Conference keynote speaker · South Africa & worldwide
Conference keynote speaker in South Africa: the talk delegates quote.
Carina Bruwer is a conference keynote speaker for corporate conferences, industry summits, annual sales conferences and leadership events, to international audiences of 500 delegates.
A conference keynote speaker built for the main stage
A conference keynote has to do three things: open or close the programme with energy, connect to your theme and leave delegates with something to act on. Carina Bruwer's keynote, 'The Art of Turning the Tide', is designed for exactly that, with stories from open-water marathon swims, music performance and building a technology company.
Delegates regularly describe it as the best talk they have heard. At WOMEN IN TECH Global at the CTICC in Cape Town, her keynote and live performance reached 500 international delegates.
Conferences and sectors Carina has headlined
Recent conference keynotes include Novartis in Magaliesburg, the SalesGuru Live headline keynote across three cities, Aurobindo's annual sales conference, the Peace Parks Foundation AGM and Festival of Eventing, where she was keynote speaker and host. She has also delivered a motivational keynote at Absa Technology SNG in Johannesburg.
Carina tailors every talk to your theme through a discovery call, so the stories and takeaways match your sector, whether that is pharmaceuticals, financial services, technology, property, retail or events.
Formats that fit your programme
Choose a 45 to 60 minute keynote, a 30-minute version, a fireside chat, a keynote plus leadership workshop, or a keynote with a live flute performance. Virtual and hybrid delivery are also available, and Carina speaks across South Africa and internationally.
Recent conference keynotes
- Festival of EventingKeynote · August 2025
- Novartis · MagaliesburgConference keynote · December 2025
- DigiCertKeynote · February 2026
- Impact.comKeynote · March 2026
- Peace Parks FoundationAGM keynote · March 2026
- WOMEN IN TECH Global · CTICC, Cape TownKeynote + live performance - 500 international delegates · 19 April 2026
- Aurobindo · ParysAnnual Sales Conference gala dinner keynote · May 2026
- SalesGuru · Three citiesHeadline keynote × 3 talks · 3–5 June 2026
Conference keynotes in action
WOMEN IN TECH Global · 2026
500 international delegates: WOMEN IN TECH Global
A global tech audience of 500, a keynote fresh off building her own AI platform — and feedback calling it the best talk they'd heard.
Read the case study ›
Novartis · 2026
Reimagine, redefine, rise: a keynote for Novartis
Turning a conference theme — Reimagine. Redefine. Rise. — into a practical mindset for one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies.
Read the case study ›
SalesGuru · 2026
Three cities, three days: headlining SALESGURU Live
Headlining a national sales tour — three cities in three days, hundreds of sales professionals, and feedback that didn't stop when the tour did.
Read the case study ›What hosts say.
“Deeply inspirational, engaging and entertaining — it captured everyone's attention from start to finish. It exceeded all my expectations and left a lasting impression on me and many others.”
“Everyone at Novartis was just blown away by Carina. More than one guest — including a team member of 18 years — said she's by far the best speaker they've ever had. It made a massive impact.”
“She connects deeply with her audience — not just inspiring in the moment, but sharing insights and life lessons that resonate long after the event is over.”
Booking a conference keynote speaker: your questions
Who is a good conference keynote speaker in South Africa?+
Carina Bruwer is a South African conference keynote speaker, record-holding open-water marathon swimmer, award-winning musician and tech founder, rated 5.0 out of 5 on Google. She has keynoted conferences for Novartis, WOMEN IN TECH Global, SalesGuru and many more.
How much does a conference keynote speaker cost?+
Carina does not publish a standard fee, because every engagement is different: format, location, tailoring and extras such as a live flute performance all affect the investment. Send an enquiry with your date, audience size and venue and you will receive a tailored proposal within one business day.
How long is a conference keynote?+
The signature keynote, 'The Art of Turning the Tide', runs 45 to 60 minutes. A 30-minute version, a fireside chat and an extended session with a leadership workshop are also available.
Can you speak at virtual or hybrid conferences?+
Yes. 'The Art of Turning the Tide' is available as a live, broadcast-quality virtual keynote for global teams in any time zone, and as part of hybrid programmes.
How far in advance should we book?+
For South African events, book at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead where possible. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.
More answers on the keynote speaker FAQ.
Bring Carina to your event.
Tell us about your event and we'll come back within one business day with availability and a tailored proposal.