CALL FOR SPEAKERS

Innovation in Motion

CALL FOR SPEAKERS 2025.

For the 47th year, SAPICS is excited to bring to the supply chain profession another world class conference that is packed full of exciting content to ensure maximum learning, networking and practical “take home” value.

Submit

Topic(s) for you to consider but not limited by:

  • Supply Chain Finance: Unlocking liquidity and creating innovative financial solutions

  • Digital Revolution: Embracing Technology for Innovation

  • Efficient Supply Chains: A Must Have

  • Sustainability: Reshaping the Future of Supply Chains including circular economies

  • Global Resilience: Adapting to Uncertainty through Transformation

  • E-commerce Revolution: Meeting Changing Consumer Demands

  • Freight Forwarding Evolution: Optimising Global Trade

  • Supply Chain Talent: Nurturing the Next Generation and embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

  • Next Generation Public Health and Humanitarian Supply Chains: Strengthening Resilience, Responsiveness and Sustainability

  • Operational Risk and Liability: Managing impact and risk including Supply Chain Cybersecurity

  • Connecting the dots: S&OP, IBP or what?

  • Supply Chain Leadership: Have you got what it takes?

THE IDEAL SAPICS 2025 SPEAKER

is comfortable to speak in front of large groups, ranging from 50 to 800 people

is interested in sharing expertise, real-world strategies and knowledge with other creative professionals.

is willing to share stories about what hasn’t worked as well as what has and how solutions were found

Is willing to partner with SAPICS to deliver the best possible experience for the audience

Is interested, schedule permitting, in attending the whole event and engaging with attendees

Is open to helping spread the word about the event and the work that SAPICS does to build the community

All speakers are selected on merit and relevance. The committee is actively seeking fresh perspectives to ensure innovative and diverse content for the attendees.

Speakers are carefully selected by a Speaker Selection Committee which is made up of supply chain professionals from across a variety of roles and responsibilities in the supply chain.

Presentations which directly promote specific products, services or monetary self-interest will not be selected. There is the opportunity to exhibit products and services at the conference.

THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION FORMATS WILL BE CONSIDERED:

40 Minute Presentation

Solo or multiple speakers for consideration as a general session presentation(40-minute presentation time – allocated including questions)

Panel Discussion

A limited number of robust panel discussions will be in included in the programme. If you would like to propose a topic or manage a panel please include this on your submission

Workshops

3 hours are provided for these interactive educational sessions for small groups.

Selected workshops will be included in the programme on Sunday 8th June 2025.

Please read the speaker guidelines outlined below before submitting a proposal. Submissions which do not contain all the required items will not be reviewed.

SPEAKER GUIDELINES

The Annual SAPICS Conference and Exhibition is looking for speakers who can provide relevant and topical content that enhances knowledge, generates new thinking, new ideas, and stimulate discussion.

DEADLINES.

17 January 2025: Speaker submission deadline (early submission is recommended)

10 February 2025: Notification of acceptance or otherwise.

30 May 2025: Submission of white paper and presentation visuals.

The above deadlines will enable SAPICS to promote the conference and selected speakers as actively as possible. Missing any of the deadlines may jeopardise the opportunity SAPICS has to properly promote your session and may reduce attendance at your session. Don’t wait until the deadline.

Documents/Details required to complete the submission:

  • Speaker biography (100 words in narrative form, not CV format please) – per speaker. The narrative should be written in the 3rd person.

  • Colour Photo – jpeg/png format – (head and shoulders and high resolution)

  • Previous speaking experience if relevant (don’t worry if you haven’t spoken at a conference before – there’s always a first time for everything!)

  • Link to video of a previous speaking engagement (for example talking to the 1st 3 slides of a presentation) or pre-recorded example of your speaking ability (if available). If not available please record a brief introduction – no more than your name, job title, where you work and what your proposed topic is to be is necessary. Your submission cannot be presented to the speaker selection committee without this.

  • Details of published works (if any)

  • A precis of the content of your presentation – make it clear and dynamic – (50-100 words)

  • 3-4 bullet points summarising delegate takeaways

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Submission Process

To apply, please either complete the process online or complete via email and submit to cindyl@upavon.co.za.

What to expect if selected

Speaker fees are not paid. Speaker benefits will be outlined in the formal acceptance letter. As a not-for-profit organisation, only limited funds may be available to speakers travelling from outside South Africa for travel and accommodation and those wishing to apply for this must submit a written motivation together with their submission.

Promotion

SAPICS will initiate active campaigns to promote the conference in general while highlighting some of the programme topics. Speakers are encouraged to promote their attendance and their topic to potential delegates in the lead up to the conference. Active, insightful participation (not spam) on the various social media platforms, as well as the distribution of conference information to your networks are some of the easiest ways to get delegates interested in your session.

Written Papers

Written Papers are requested from all speakers but are not mandatory. These written (white) papers are encouraged and highly sought after and are published by SAPICS via its website. Please indicate on the submission form if you are planning to provide a white paper if selected to speak.

Speaker Awards

Speaker Awards will be presented at the closing of the conference on Tuesday 11th June as follows:

  • Best Speaker Award
    • Best speaker at the Conference overall (selected from the speaker evaluations completed by the audience)
  • SAPICS Trophy
    • Best written paper (selected by a panel of supply chain experts)
  • Most Innovative
    • Presented to the speaker with the most Innovative presentation (selected by the audience)
  • Best Workshop
    • Sunday workshops will be become a feature of the speaker awards with the workshop voted the highest scores winning an award.

Finally, by submitting the application you agree to the terms and conditions below.

We look forward to receiving your submission and to learning from you!

SPEAKER TERMS & CONDITIONS

The submitted paper attached to this form is provided to SAPICS under the following terms and conditions.

  1. The Speaker Selection Committee, at its sole discretion, will determine the acceptability of the submitted presentation. In addition, the Conference Committee will determine whether or not to publish a submitted paper either in whole or in part. SAPICS agrees to provide the author of the submitted paper with appropriate credit if the paper is published.
  2. Authors of the submitted work/paper freely permit SAPICS to publish the submitted work/paper in any media so selected free of any compensation and/or royalty claims.
  3. Authors of the submitted work/paper testify that the submitted paper does not contain confidential and/or proprietary information not owned by the author.
  4. Speakers must adhere strictly to the duration selected on the application form. Time should be allocated by the speaker for questions and answers within this duration.
  5. Individuals submitting an abstract are doing so with the understanding that they agree to abide by the conditions, deadline policies and the decisions of the Conference Committee.
  6. If for any reason an accepted speaker is subsequently unable to attend the Conference, substitutions will NOT automatically be accepted, and the paper and substituted presenter shall be accepted solely at the discretion of the Speaker Selection Committee.
  7. The written paper must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document for publication on the SAPICS website. Papers will be edited and formatted before being returned to the author for final approval.
  8. Presentations must ideally be in Microsoft PowerPoint format and utilise the standard conference template provided by the Conference Secretariat. The PowerPoint presentations will also be published online post-conference together with the written paper where applicable. Alternative presentation suggestions will be considered.
  9. A proposal should not be submitted unless the speaker is available to appear on any day of the SAPICS Conference.
  10. Under no circumstances should the conference’s podium be used for direct promotion of a speaker’s product, service or for monetary self-interest.

ANY QUESTIONS?

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