The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) has appointed a new board, with Denise Kemp, partner at Eastern Sun Events, as chairperson.
New board members are Nikki Brown of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Koos Myburgh of the empowerment company Decorscape and Thomas Overbeck, internationally trained hotelier and manpower facilitator.
The other board members are vice-chairperson Craig Drysdale of Springbok Atlas, immediate past chairperson Brian McDonald of Global Conferences, Leora Berger of Conference Africa, Nina Freysen-Pretorius of The Conference Company, Alec Gilbert of the ICC Durban, Lionel Hartman of Pro Alliance, Carol McNab also of the ICC Durban, Anton Post of Furneaux Stewert Gapp and Carol Weaving of Thebe Exhibitions. Godfrey King of Contact Publications manages the association's secretariat.
In a move to assist SAACI with Black Economic Empowerment, Eddy Khosa, acting Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg Tourism Company and Zodwa Msimang, Managing Partner of Ikhono Communications have been appointed to facilitate BEE.
Khosa is also the chairperson of the South African Meetings Industry Federation (SAMIF).
Prior to Kemp's appointment as chairperson she was the organisation's vice-chairperson and head of the Conferencing and Events Chapter.
Kemp says she looks forward to leading SAACI and working with the new board to maintain and improve the standards of efficiency and professionalism in the conference industry in Southern Africa: "The South African conference industry is recognised around the world as a dynamic growth area and we are deeply aware of the increasing importance of the country as an international conference destination. We are determined to ensure that the industry meets the required standards."
