African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE) continues its growth path at Meetings Africa

Magazine:
18th Feb, 2016
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The African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE), first established and constituted in February last year at Meetings Africa, will officially unveil its headquarters in Johannesburg at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the 21st February, eve of the start of Meetings Africa 2016.

Hosted buyers and stakeholders will be in attendance at this auspicious occasion, which signals a significant step forward for associations on the continent. “The launch of AfSAE is one of the many ground-breaking and innovative developments at this year’s show, because through this association, we will be able to encourage meetings to be held and rotated across our own continent, thus benefitting our African economy,” says Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer of the South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB), a business unit of South African Tourism.

African Society of Association ExecutivesThe following day, on February 22, AfSAE members will be participating in Association Day which is part of the educational programme of Meetings Africa. Association Day focuses on knowledge development among associations, and the benefits of association meetings to the economies of the countries where they are held.

In his keynote address, the CEO of Brand South Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng, will address attendees on the role of civil societies in building a stronger South Africa.

Other topics to be covered include association governance, marketing, strategic positioning and trends in destinations and events. The Association Growth and Development Workshop, the last event on the Association Day programme, will look at case studies and workshop key issues, in order to find solutions.

The Association Day programme speaks directly to the strategic position of Meetings Africa 2016, Advancing Africa Together, a calling to exhibitors to work together to showcase Africa’s globally competitive meetings infrastructure, as well as the multiple benefits of hosting a business events in Africa.

“The more important and often immeasurable aspect of hosting a meeting or conference is the impact that the knowledge transferred and sharing of solutions within such a meeting or conference has,” concludes Kotze-Nhlapo.

  • Speakers at the AfSAE conference include: Jeffers Miruka, President of AfSAE; Juan Garcia, vice-president of Barcelo Congresos; Kelvin Esiasa, chairman of the Zambia Society for Public Administration and Family Business Society; Chido Nwakanma, Nigeria Chapter President of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC); Martin Sirk, chief executive officer of the ICCA; Ulrika von Arnold, 2nd vice-president of the Vienna Convention Bureau.

This article was originally published on Meetings Africa 2016 Official website. For more information on Meetings Africa 2016, please visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za

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