During the weekend of 26 August 2017, under- and postgraduate supply chain management students from the University of Pretoria attended the SAPICS conference for young supply chain professionals. SAPICS is known for being a professional body that enables industry professionals and individuals to interact and network with one another. This conference was specifically hosted to provide higher education students the opportunity to connect with industry professionals.
The day started off with a motivational presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of Barloworld Logistics, Kamogelo Mmutlana. In his presentation, he gave advice on how to differentiate yourself from the person next to you and to never stop learning and gaining knowledge. He concluded by giving advice from the lessons he learned in his career. This was followed with a presentation by Sean Culey (business transformation enabler) on how the new age of disruptions will look like and the pace in which things are becoming more automated.
Liezl Smith then delivered a presentation on ‘Creating Blue Oceans in Supply Chain Management’. She spoke about the new technologies being introduced in the world, such as the blockchain, and how professionals must embrace these types of technology.
Subsequently, Lorraine Jenks (founder of Greenstuff) discussed sustainable supply chain management in her presentation, titled ‘Keep it Clean, Lean and Green’. She emphasised the need for ethical and conscious consumption of the natural resources on earth.
After lunch and some informal networking, the last presentation, titled ‘Crafting your Professional Supply Chain Brand Equity’, was delivered by Chantal Kading from The People Shop. In this interaction session, students were given key facts of how to promote yourself as a brand and the importance of knowing yourself well enough to know where you want to go and what you want to achieve.
“The conference was a perfect opportunity for students to learn more about this fascinating and fast-growing industry and to interact with knowledgeable and experienced industry professionals,” says Wesley Niemann, lecturer in Supply Chain Management.
Left to right: Kelly Hammann, Chris van der Westhuizen, Pero van Pletzen, Gerhard Uys, Byron Breytenbach, Wihan Hansen, John-Henry Clarkson and Michael Dorrington.
Left to right: Kelly Hammann, Chris van der Westhuizen, Pero van Pletzen, Gerhard Uys, Byron Breytenbach, Wihan Hansen, John-Henry Clarkson and Michael Dorrington.
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