Mohammed Jogie is an award-winning designer, artist, author, presenter, researcher, educator, student and activist, with a background in fine art, visual communication design and multimedia design. He is Design and Strategy Director at the Institute for Media, Strategy and Design (iMSD), where his work focuses on circular, regenerative and multi-modal design and its impact on social justice and economic parity. He is currently pursuing doctoral research at TUT, exploring Ubuntu aesthetics and anti-apartheid struggle posters.

He has worked with  multinational brands, governments, the UN, NGOs, and SMME’s. He has served on the boards of Ico-D, Cafe, Design South Africa, Think, PADI, Defsa, Vansa, and DISA. He speaks at workshops worldwide and is author of blended learning programmes, books and research papers on design and the arts.

Temi Stallings is an award-winning interior designer, entrepreneur and Founder and Managing Director of Design Decisions, a Cape Town-based interior architecture and design practice established in 1993. With over 30 years of experience, she has led more than 250 projects across Africa and internationally, spanning the commercial, hospitality, retail, healthcare and high-end residential sectors.

Her expertise encompasses interior architecture, space planning, design development, FF&E, procurement and project management, with a strong focus on delivering contextually relevant and commercially viable design solutions. Temi brings a PanAfrican perspective to her work, championing African design identity, local industry and globally competitive professional standards.

As a Board Member and Secretary of the Design Institute of South Africa (DISA), she contributes her experience as a practitioner, business owner and industry advocate towards strengthening professional practice, collaboration and the broader design and creative sector.

Sadiyah Geyer is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Interior Design at the University of Johannesburg, where she also coordinates the Honours Interior Design programme. With extensive professional experience in the design industry, she has worked across interior architecture and design, with a particular focus on corporate and commercial environments. Her academic and research interests extend across interior design, urban regeneration, spatial transformation, sustainability and the evolving role of design within the built environment. She is actively involved in design education, research, professional practice and external academic moderation, and is committed to strengthening the relationship between education, industry and the broader design sector in South Africa. Her involvement with DISA reflects her interest in advancing design excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and the contribution of design to South Africa’s social, cultural and economic development.

Vinolia Mabele is a marketing, brand and strategic communications executive, entrepreneur and governance professional with over 15 years of experience across corporate, entrepreneurial and public-sector environments. As Operations Director of the Design Institute of South Africa (DISA), she brings expertise in organisational operations, strategic communications, marketing, stakeholder engagement, partnerships and governance.

Her leadership experience includes serving on and chairing boards and contributing to governance, compliance, organisational positioning and strategic oversight. Through her work in marketing, fashion, media and public-sector programmes, Vinolia also brings a strong understanding of the creative and design economy, brand development and stakeholder ecosystems. She is the Founder and CEO of Lebema Media House and Founder and Creative Director of VELAZE M, complementing her board contribution with practical entrepreneurial and executive leadership experience.

Lethabo Agnes Maseko is an accomplished Project Manager, Business Development professional and strategic leader with over two decades of experience in enterprise development, economic development, renewable energy, stakeholder management and SME development. She has held senior roles within government and government entities, where she led operations, financial management, stakeholder relations and strategic initiatives.

Previously, Lethabo served as a Project Manager  the provincial, managing renewable energy, clothing and textile development projects and facilitating partnerships between government, municipalities, industry and SMEs. She also contributed to major initiatives including the KZN Renewable Energy Forum and the KZN Clothing & Textile Hub, and has academic experience as a lecturer at Owen Sitole College of Agriculture.

Lethabo holds an MBA from MANCOSA, a B-Tech in Rural Development/Extension and a National Diploma in Community Extension from Tshwane University of Technology, supported by qualifications in stakeholder management, economic development, project management, mentorship and coaching. Her expertise includes investment facilitation, PPPs, fundraising, organisational strategy, project management and business development. She is passionate about transforming opportunities into sustainable ventures, building strategic partnerships and contributing to meaningful economic and community development.

Mholiwezizwe Ferdinand Mthembu is a South African Professional Architect, Entrepreneur & Design Leader with more than two decades of experience across architecture, the built environment and project delivery.

He holds undergraduate and post-graduate architectural qualifications from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is registered as a Professional Architect with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). He is also a member of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture (KZNIA).

Mholi's career has encompassed the design and delivery of projects across the healthcare, education, public infrastructure, commercial and corporate sectors. His experience includes complex healthcare projects, as well as public educational infrastructure and commercial workplace environments. This breadth of work has developed his expertise in architectural design, multidisciplinary coordination, project management, stakeholder engagement and the translation of design concepts into built outcomes.

His entrepreneurial journey has been equally central to his professional development. After more than a decade gaining experience in established architectural practices and the public sector, Mholi co-founded DM2 Architects, which developed a strong focus on public-sector and social infrastructure. He later co-founded MAD Design Studios, where he serves as Director and leads architecture, projects and operations. His entrepreneurial interests have also extended beyond the built environment into other sectors, including hospitality, where he was a co-owner of Madam & Sir, a recognised and award-nominated Durban restaurant brand. These experiences have broadened his perspective on design not only as a professional discipline, but as an important contributor to enterprise, brand, customer experience and economic activity.

At MAD Design Studios, Mholi has helped develop an increasingly integrated approach to the built environment, bringing together architecture, interior design, project delivery and kitchen and furniture manufacturing. This evolution reflects his broader interest in closing the gap between design thinking and implementation - creating stronger connections between what is conceived, how it is technically resolved, how it is made, and ultimately how it performs in the real world.

Mholi brings to the Design Institute of South Africa (DISA) Board a perspective shaped by professional practice, entrepreneurship and hands-on project delivery. He has a particular interest in strengthening the relationship between design, industry and economic development, and in advancing the role of South African design as a catalyst for innovation, local manufacturing, skills development and sustainable enterprise.

He believes that South Africa's design disciplines have an important role to play not only in shaping better spaces and products, but also in building competitive industries, meaningful employment and a stronger culture of locally conceived and produced design.

Bridget Meier is the founder and creative director of Styleast Interior Design Studio, a South African interior design studio known for creating warm, thoughtful and beautifully layered spaces.

Known for her refined aesthetic and intentional approach to design, Bridget creates interiors that feel elevated, personal and deeply connected to the way people live. Her work has been featured across leading South African design publications, and she regularly contributes to the broader design conversation through speaking engagements, industry events and editorial features.

Bridget is also the host of My Stylish Life, Africa’s first interior design podcast, where she explores design, interiors and the way our homes shape our lives. Through her studio, podcast and industry involvement, she is passionate about championing South African design and making good design feel both inspiring and accessible.