The University of South Africa (Unisa) will host its 2026 Innovation Festival from 23 to 26 November across its Florida, Muckleneuk and Sunnyside campuses, bringing together researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and students to explore ideas and solutions to pressing economic, social and environmental challenges.

Held under the theme "Catalyse. Innovate. Commercialise.", the festival will showcase innovative research, technologies and entrepreneurial initiatives while creating opportunities for collaboration between academia, industry and society. The programme will include keynote presentations, exhibitions, innovation showcases, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. It will highlight how research and innovation can be translated into practical solutions that support economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability.

Speaker, Hulisani Thabela

Among the featured contributors is Hulisani Thabela, a tourism strategist and destination development practitioner with more than two decades of experience in tourism strategy, destination marketing, international tourism promotion and business events. Thabela will share her insights during a City of Tshwane workshop on Monday, 23 November, at Senate Hall. The session, titled "Tourism innovation: An evidence-based approach to building the future of Tshwane as a tourism destination", will explore how research, innovation and strategic partnerships can help develop competitive tourism destinations.

Thabela's career spans national tourism institutions, local government, non-profit organisations and the private sector, giving her broad experience of the tourism ecosystem and the partnerships required to strengthen destinations. She began her career at South African Tourism, where she contributed to tourism strategy, international marketing and foundational tourism research initiatives.

At the City of Tshwane, she has played a role in advancing destination development and marketing, strengthening industry partnerships and introducing innovative approaches to tourism promotion within the resource constraints faced by local government. A strong advocate for rethinking the role of municipalities in tourism development, Thabela was instrumental in advancing the inclusion of tourism in the G20 Urban20 process. This helped reinforce the role of cities in promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism and supporting local economic development.

Her experience also extends to the continental tourism industry. She served for four years on the board of the African Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions (AAVEA), contributing to the association's strategic turnaround, industry advocacy and institutional development. Her work in the association provided experience in non-profit governance and collaborative industry leadership, while strengthening her commitment to advancing Africa's visitor attractions sector.

Through her contribution to the festival, Thabela will bring practical industry experience to discussions on how destinations can use evidence, partnerships and innovation to respond to changing tourism demands and unlock growth opportunities. The Innovation Festival is intended to create a space where ideas and research can connect with industry needs and broader societal priorities. By bringing together participants from different sectors, Unisa seeks to encourage partnerships that can move innovation beyond academic and conceptual work towards practical applications.

The festival also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to quality education, decent work and economic growth, industry and innovation, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for sustainable development. For Unisa, the event provides an opportunity to demonstrate how research, entrepreneurship and collaboration can contribute to national development priorities and the African Union's Agenda 2063 aspirations for inclusive growth, industrialisation and sustainable development.

The festival’s theme, "Catalyse. Innovate. Commercialise.", places emphasis on turning knowledge and ideas into solutions that can create value for communities, businesses and society.

Registration is open. To find out more about the programme and register for the 2026 Unisa Innovation Festival, click here.

* By the Directorate of Research Support