Vertiv Brings AI Innovation Roadshow Back to Africa in Virtual Format
Vertiv, the globally recognized provider of critical digital infrastructure, is gearing up to host the latest installment of its highly anticipated AI Innovation Roadshow for Africa — and this time, it’s going fully virtual. The online event is scheduled for Wednesday, 15 April, at 11am South African Standard Time (SAST), opening its doors to a much wider audience across the continent.
The webinar will center around the theme “AI-ready data centres for Africa: building infrastructure for what’s next” — a topic that couldn’t be more timely given the rapid pace of digital transformation sweeping across the African continent. Attendees can expect an in-depth conversation about what it genuinely takes to get African data facilities prepared for the demanding workloads that come with artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and large-scale digital expansion.
One of the core focuses of the session will be the critical importance of power, cooling, and modular infrastructure in reshaping data centres for both current efficiency and long-term growth. These aren’t just technical talking points — they represent the real-world building blocks that determine whether a facility can keep pace with rapidly evolving technology demands.
What the Vertiv AI Innovation Roadshow Will Cover
A team of seasoned Vertiv experts will be leading the discussions, including Wojtek Piorko, Managing Director for Africa; Jon Abbott, Technology Director; Andrew Carikas, Senior Manager of Technical Sales for Thermal; and Haroun De-Almeida, Senior Manager of Technical Sales for AC Power. Together, they’ll tackle some of the most pressing infrastructure challenges facing the region today.
Key topics lined up for the session include the impact of AI workloads on African data centre strategies, power and energy efficiency demands for high-density computing environments, and the evolution of cooling technologies — from precision cooling systems to chilled-water setups and liquid cooling readiness. The discussion will also touch on modular and scalable infrastructure approaches for future expansion, as well as strategies for building resilient, future-ready facilities capable of supporting sustained growth across Africa.
Beyond the expert-led segments, the webinar will feature a dedicated panel discussion titled “Powering AI in Africa: exploring readiness, infrastructure challenges and scalable growth.” The panel will bring together Piorko alongside other prominent voices in the industry, notably Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centres (OADC), to unpack the broader landscape of AI infrastructure readiness on the continent.
Commenting on the initiative, Piorko expressed confidence in Africa’s growing role in the global AI ecosystem. “Africa represents a strategically important market in the global AI landscape, with growing investment in digital infrastructure,” he said. He added that the virtual format of this roadshow edition allows Vertiv to engage a significantly broader audience while exploring the practical realities of preparing data centres for AI — including the infrastructure strategies needed to support efficient, environmentally responsible growth.
The shift to a digital format is a deliberate move to ensure that more industry professionals, decision-makers, and technology enthusiasts from across Africa can participate without geographical or logistical barriers. It reflects a broader understanding that the conversation around AI-ready infrastructure must be inclusive, reaching voices from Nairobi to Cape Town, Lagos to Johannesburg.
As Africa continues to attract increased investment in digital infrastructure, events like the Vertiv AI Innovation Roadshow play a meaningful role in bridging the knowledge gap and helping regional operators make informed decisions about their infrastructure future. For anyone operating in or following Africa’s data centre space, this is one virtual event worth attending.