Company Announcement - The Southern African Asset Management Association will host its third physical asset management conference from 16 to 18 May 2016 at the CTICC in Cape Town. The conference will focus on asset management as a holistic, systematic, dynamic and integrated process that allows the optimised return on investments.

"We are delighted to have the Mining and Industrial Energy Optimisation Association on board this year," says Johannes Coetzee, President of the Southern African Asset Management Association. MIEO currently serves the mining, industrial and commercial sectors of the Southern African economy by promoting awareness, informing and educating within the realm of energy efficiency and energy saving. "With the energy industry facing countless new challenges, we thought it necessary, and to the benefit of all delegates, to allocate a full day stream for discussions on how to address these pressing issues. The MIEO will facilitate interactive discussions around asset management from an energy point of view," adds Coetzee.

The conference programme is packed with more than 40 experts in the field of asset management and topics have been carefully researched to ensure delegates go away with new insights, practical solutions to everyday asset management challenges, as well as renewed motivation to apply best practice. "We are pleased to announce that Bonang Mohale, Chairman of Shell South Africa Marketing, will be one of our keynote speakers. He will share his valuable insights into asset management innovations currently being developed in South Africa," adds Coetzee. 

Several international speakers have been invited and will include, amongst others, David McKeown from the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) in the UK - a professional body for those involved in acquisition, operation and care of physical assets, especially critical infrastructure - and particularly for professionals worldwide dedicated to furthering knowledge and understanding of asset management.

"We are also pleased that the following industry experts have agreed to come and share their knowledge," says Coetzee. They include Adriaan Scheeres from Pragma, who will share insights into opportunities and challenges associated with mobile technology in asset management. Francois Joubert from Aurecon will discuss the refurbishment of water assets while Anton Booyzen from Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa and Raylene Watson from Royal HaskoningDHV Holland will share their extended knowledge on asset management in the circular economy. Mario Kuisis from Martec will illustrate how condition monitoring fits into an integrated asset management approach by means of best practice case studies.

Industries that will be represented at this year's event include mining, manufacturing, public sector (municipalities, energy, water, and infrastructure) as well retail and healthcare facilities.

Delegates can look forward to engaging sessions and interactive debates that will cultivate solutions to challenges brought on by the current economic climate such as how to reduce cost without having to compromise asset reliability and availability, how to maintain instead of replacing aging assets and how to ensure safety remains a priority.

In addition, the conference will highlight the many exciting new developments in the asset management arena such as the positive momentum being built around ISO 55000 and the fundamental work being done by The Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management (GFMAM) ensuring global alignment in asset management principles and standards. Other global developments include the renewed and widespread realisation of the value that can be added via a focused asset management approach and the establishment of formal asset management qualifications and designations.

On the local front there are also many exciting developments around infrastructure assets. Effective and efficient asset management is now one of the most critical success factors that can play a major role in improving service delivery in the public sector. "Challenging but exciting times await the asset management fraternity. It is a privilege to be part of this growth phase. We will see many positives deriving from current innovations in the field of asset management," concluded Coetzee.

The SAAMA conference is the main event of the year where asset management professionals gain practical knowledge on how to better plan for and manage ageing assets and reduce associated risks. This will be illustrated through practical application of best practice supported by case studies on selected topics. Delegates have the opportunity to choose from various workshops and sessions to tailor their unique conference experience according to personal interests.

The networking opportunities and exposure to leading service providers and suppliers in the asset management field during this conference are unrivalled.

The SAAMA conference will be the hub for the exchange of ideas around the following topics, amongst others, relating to asset management:

• Technological advances 
• Mechanising and the influence on the asset management workforce
• Energy and water scarcity and usage
• Circular economy
• Compliance and certification.

To register, visit www.saamaconference.org.za