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

Vice Chairperson

Estelle Lötter is the owner of Ripcord Promotions which was started in 1991. Over the years the focus of the company’s activities has evolved from initially concentrating on corporate conferences and teambuilding, to now doing mainly smaller association conferences. Estelle qualified as a CMP in 2009, and has served on the SAACI NTB committee and the National Board over the past few years. Ripcord is an Accredited PCO and is also a member of MPI.

Email: estelle@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)11 482 2113

Treasurer

Joe Hatting has been in the Meetings and Events industry for over 7 years and a currently hold the position of Sales Manager for Lumi (previously IML Interactive South Africa). He has served on the SAACI NTB Branch as Chair for the Services Forum for the past 3 years and also as the branch Treasure.

Email: joe@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)12 235 5122

Branch Co-ordinator

Heather Heskes joined SAACI as the NTB secretary in 2010 after a lifetime career in the Insurance industry. “Suddenly a whole new exciting world opened up to me;” Heather enjoys being involved with the members and believe SAACI is an association that really cares for and offers its members the best service at all times.

Email: ntbbranch@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)11 787 4611

2.Intelligence

Gabi Babinszky was an event management student at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Prior to entering the corporate working environment. In 2012 he joined Compex (Pty) Ltd. and now runs the Service / Events Division within. Gabi is a highly amiable and efficient event’s organiser with a significant passion for the exhibition & conference industry.

Email: gabi@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)72 476 9811

2. Intelligence & 4. Into Africa

Brian Prowling is the owner of IEBE (Pty) Ltd and BP (Pty) Ltd.

Previously general manager at Oasys Innovation (Pty) Ltd in Western Cape, Gearhouse SA (Pty) Ltd and he serve as the Exhibition Forum Chair on the SAACI board

Email: brian@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)83 379 3111

3. Academy & 4. Into Africa

Chris Prieto has been in the Business Tourism industry for over 20 years.

She left Brazil in 1983 and worked in London before moving to South Africa where she trained 1500 staff for a multinational in Customer Service.

She then moved to Group & Conventions Manager at Sun City for 5 years, moving on to  Sandton Convention Centre where she worked until Emperors Palace invited her to join them as their Groups & Conventions Manager in 2000. In 2009 she was promoted to Special Events & VIP Liaison Manager, a position she held until she retired in 2013. Upon retirement Chris was appointed Regional Director: Africa for ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) a position she currently holds. Chris is well known and respected in the industry and is a member of various associations. In 2013 Chris received the SAACI Fellowship Award, in recognition of her contribution to the industry.

Email: saaci.chrisprieto@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)83 778 2611

5. Branding & Communications &

 8. Future Focus

Yolandé van den Berg completed her B Tech Drama degree in 2007 at Tshwane University of Technology. In 2010 she attained her BA Marketing Communication degree at the University of Johannesburg. She completed a Certificate in Basic Introduction to Project Management from UNISA in 2007. She worked at RCA Conference Organisers for six years (2008 – 2014) as a Conference Manager. She started her own company in April 2014 which will focus on organising conferences and events/launches. Her personal vision is to use and develop her organisational skills in the events and marketing environment. She strives to utilize and enlarge her people and management skills.

Email: info@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)82 232 3922

7. Sustainability

Bronwen Shaw

Bronwen has been in the travel related industry since 1987. She started on cruise ships and soon moved to Avis for over 16 years in various positions and headed up the Avis M.I.C.E Division as Sales Manager.  Bronwen and her team took care of the M.I.C.E Industry as a whole by providing a range of transportation services for all transportation needs and catering specifically to this market. In June 2014 she joined Extra Bold with IHG as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Crown Plaza Rosebank Hotel. She passionate, hardworking, driven and determined to make a difference.

Email: bronwes@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)83 646 8711

     7. Sustainability & 8. Future Focus

Aidan Koen has a background in Logistics and Sports and Marketing.

 From 2003 till 2011 he was in the logistics game - near the end on his

Logistics spell he was the logistics manager for a large electrics company.

From 2011 to 2013 he joined a sports and marketing company where they assisted

up and coming brands gain market share, they also managed all there exhibitions and road shows. In 2013 Aidan moved to Scan Display,  his logistics experience and passion for growing brands and managing events opened a door for him to join scan display , an opportunity he couldn’t let pass by. he heads up the Infrastructure side of the business at scan.

Email: aiden@saaci.co.za

Mobile: +27(0)11 447 4711