Advisory Board for WoodEX for Africa Conference

This conference, which will coincide with the WoodEX for Africa exhibition, creates the ideal platform for wood and woodworking professionals to be on the frontier of the timber industry and to network with key players in the industry.

"Participation in this conference is an ideal opportunity for industry members to learn from the foremost timber- and industry-related experts and to discuss key issues. Our advisory board will ensure that the conference programme will address and meet the needs of the industry. Our aim is to produce a conference for the industry by the industry," said Celeste Whitaker, WoodEX for Africa conference planner.

Conference delegates will have the choice of two tracks, which will run concurrently for the duration of the conference, covering industry and trade, business and marketing and action-based workshops for skills development.

Advisory board members

The advisory board members, who were selected based on their industry knowledge and expertise, are: Abrie Visagie from the Thatchers Association of South Africa, Bernadette Isaacs from the Western Cape Furniture Initiative, Brian Downs from Austro Woodworking Machinery, Bruce Breedt from the South African Wood Preservative Association, Doug Sayce from Arch Chemicals, Dr Hans Hahn from Hahn Forum, Kobus Strydom from FireLab Services, Maryke Naude from WoodSA magazine, Roy Southey from The Wood Foundation and Sawmilling South Africa, Steven Suntups from the South African Wooden Flooring and Laminate Association, Warren Gamble from Leitz Tooling, and Werner Slabbert from the Institute for Timber Frame Builders.

WoodEX for Africa Exhibition and Conference is supported by The Wood Foundation, the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), the South African Wood and Laminate Flooring Association (SAWLFA), the Institute of Timber Frame Builders (ITFB) and the Thatchers Association of South Africa (TASA).

For more information about the WoodEX for Africa Conference, go to www.woodexforafrica.com or email moc.acirfarofxedoow@ecnerefnoc.