Speakers

Dr Lizel Jacobs is a Clinical Risk Manager Specialist at EthiQal, where she focuses on assessing and managing clinical risk to support safer, higher-quality patient care.

A medical doctor with 15 years of experience, Dr Jacobs has built a career centred on Neonatal Care and Perinatal training. Her work spans clinical practice, problem identification, and teaching, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the everyday challenges healthcare professionals face and the risks that can arise in clinical settings.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys swimming and photography.

Emma Sadleir is South Africa’s leading expert on social media law. She is an attorney with an LLM from the London School of Economics and the founder of The Digital Law Company.

Emma specialises in media law, privacy, defamation, cyberbullying, and the legal risks of digital life. She advises corporates, schools, and individuals on online conduct, and is a sought-after speaker and commentator. Emma has authored three books, including How Not to Mess Up Online (Penguin, 2025).

JP Ellis is the Head of Claims & Legal Services at EthiQal, where he leads a team of in-house attorneys specialising in medical law and healthcare regulation. An admitted attorney with B.Comm and LLB degrees, he advises South African healthcare practitioners on medico-legal and ethical matters, oversees complex claims in collaboration with external counsel, and provides broader legal services including policy drafting, regulatory compliance, and law reform initiatives.

Before joining EthiQal, JP served as a senior practising attorney at a global law firm, focusing on medical malpractice defence. He also has experience offering commercial legal services to various financial services institutions.

A trained mediator, JP holds a certificate in medico-legal practice from the University of Cape Town. He is a former member of the South African medico-legal coalition task team, served on the Mowbray Maternity Hospital board, and will soon be appointed trustee of the Peninsula Maternity Trust, dedicated to supporting maternal and neonatal healthcare at Mowbray Maternity Hospital. He regularly presents talks at medical conferences, related industry events and contributes to articles in insurance and health-related publications.

With years of experience in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr Isabel do Vale provides high-quality care for women looking to enhance, restore and refine their natural beauty and live their best lives.

Dr Isabel do Vale is a registered, specialist, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in private practice, working predominantly from her private practice at Netcare Linksfield Hospital in Johannesburg. She is backed by an all-female team who provide empathetic pre-op and post-op care and attention.

After training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of the Witwatersrand and obtaining her specialisation, Dr Isabel do Vale spent 5 years working as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital treating both adults and children across the spectrum of plastic and reconstructive surgery. In 2019 she spent time in Sydney Australia under the tutelage of Dr Tim Papadopolous, where she gained valuable training and mentorship in cosmetic and aesthetic plastic surgery. Her main interests include breast surgery, body contouring, facial rejuvenation and paediatric plastic surgery. She also attends local and overseas congresses regularly.

Dr Isabel do Vale is the President Elect of the Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons of Southern Africa (APRASSA) where she has served on the executive board since 2018. She is also a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) and ASPS.