Nicole Petyt

Nicole was educated in what is now Zimbabwe and was an excellent sportswoman, having been fortunate enough to represent her country at swimming. She emigrated to South Africa in 1982 and began an interesting career that culminated in graduating with an MBA from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. She is mentoring businesses across a wide spectrum of sectors including agri-tech and the Engineering Chapter of South Africa at the University of Johannesburg. She has been a judge on the panel of the 2018 edition of the Southern Africa StartUp Awards, and is passionate about the part that entrepreneurs and start-ups have to play in job creation and skills transfer in South Africa and across the continent. The upliftment of women and the girl child is a particular focus as she believes that this will be the change in dynamic necessary to improve the daily life of families suffering poverty. She is a volunteer for the South African Police Services as a First Responder at crime scenes, caring for victims of crime. She has recently been awarded the accolade of one of the 150 Global Women in Leadership by the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Africa Women Enterprises (AWE) will use current and future technologies in 3D Printing in the construction industry, water-tech and renewable energy tech sectors to disrupt, challenge and enhance the status quo of life for people across the Continent of Africa. Currently in startup phase, AWE is a leader in aligning communities, both rural and urban, with technologies that are sustainable and that will restore dignity and equality to the people within these communities. AWE is working towards many of the SDGs that will raise the quality of life of many people across Africa and the globe.