ABOUT THE EVENT
The use of AI-enabled and other digital technologies for supporting mental health offers great promise, such as by potentially improving treatment outcomes as well as crisis and addiction support, suicide prevention, and building mental resilience and wellbeing. Regulating the safe use of AI and technology in mental health is an urgent priority and calls for many actions including robust clinical and data governance frameworks. When working with digital technologies in mental health spaces it is crucial that risks and harms are minimized to avoid potentially life-altering and life-threatening outcomes.
In this third edition of the Forum series taking place in South Africa in June 2025, (second edition occurred in Singapore in October 2024 and the first edition occurred in London in March 2024) we will address key questions related to safety and regulation of AI in digital mental health with specific considerations to African perspectives.
The aim of this African Forum is to share perspectives on approaches to safety, quality and improved protection of vulnerable citizens when working with AI-enabled technologies specifically in mental health spaces. Another Forum aim is to gather and share knowledge highlighting the need for more nuanced approaches in diverse cultural landscapes in Africa with the aim to align with the needs of the environment, culture, and value systems of individuals, communities, and societies in Africa.
The Forum has limited seating, and priority will be given to individuals who fall within the target audience. This Forum is designed for:
We encourage individuals who closely align with these roles to register early, as space is limited and demand is high. Registrants outside of the target audience may be placed on a waitlist based on the order of registration received.
The Global Forum series is presented by the IEEE Healthcare and Life Science Global Practice and the New Frontiers in the Continuum of Care for Connected Health Industry Connections Program.
Express Your Interest to Register for the Forum
This is an in-person only event. To attend, participants must express their interest by completing the interest form in its entirety by 20 June. Registrations after 20 June will not be accepted.
All perspectives are welcomed in the planning of the Forum and on the day of the event.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
VIEW FULL EVENT AGENDA
Agenda times are noted in local South Africa time (DST)
TIME
8:30 - 9:15 AM
EVENT
Registration / Networking Breakfast
9:15 - 9:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Maria Palombini, Global Director, Healthcare and Life Science Practice
Dr. Becky Inkster, Chair, IEEE SA Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Global Forum Series
9:15 - 9:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Maria Palombini, Global Director, Healthcare and Life Science Practice
Dr. Becky Inkster, Chair, IEEE SA Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Global Forum Series
9:30 - 10:00 AM
An Academic Perspective: Digital Mental Health
Professor Matete Madiba,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Development & Support, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Promoting Responsible Use of AI and Machine Learning in African Healthcare *or* Sociocultural issues embedded in AI Technologies, and the Use of Ethical Programming
Edmund Terem, Department of Philosophy and a Researcher, the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg
10:30 - 10:45 AM
Morning Break (comfort break)
10:45 - 12:00 PM
Interactive Roundtables: Technology, Culture and Regulation
Table Moderators:
Edmund Terem
Department of Philosophy and a Researcher, the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg
Scott Unwin
Independent Consultant, Trialogue ·
Wissal Abrahams
Director, the School of Pressure; Founder, Manvrou Collective
Camille Castelyn
Project Manager and Post-Doctoral Researcher, Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute
Inganathi Kewana
Youth Policy Committee, Global Change, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch and Live Demo Tech Experiences
All Attendees welcome to try demo tech experiences
1:30 - 1:45 PM
Regulatory Challenges of Digital Health: The Case of Mental Health Applications And Personal Data in South Africa
Dr Marietjie Botes, Lawyer / Researcher, Biotechnology Law and Neuroethics, Western Cape
1:45 - 2:00 PM
Protecting Patients Privacy and Security: Global Technical Safeguards on Digital Mental Health Therapeutics
Maria Palombini, Global Director, Healthcare and Life Science Practice, IEEE SA
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Current and Future Landscape of AI and Mental Health in Africa
Honorable David Naboare, Founder and President at African Mental Health Association
2:30 - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Break
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Interactive Roundtables: Factors Influencing the Regulation, Bioethics, and AI in Africa
Table Moderators:
Edmund Terem
Department of Philosophy and a Researcher, the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg
Scott Unwin
Independent Consultant, Trialogue ·
Camille Castelyn
Project Manager and Post-Doctoral Researcher, Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute
Inganathi Kewana
Youth Policy Committee, Global Change, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)
Minoka Naidoo
Independent Healthcare Professional
4:00 - 4:20 PM
Attendee Fireside Discussion
Conversational style exchange amongst all participants: ask questions, share comments, and recommend ways forward
Led by: Dr. Becky Inkster, Chair, IEEE SA Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Global Forum Series
4:20 - 4:30 PM
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
Synthesis of themes, key points, next steps
Dr. Becky Inkster, Chair, IEEE SA Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Global Forum Series
4:30 PM
Forum concludes
PANELISTS AND SPEAKERS
Professor Matete Madiba
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Development & Support, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Dr. Marietjie Botes
Lawyer / Researcher, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Edmund Terem
Department of Philosophy and a Researcher, the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg
Honorable David Naboare
Founder & President at African Mental Health Association
Maria Palombini
Global Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice. IEEE SA
Dr. Becky Inkster
Digital Mental Health Neuroscientist; Chair, IEEE Regulating AI in Digital Mental Health Forum Global Series
Entity Collaborative Activities Governance Board
© Copyright 2025 IEEE – All rights reserved. A public charity, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.