Changing the world – or even a continent – for the better requires great ideas; and great ideas require a stimulating and sound platform to develop and mature. Sandton Convention Centre is focusing on providing great thinkers and world changers with the ideal environment for global ideas to be born and nurtured.
“It’s a privilege to be able to offer a place for change generating conferences that not only provides an environment that is conducive to encouraging innovative thinking and idea generation, but is also ideally located in the heart of South Africa’s economic hub and Africa’s chosen location for many of its developmental conferences,” says Mati Nyazema, Executive Director of Sandton Convention Centre.
“Johannesburg is Africa’s most popular destination for 2013, according to the third annual Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, and one of the 20 fastest-growing cities in the world. It is also one of Africa’s foremost meeting, exhibition and event venues, providing a platform for local and international businesses and individuals to generate ideas that help shape and grow industries throughout Africa,” adds Nyazema.
In the last four months of this year alone, Sandton Convention Centre has provided the venue for change-focused events as diverse as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, One Young World, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Annual African Conference & Exhibition, and more.
“Several of these events are returning to Sandton Convention Centre for the second or third time and are growing in significance in the global arena, which is positioning SCC as the right venue for signature events and is a proud achievement for us,” she says.
The 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, held from 28 August to 6 September, was hosted by the Parliament of South Africa with the aim of ensuring that South African Parliament’s international relations were part of broader political processes and discussions that take note of global developments and a changing world order. The conference was attended by over 1 000 participants.
The One Young World Summit 2013, took place on the 2-5 October, was for 18-30-year-old delegates from all over the world who had demonstrated their leadership potential, with the aim of helping them make lasting connections that have a positive impact. At the Summit, delegates graduated as One Young World Ambassadors, joining a global network of young leaders who are creating constructive change around the world. About 1 200 delegates from around 180 countries attended this year’s event.
The ACFE African Conference & Exhibition which took place in mid-October was the 6th Annual ACFE African and the 15th Annual Fraud Conference hosted by the ACFE South African chapter. ACFE is recognised as the largest anti-fraud event in Africa and the second largest in the world, bringing together more than 1 000 anti-fraud professionals from more than 15 countries, all with a shared desire to gain leading-edge knowledge, explore the newest resources for fighting fraud, and expand their networks with fellow professionals within Africa.
DISCOP Africa, the continent’s premier content development, production and distribution industries gathering, will be held from 6-8 November. According to DISCOP, “Strengthening domestic demand for home-grown content and increased overseas interest in Africa’s creativity are boosting regional and international partnerships as well as export opportunities.” DISCOP Africa has been designed to facilitate content development, production and distribution business across and with Africa; focus strictly on business deals and transfer of practical knowledge; and deliver high-level connections and superfast growth opportunities.
Mid-November will see the fourth World Conference on Doping in Sport being held under the auspices of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and will be hosted by Sport and Recreation South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.
According to WADA, the approval of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code is set to take place at the World Conference, making it the ‘must-attend’ event in the anti-doping in sport calendar. It also aims to provide an important opportunity for delegates to take stock of how far the fight against doping has come and to identify its next critical tasks. Close on 2 000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend this year’s conference.
“These events will make a positive difference to our world – and we’re proud to provide the platform and create the atmosphere with professionalism, proficiency, and credibility,” concludes Nyazema.
