SAACI recognises contribution of members

The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) has held its national conference in Pretoria and announced the 2009 Fellowship and Personality awards. The Fellowship award went to SAACI KwaZulu-Natal board member Gwynn Glaister-Heaton and conference chairman Nigel Walker is SAACI’s Personality of the Year.

The awards have been made since 1997. Nominations are received from SAACI members and the winners are chosen by a specially appointed panel.

The Fellowship award goes to a member who has had a minimum of 10 years of service and who has made a positive contribution to the development of SAACI, while the Personality of the Year award is made to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the conference industry.

Outgoing SAACI national chairman Thomas Overbeck says: “Gwynn has been a stalwart member of the KwaZulu-Natal branch committee of SAACI for many years. After initially acting as secretary, she took on the portfolio of the bursary students. Her tireless work with students fully deserves this year’s Fellowship Award.

“Nigel Walker has played a vital role in SAACI over the past three years. As SAACI treasurer he has kept the association on an even keel in difficult times.

Both Gwynn and Nigel deserve the recognition of our association on a national level. We look forward to working with them to grow SAACI and the professionalism of the conference industry in South Africa.”

SAACI’s members represent a variety of sectors within the conference industry, including conference venues, professional conference organisers and a large variety of services such as audiovisual, entertainment, dcor and catering.