The Southern African Asset Management Association (SAAMA) Conference 2019 marks the sixth year of equipping engineers in the physical asset management industry by learning from the best, in order to be the best. This year is no different. On the 14th to the 16th of May 2019 at Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch, delegates can once again expect to be enriched and encouraged by industry experts to become industry experts. With this year’s focus on the development of physical asset management in Southern Africa, organizers are excited to introduce their first keynote speaker, Wout Theuws.

Wout Theuws is known for his vast experience within maintenance, manufacturing, physical asset management and HSE. He has worked for Fisher Price, a division of Quaker Oats Company for 11 years, followed by 33 years’ employment at BOSAL. During his career he has won numerous awards including Maintenance Manager of the Year for Belgium in the year 2000, Incentive award EFNMS 2002, Duty of Care-award in the years 2016 and 2018. Most recently the award for the best presentation in HSE at Euromaintenance 4.0 hosted in Antwerp.

Wout is currently involved in numerous organisations that focus on improving, growing and leading asset management, playing a significant role in his position as Chairman of the European Asset Management Committee. He is also a member of the jury for the Maintenance Manager of the Year-award in Belgium.

During the conference Wout will enlighten delegates with his award winning presentation, ‘from reactive to proactive safety culture’. Using an exact scenario a company was faced with, Wout will demonstrate how a six-step process improved the company’s HSE results. This process includes significant principles such as accountability, responsibility, structure and strategy, leaving delegates with the extraordinary skills necessary to build and sustain a positive and proactive safety culture.