CIPS SA takes over the reins from Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA), with a new headquarters opening in Centurion in April.

With over 2000 CIPS members in Southern Africa alone, the opening of the CIPS SA Head Office is an exciting start for Purchasing and Supply Professionals in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

Francois Naude, formerly of Tradeworld and Quadrem, is overseeing IPSA’s final transition to become a full subsidiary of CIPS, the global P & SM organisation that already has a presence in 27 African countries, representing some 135 000 members worldwide. South Africa is only the second country after Australia to become a fully fledged CIPS subsidiary. In other countries such a China and the Middle East, CIPS operates on a joint venture basis.

Stepping into Naude’s shoes is Karen Beamish, incoming Acting Managing Director of CIPS SA and Susan Keighley, Head of Membership and Events. They are already well known personalities in South African Procurement circles and arrive with a formidable combination of experience and organisational prowess.

Launch of first CIPS SA branch in Cape Town
 

SmartProcurement attended the Cape Town leg of the CIPS SA Road Show where local IPSA members were informed of the new branch structures being put in place across the country from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban to Centurion in Gauteng.

This countrywide network will be managed from the new Centurion headquarters, where offices will formally open on April 1, 2010. The new HQ will not only provide direction, support and new opportunities, but will also establish a localised office network which has the benefit of the knowledge- base and experience of a truly global entity. Each branch has been invited to submit a business case for review by April 1 so that these membership support centres will be adequately resourced.

Annual Procurement Awards 2010

The official launch of this exciting new entity will take place in conjunction with the CIPS SA Awards 2010, the annual procurement awards dinner that recognises Purchasing and Supply Management excellence in Africa.

The awards will take place at Emperors Palace on April 19, 2010.

Nominations have opened for the following categories:

• Best procurement community award.
• Best people developed initiative.
• Best process improvement initiative.
• Best supplier relationship management.
• Best supplier diversity project.
• Best procurement project.
• Best green procurement organisation.
• Best procurement professional of the year – male and female.

To submit entries, refer to www.cips.org/southernafrica.

CIPS Southern Africa Pan African Conference 2010

The glamorous awards evening also kicks off the CIPS Southern Africa Pan Africa Conference from 20 - 21 April, 2010 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng.

Prominent speakers include former footballer Marks Maponyane, Absa CPO Karen van Vuuren and CIPS Chief Executive David Nobel.