As Africa’s automation and manufacturing sectors look beyond traditional boundaries, new frontiers are opening that demand bold thinking, entrepreneurial leadership and advanced technology. In this edition of The Road to the Indaba, the spotlight turns to Jessie Ndaba, a dynamic business leader whose work spans manufacturing, innovation and an emerging interest in the space industry, a sector poised to redefine automation at scale.
Ndaba is widely recognised for her achievements in driving African industrial growth through innovation, localisation and collaboration. Her work champions the development of resilient manufacturing ecosystems that leverage automation to improve productivity, competitiveness and sustainability. At the Africa Automation Indaba 2026, she will bring a practical, opportunity-focused perspective grounded in real-world enterprise building, highlighting how African industries can scale by embracing advanced technologies while nurturing local capability.
What sets Ndaba apart is her growing focus on the space industry as a catalyst for the next wave of automation. From satellite manufacturing and ground systems to advanced materials, robotics and data-driven operations, space technologies demand the highest levels of precision engineering and automation. Her insight opens a new conversation for the automation community: how Africa can position itself in space-related value chains, using automation not only to participate, but to compete globally. This ‘new world’ creates powerful spillover benefits for manufacturing, skills development and high-tech innovation across the continent.
At the Africa Automation Indaba 2026, Ndaba will deliver a keynote titled ‘There Is Lots of Space in Africa – The Wild Card Opportunity: Harnessing Africa’s Manufacturing Potential through Automation and Local Innovation’.
In this session, she will challenge conventional thinking about Africa’s industrial limitations and highlight the continent’s vast, often overlooked opportunities. By connecting automation to emerging industries, advanced manufacturing and localisation, Ndaba will demonstrate how Africa can leapfrog legacy systems and build globally competitive industrial capabilities. Her message is both optimistic and practical, and urges industry leaders to recognise that Africa’s ‘space’ for growth lies not only in new sectors, but in bold thinking, collaboration and intelligent automation
Ndaba’s contribution to the Indaba underscores our central theme of The Road to the Indaba series: Africa’s automation future is not limited to existing industries. By exploring emerging sectors, like space where automation is mission-critical, she challenges delegates to think expansively about what’s possible, and to recognise that Africa’s industrial growth story is only just beginning.
Seats are limited – secure your place at Africa Automation Indaba 2026
Africa Automation Indaba brings together senior industry leaders, policymakers, investors and technology innovators shaping the future of automation across the continent. With a highly curated programme and limited capacity, delegate seats are strictly limited.
At R6500 excl. VAT, your registration gives you access to two days of executive-level insights, strategic networking and future-focused industry dialogue in a premium environment. Demand is already strong and seats are allocated on a first-come basis. Once capacity is reached, registrations will close.
Don’t delay, secure your place now and be part of the conversation shaping Africa’s industrial future.
Click here to register.
For more information contact Hanli Goncalves, RX Africa,
| Tel: | +27 10 496 3502 |
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| www: | www.africaautomationtechnologyfair.com |
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