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Board Of Directors
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RSA: Executive Committee (EXCO)

Chairperson


  

Zelda Coetzee, Owner and Director of Imfunzelelo.

Having managed numerous local and international conferences and events for associations, corporates and NGOs. Zelda started her business tourism career at the Cape Town Convention Bureau before joining one of South Africa's leading tourism groups as General Manager of their conference division. Zelda was honoured for outstanding contribution to the Tourism Industry in the Western Cape by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in 2004. 

Email:   Zelda@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 657 5411



 


Vice- Chairperson

                                

Kim Gibbens, Owner and  Director of Aqua MICE

Established herself as a local captain of the Business, Sports and Leisure Tourism transport/logistics industry, in South Africa. Kim also had the privilege of working at the Yas Marine Island Grand Prix in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in Abu Dhabi where she was appointed as the VIP association transport specialist. From the initial presentation and proposal submission right through to the ‘round the clock' management of events.

Email: kim@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 79 693 9511


 


Treasurer

                    

  

Glenn Van Eck, Chief Executive Officer of Magnetic Storm.

With over 30 years of experience in the Conference and Events Industry in South Africa and a qualified, Certified Meetings Professional (CMP) registered in Washington DC, Glenn is dedicated to the growth and development of the industry in the Eastern Cape. He is also the Chairperson of the Council of Events Professionals (CEP) Africa a joint initiative of SAACI, EXSA and IFEA to set up a professional body for the industry.

Email: glenn@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 82 800 2611



 

 


Public Officer


Denise Kemp, Owner and Director of Eastern Sun Events

 

  

Chief Executive Officer

 

 Adriaan Liebetrau, Chief Executive Officer

Having worked in the hospitality industry from secondary school and completing his studies at the University of Johannesburg, Adriaan have a list of achievements behind his name. He has worked for both Protea Hospitality and Peermont Hotels Casinos and Resorts in various fields ranging from development project manager, general manager and hotel and resort operations manager. He then headed up the Conferencing and Events division of Travel with Flair and also served on the SAACI board as Director before joining the Association as its Chief Executive in May 2014.

Email: adriaan@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 82 863 6311

 
Directors

 Kwa-Zulu-Natal: Chairperson

 

Nick Papadopoulos, Co-owner of Eat Greek Caterers

Passionate about food, quality and excellent service. Eat Greek Caterers was established in 1991 and celebrates many sucessful years in the food and beverage  business having been voted as a top 10 leading brands of KwaZulu-Natal in 2014.  Nick has a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, having run a restaurant on the Broadway in Durban North, a deli at Virginia Circle and has catered for all types of corporate, VIP and private functions. 

Email: eatgreek@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 505 0111

 

 

Western Cape: Chairperson

 

Crystal Kasselman, Co-owner of Centeq Events

Having started in the business events industry in 1992 with Global Conferences as Personal Assistant to finally General Manager of their Head Office. In 2009 Crystal and Juanita de Lange started their own company that specializes in database management and registration management pre, during and post events.  Crystal has served on the SAACI board as Treasurer, a member of ICCA as well as an active member of Cape Town Tourism. 

Email: crystal@saaci.co.za

Mobile:+27 (0) 82 414 4411

 

 

Eastern Cape: Chairperson

     

Andrew Stewart, Owner of PeriExpo

Andrew has been involved with the exhibitions industry since 1999. He completed his studies at the University of Cape Town and then travelled abroad to return to South Africa in 1994. After a stint in the property market he changed his careers to the  exhibitions industry and currently operates out of Port Elizabeth and continues to be involved with exhibitions nationally. 

Email: andrew@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 82 578 5911


 

 

Northern Territories (Gauteng): Chairperson

                             

 

 

 

Wayne Johnson, Sales Manager of Fancourt

He started his career in the hospitaltiy industry in 1998, as an in-service management trainee with the Three Cities hospitality Group. After 7 years with the group he joined the Avis sales team in KZN and after a year, took a position with Avis in Johannesburg. After leaving Avis as the MICE Sales Manager, he went back to his Hotel roots holding positions with Signature Life Hospitality and ISO Leisure Hotel until October 2013 he was given and exciting opportunity to grow the Gauteng MICE market for. Wayne also chairperson of the 2012 Congress. 

Email: waynej@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 83 448 1311

           

 

 

 

Venues: Chairperson



Esmaré Steinhöfel, Business Development Manager: International for CTICC

Esmare is well known in the industry for her role as Business Development Manager: International for the Cape Town International Convention Centre.  Before joining the CTICC, she managed the Conference & Incentive sales division of Arabella Starwood South Africa, she was responsible for overseeing the sales of the 5 star Westin Grand Hotel, and 5 star Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa along with the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. Prior to her joining Starwood South Africa, she worked at the Cape Town Convention Bureau.

Email: esmare@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 71 888 2611

 


Conference & Events: Chairperson
        

Keith Burton, Managing Director of African Agenda

African Agenda, a privately-owned professional conference management company that specialises in planning and hosting national and international conferences for local and international associations, societies and corporations. Keith is the only Sub-Saharan Africa's member of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), an association that demands an arduous application process and holds its members to the highest standards of professionalism.

Email: keith@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 83 415 4122

 

Advisory Board


1. Community

                           
           

 

Helet Brochardt, Manager - Micro Marketing, Sanlam

Started career working for Sanlam Communications Department 25 years ago in Pietermaritzburg. Joined SAACI in 1997 and have been a loyal member of the Association since.  I served as chairperson of SAACI KZN in 2013 and am passionate about the organization and what it stands for.

Have lived in KZN for the last 25 years, 10 of which were spent as Sanlam KZN's Communication Co-ordinator in the Public Relations Department and the last 15 years as Regional Marketing Manager, my passion, and loving every minute. In this time I completed the Business Management Programme through GISM and a Diploma in Marketing at IMM.

Other passions include traveling, history, growing exotic chilies, and reading

almost everything relating to travel, cooking, history, autobiographies.


Email: Helet.Borchardt@saaci.co.za

Mobile: + 27 (0) 82 458 8222


 

     2. Intelligence

 

Kim Roberts, Operation Directo, The Forum 

With 20 years in the industry and currently based at the forum company, I live hospitality. My goal is to continually deliver consistent, top quality, friendly and value to clients within the business environment.  I believe in maintaining a work ethic that is well above average and that sets an example to those around me.

Email: kim.roberts@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 82 652 20011

3. Academy 

Liezel Short, Event and Entertainment Manager: Red Hot Events

Liezel earned her stripes (literally) as a Captain in the South African National Defence Force, Liezel has channelled her natural ability for creating order and harmony into her role at Red Hot Events, with predictably outstanding results. As a trained Combat Logistician and having time done managing Hospitality during her time served in the Armed Forces, Liezel's personality as a punctual perfectionist has found the ideal outlet in pairing the right performance with a matching event. With an unorthodox eye for original combinations that create lasting impressions, Liezel's touch of magic brings sound & sight together in a dazzling balance.

Email: liezel@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 83 283 2311

4. Into Africa 

Jacques Fouch, Gearhouse South Africa

Having a passion for business development and the event industry,  joining Gearhouse SA seemed like the perfect fit.  5 years later and I'm still going strong with not a moments regret.   I'm also passionate about SAACI and have been serving on the WC Committee for close to 3 years now.  I'm excited to take on the African Pillar and help further the growth of the SAACI legacy.  

Email: Jacques.Fouche@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 83 607 2011

 

5. Branding and Communication 

Liam Prince, Selby's South Africa

Liam Prince has worked in the technical arena of production and the marketing of prominent AV companies on both regional & national levels. Liam's efforts at SAACI were previously recognized with a nomination for a youth achievement award in 2012 . He also shows ongoing commitment to development of Marketing & Events with past board level activity for the Services SETA.

Email: liam@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27 (0) 72 589 8711

6. Stakeholder Engagement 

 

Lilian Hlabangane 

After completing studies in hospitality and proceeding to studying Bcom Tourism Management with Unisa. My career in hospitality started at Hilton International as Sales Coordinator. Only being there for 8 months was employed by then Southern Sun at Sandton Convention Centre for InterContinental Sandton Sun & Towers as Liaison Accommodation Officer was later appointed as Sales Executive. I later developed a huge interest in conferencing and events, I was appointed Sales Manager Groups & Conferences based at Tsogo Sun Head Office. During my time at Tsogo Sun I was selected to complete a course in Revenue Management later selected to join the Leadership Development Programme. I am now employed as Director for International and Association Meetings at Tshwane Convention Visitors Services Bureau. 

Email: LillianH@saaci.co.za

 


7. Sustainability

              
Bronwen Shaw

Bronwens career has been both extremely exciting and diverse from starting on cruise ships for a number of years and then soon moving onto Avis for a 16 year career.  During her time at Avis she held various positions from Marketing, to Sales and heading up the Avis M.I.C.E Division as Sales Manager - taking care of transportation services and logistic for the M.I.C.E Market. In June 2014 she joined extrabold Hotel Management Group where she has held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing for the past year. She now currently holds the position of Key Account Director for the beautiful Crown Plaza Johannesburg - The Rosebank Hotel. She serves on The Events Greening Forum and has been an integral part of facilitating the process for SAACI becoming an official patron to The Code (protecting children from child sex tourism in South Africa.) 

Email: bronwens@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)83 646 8711

 

8.Future Focus

 

Moses Gontai, Namanje Events Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Moses Gontai is a 32 year old co-founder and Managing Director of Namanje Events – a Business Events company, based in Johannesburg.

He has been in the events industry for some years and his passion for this industry is growing in leaps and bounds every day.

He's the future industry leader.

Email: moses@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +72 (0) 73 407 9311