Supply Chain Management Virtual Conference

CALL FOR SPEAKERS

SAPICS 2024 embraces the theme of Supply Chain Metamorphosis.

CALL FOR SPEAKERS 2024

Thank you for your submissions! The 2024 Call for Speakers is CLOSED

SAPICS, the Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, has been providing an exceptional platform for supply chain professionals to exchange knowledge and practical experiences at its world-class annual conference in South Africa for 46 years. Held for the second year in association with the Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders, SAAFF, the 46th annual conference promises to be an event not to be missed!

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, supply chains are going through a remarkable transformation. No longer linear processes, they have become dynamic and interconnected ecosystems adapting to emerging technologies, market trends and global challenges. SAPICS 2024 embraces the theme of Supply Chain Metamorphosis and will host an event dedicated to exploring and understanding this unprecedented transformation. Join us as we delve into the profound changes, challenges, best practices and opportunities reshaping the world of supply chain management.

SAPICS and SAAFF invite you to participate in SAPICS 2024 – the leading event in Africa for supply chain professionals.

Topic for you to consider:

  • Digital Revolution: Embracing Technology for Agility

    • Explain the latest digital innovations such as IoT, blockchain, AI, and data analytics transforming supply chains.
    • Share how companies are harnessing technology to optimise operations, enhance visibility, and predict market trends.

  • Efficient Supply Chains: A Must Have

    • Share ways to cut down lead times, inventory and cost with case studies
    • How to eradicate waste in supply chain processes
    • Share examples of Optimising Plant and warehouse design and layout
  • Sustainability: Reshaping the Future of Supply Chains

    • Discuss the imperative for sustainable supply chains and how organisations are aligning their practices and processes with environmental and ethical goals.
    • Let the audience discover strategies for reducing carbon footprints, ethical sourcing, and achieving circular supply chain models.
  • Global Resilience: Adapting to Uncertainty through Transformation

    • Examine the impact of geopolitical shifts, natural disasters, and global pandemics on supply chains.
    • Bring real life examples on building resilient supply chains capable of withstanding shocks and disruptions.
  • E-commerce Revolution: Meeting Changing Consumer Demands

    • Explore the evolution of e-commerce and its influence on supply chain dynamics.
    • Help the audience understand how businesses are adapting to changing customer expectations, including last-mile delivery and personalisation.

  • Freight Forwarding Evolution: Optimising Global Trade

    • Explore the evolving role of freight forwarding in the modern supply chain landscape.
    • Discuss the integration of digital tools and technologies in freight forwarding operations to streamline international trade processes.
    • Share best practices and innovations in freight forwarding, including route optimisation, cargo tracking, and customs compliance.
    • Highlight how freight forwarders are enhancing collaboration and visibility throughout the supply chain to meet the demands of global trade.
  • Supply Chain Talent: Nurturing the Next Generation

    • Address the skills gap in supply chain management and strategies for talent development.
    • Share how diversity, equity, and inclusion are becoming key drivers for success in supply chain organisations.
    • Education evolution – how has education transformed?

  • Public Health and Humanitarian Supply Chains: Strengthening Resilience and Responsiveness

    • Examine the critical role of supply chains in ensuring the availability and distribution of essential medical supplies and pharmaceuticals during public health crises.
    • Discuss strategies for enhancing the resilience of public health and humanitarian supply chains to respond effectively to emergencies, including pandemics and natural disasters.
    • Explore the integration of data analytics and real-time monitoring to improve forecasting and distribution of medical resources.
    • Share lessons learned from recent global health challenges and ways to optimise future responses.
    • Understanding the importance of collaboration between governments, NGOs, healthcare providers, and the private sector in bolstering the capacity of public health supply chains to save lives and protect communities.
  • Operational Risk and Liability: Managing impact and risk

    • Share how insurance companies can support business in times of turbulence.
    • Managing cash flow: tools on how to ensure businesses stay financially on track.
    • Transfer pricing: how can a business utilise this?
    • What is the role of Finance in the new world order of business operations?
  • Connecting the dots: S&OP, IBP or what?

    • Share how to assess processes to drive operational excellence.
    • Discuss what  end-to-end collaboration looks like and what value does it bring to the business?
    • Demonstrate real life examples of how Marketing and Sales contribute to supply chain KPIs?
  • Supply Chain Leadership: Have you got what it takes?

    • Discuss what it takes to be an effective supply chain leader
    • Share what happens in the Board room and how to ensure that supply chain is at the table?

THE IDEAL SAPICS 2024 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.

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 and representative of the SAPICS and SAAFF communities.

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 for this purpose.

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)

Workshops

3 hours are provided for these interactive educational sessions for small groups. Selected workshops will be included in the programme on Sunday 9th June 2024.

Panel Discussions

60-minute sessions – propose a topic and panelists

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

Extended to 26 January 2024: Speaker submission deadline (early submission is recommended)

9 February 2024: Notification of acceptance or otherwise.

30 May 2024: 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 (150 words in narrative form, not CV format please) – per speaker. The narrative should be written in the 3rd person.

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

  • Previous speaking experience (but don’t be deterred if you haven’t spoken at a conference before)

  • 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)

  • Session objective

  • Precis (50-100 word paragraph)

  • 3-4 bullet points summarising delegate takeaways

Submission Process

To apply, please either complete the process online via the SAPICS website – www.sapics.org.za 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 the attendance of their session to potential delegates in the lead up to the conference. Active, insightful participation (not spam) on the various SAPICS social media platforms, as well as the distribution of conference information to your networks are two of the easiest ways to get delegates interested in your session.

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

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 scores 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)

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!

Guidelines to great home videos

Five tips to get it right

  1. Shoot horizontal, not upright – If using a mobile phone, please keep your smartphone horizontal when you are recording. This will ensure that your video can be viewed at full size on a monitor or TV screen
  2. Keep it smooth and steady – camera shake can be avoided when your mobile phone is placed on a tripod, selfie-stick or a steady surface.
  3. Make the light work for you – Light is a wonderful thing, but it can be a friend or foe when shooting video. Try to record in a well-lit area, preferably where there is a good amount of natural light.
  4. Record good audio – Record your audio in a quiet environment with minimum background noise.
  5. The video does not need to be professionally produced but is to be seen an “elevator pitch” to enable our selection committee to determine your ability to address an audience eloquently and with confidence.

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.

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