Growth, silver linings, and new directors for SAPICS

The supply chain profession has rarely been more challenged than in today’s volatile environment, according to MJ Schoemaker, president of SAPICS (The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management).

Speaking at the 2022 SAPICS annual general meeting (AGM), which was well attended and included many new members, Schoemaker noted that 2021 was a challenging year for the profession and that 2022 had seen more obstacles thrown at supply chain professionals.

“The positive spin-off, however, is that the global pandemic and numerous other disruptive occurrences have highlighted the importance of supply chain management. SAPICS membership has grown and there has been an increased uptake in corporate partner packages,” she said, adding that more individuals and organisations now recognise the importance of supply chain education and training. Thanks to this, SAPICS’s Authorised Education Partners were kept busy throughout the year, with growing demand for supply chain education programmes.

“SAPICS has achieved massive growth in social media followers and engagement during the year,” Schoemaker continued. “We were delighted to have the opportunity to shine the spotlight on supply chain professionals in Africa through ‘Supply Chain Now’ podcasts. This powerful digital platform connects supply chain professionals around the world through live streams, vlogs, virtual events, and articles.”

Summarising activities undertaken by SAPICS, Schoemaker reported that the professionalisation of supply chain management continued to be a core focus of SAPICS, with solid strides made during the year. “The first professional designation levels have been finalised and we can now celebrate our first cohort of SAPICS designated supply chain professionals,” she revealed.

The SAPICS team delivered an impressive programme of online events and community building, with Schoemaker highlighting the 86 online events SAPICS organised during the year, including fun quizzes. “The online annual SAPICS Conference was, once again, a real success. We enjoyed a vibrant young professional and student conference and were honoured to have a selection of highly motivating speakers,” she enthused.

Schoemaker said that the launch of the SAPICS mentorship programme was a highlight of the year, stressing, “It is imperative that we continue to grow the pipeline of talent that this profession needs. By nurturing the young and providing them with motivation and inspiration, we can ensure a positive future for the profession.”

This year also marked the launch of the SAPICS Small Business Hub that is assisting small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) with supply chain education and networking.

Three new directors joined the SAPICS Board at the AGM, while it was also announced that Schoemaker will serve another year as president of the organisation.

The new directors – Thato Moloi, Karen Pretorius, and Jan Tukker – complement a strong and united board of directors comprising Schoemaker, Chanti Wilson, Solly Engelbrecht, and David Crewe-Brown. Outgoing directors Richard dos Santos and Kamogelo Mampane were thanked at the AGM for their long-term support and commitment.

Thato Moloi is the senior manager for solutions development & enablement at Barloworld Logistics. He cares deeply about people and their development, as well as giving back to society. He is passionate about using technology to drive innovation, and a circular economy is one of his particular areas of interest. “Thato Moloi’s supply chain experience, knowledge, and skills will add tremendous value to the SAPICS board of directors,” said Schoemaker.

Karen Pretorius is the founder and owner of KPICubed. With more than 20 years of industry experience across government, financial service, IT, 3PL, manufacturing, and retailing, as well as roles as both a supply chain practitioner and consultant, she brings in-depth knowledge and passion for the profession to SAPICS. Pretorius is very interested in sustainability across all areas of supply chain management and hopes to drive this across the SAPICS community.

Jan Tukker is an accomplished business leader with 22 years of industry experience gained in retail, pharmaceutical, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and manufacturing. He aims to add value to the supply chain community by engaging in various supply chain-driven thought leadership events. Having run multiple business units at a large corporate for many years, he is well-placed to enhance SAPICS’s operations, including on the marketing, finance, and leadership fronts.

The 2022 SAPICS Conference – which takes place from 12 to 15 June 2022 at Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town, South Africa – is a not-to-be-missed, milestone event. “This year’s 44^th annual SAPICS Conference is the first in-person gathering of the SAPICS supply chain community since the start of the pandemic,” Schoemaker pointed out. “We know that everyone is eager to connect with their peers and colleagues after all the virtual meetings, webinars, lockdowns, and restrictions around the world. There is so much to catch up on – so many lessons and experiences to share. We cannot wait to reconnect with SAPICS members.”

For more information or to register for the 2022 SAPICS Conference, call 011 023 6701, email info@SAPICS.org.za, or visit the SAPICS Conference website: https://conference.SAPICS.org.