The GAPP Conference - Completing the package
Submitted by: Sharvina Roopchand
Join award-winning journalist and anchor of M-Net’s Carte Blanche, Derek Watts on 16 March in the Black Eagle Room at Nasrec, as we map out the future of your business in the print, packaging and signage industries. Derek has become a household name in South Africa since he and Ruda Landman launched the hard-hitting, investigative actuality show Carte Blanche which has won numerous awards. Derek himself is a multi-award winning journalist.
As a committed and conscientious member of the printing, signage and packaging industries in the South African market you make every effort to stay abreast of the latest trends, keep up-to-date with the developments and pay close attention to the technology which is likely to change the face of your industry. Introducing The GAPP Conference.
The GAPP Conference is designed to bring you all the information in a concise and understandable way presented by recognised leaders in a range of fields. People who make it their life’s work to understand all the relevant information. As part of The GAPP Brand, The GAPP Conference is focused on bringing you valuable insights on topics which directly influence your day-to-day business. The information will complement and supplement the coverage you have already seen in the pages of The GAPP Magazine. In addition, The GAPP Conference will be run alongside The GAPP Print Expo, part of the Propak exhibition taking place at Nasrec in March 2016.
Derek will be the master of ceremonies and will offer his own unique viewpoints as he facilitates a smooth transition from one speaker to another. He will also provide his own decisive and insightful interpretation of the topics presented.
The Keynote Speaker for The GAPP Conference is Justice Malala a political commentator and newspaper columnist. He writes regular weekly columns for The Times and the Financial Mail, as well as a monthly column for DestinyMan. In addition, he is also the resident political analyst for e.tv and eNews Channel Africa. He will take you ‘Beyond the Noise’ with his presentation on the South African political arena and what is to be expected in the next decade.
Rounding out the list of business speakers is Alec Hogg. Known as the ‘voice of business’ in South Africa, he introduced business radio to the country in 1997 after conceptualising and then presenting the SAFM Market Update weeknights to a national prime-time audience. Throughout his career he has written for The Sunday Times, The Star and the Rand Daily Mail. He has presented and commentated on television. He also has hands-on experience having been on the executive committee of a big four bank. He travels widely and specialises in interpreting complicated issues. His presentation ‘Tap dancing in a warp speed world – how to benefit personally and professionally from our rapidly transforming environment’ will give some valuable tips on participating in the potential which South Africa has to offer.
In order to provide our delegates with a well-rounded conference three industry speakers will bring their unique perspectives of the industry. Linda Jackson has spent the best part of her career in the food industry. She has been involved in training, auditing and implementation of management systems. Her presentation on ‘Packaging – what it says about due diligence’ discusses the importance of compliance and regulation to ensure printed packaging is in line with prescribed standards.
Linda is a member of numerous professional associations and has participated extensively in the implementation of ISO processes. She has presented numerous training courses on food safety and is a widely published author of papers on food safety related processes.
Mike Horsten is the general manager marketing EMEA for Mimaki Europe and his main responsibility has been to expand the Mimaki brand while marketing digital printing and cutting solution technologies. He has been one of the principal architects in changing the silkscreen industry into a digital, clean textile printing business with the transformation of silkscreen technologies to dye sublimation technology. He provides a unique perspective of the digital revolution of printing in the packaging industry.
Rounding off the panel of international speakers is Laurel Brunner, managing director of UK-based Digital Dots which provides international consulting and educational services. She has qualified as a Lead Auditor for ISO 14001 environmental management systems.
Following a series of false starts early in her career, Laurel went travelling and got caught up in the Desktop Publishing revolution. She worked for Seybold in California and was instrumental in developing the Seybold Conferences. Her specialisation is in digital prepress, digital production and digital printing. She is also a visiting professor at Shenzen Technical University in China. She works with several ISO working groups and convenes a group responsible for standards relating to the environmental impact of graphics technologies including print media.
Her presentation ‘Publish or be Damned’ will explore some of the major trends in the graphic arts industry and considers how publishers, printers, packaging companies and business owners can exploit digital technologies from IT to output. Said Vikesh Roopchand, managing director of Sentient Publishing, organiser of The GAPP Conference, ‘This powerful line-up of speakers will help to put doing business in the printing, signage and packaging industry into perspective while giving some guidance in navigating the South African business and political arena.’
The combination of The GAPP Print Expo as part of Propak Africa and The GAPP Conference will give delegates the ability to combine their process of investigation with clear and concise industry and business insight allowing them to make reasoned and carefully considered judgements.
For more information or to take advantage of the early-bird booking rates at this ground-breaking conference visit the website www.sentientevents.co.za or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 011 475 5095
Sentient Publishing is dedicated to the production of industry-leading, business-to-business magazines and directories. Its magazines are industry-specific and are the only ones in their sectors to have ABC Accreditation. Now, a 100 percent, black-owned and managed BEE company, Sentient Publishing has BEE Level 3 certification. We have been creating high-quality, targeted, business-to-business publications for over 15 years. Providing our clients with the most appropriate targeted media solutions incorporating print and digital media technology. Our cutting edge print and interactive electronic media solution offers an accountable, professional service that delivers sustainable return on investment for our clients.
With a reach across Southern Africa, Sentient Publishing delivers on our promise of precision marketing using state-of-the-art in house systems to track and manage our directory listings. Our publications designs are chic and modern, incorporating current trends that are both visually appealing and impact-ful. This is how you get innovation through publishing.
