makes an argument, then stays to defend it. Our board asked questions for an hour after the session ended.”