Providing access to the latest thinking, innovation and information regarding shopping centre and retail trends in South Africa, the congress will feature a superb line-up of presentations and panel discussions by experts, opinion makers and the industry’s leading minds.

It is sponsored by Growthpoint Properties Limited, South Africa’s largest listed property company which features on the JSE ALSI 40, and is set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, from Wednesday, 16 to Friday, 18 September 2009.
 
Now in its 18th year, the African Congress of Shopping Centres is the largest gathering of retail and retail property people in Africa with over 1000 delegates including retailers, shopping centre owners, developers, investors, leasing and marketing agents, store designers and fitters, facilities managers, construction professionals and other suppliers to the industry.

It is hosted by the SA Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) and supported by the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC).

“This conference presents an opportunity for delegates to learn and be challenged and by doing so, to improve their business growth and prospects as well as those of the entire sector. We’re pleased that by partnering this event we will be creating value for the industry,” says Norbert Sasse, CEO, Growthpoint Properties.

Facilitated by Chris Gibbons, one of South Africa's leading business broadcasters, the keynote speakers will share their views on the industry in a power-packed 2-day meeting programme.

The intriguing speaker line-up features pre-eminent Canadian-based international shopping centre owner, manager, developer and investor Ivanhoe Cambridge Senior Vice President for India Phil McArthur. It includes keynote speakers CEO of Pick n Pay Nick Badminton, Eileen Connolly who heads the UK and European DTZ Retail Marketing team, director of Investec Asset Management Jeremy Gardiner, Managing Director of Retail at Woolworths Andrew Jennings and Andrew Ogg, Managing Director of Leslie Jones.

One of the UK’s leading architectural practices specialising in retail and mixed-use regeneration projects. Also presenting at the congress are Hugues Witvoet of Edcon, Brian Coppin of Fruit & Veg City, Andrew Callie van der Merwe of Design Partnership, Jan Loubser of Retail Africa and Samuel Ogbu of Liberty Life Properties.

“We’re delighted at the prominent speakers – all experts in their field – that will be sharing their knowledge and insight. They collectively represent a vast, holistic and very valuable compilation of knowledge, which will benefit delegates enormously,” says SACSC President Julie Hillary.

Topics relevant to the prevailing economic conditions are aimed at empowering shopping centres to perform optimally, with themes focusing on retail perspectives, the economic outlook, marketing and customer service, international and local architecture, retail property development and investment.

Delegates can look forward to a presentation by Gillian Saunders, Director, Grant Thornton, on the outlook for the longer, post-2010 term and what prospects the retail and hospitality industries can anticipate. Also of interest is Mike Stopforth, Principal of Cerebra, South Africa’s leading social media company, who will share his insights about the power of alternative media and social networking – which is taking retail marketing by storm in developed markets.

Another highlight is the retail development and investment panel discussion, which will look at how changing retail patterns are affecting the future of investment decisions.

Panelists have been selected from the who’s-who of investors, developers and funders including Frank Berkeley of Nedbank, shopping centre owner and developer Peter Behrman, Angus Mackay of Retail Africa, Sisa Ngebulana of Billion Group, Louis Norval of Parkdev and Norbert Sasse of Growthpoint Properties.

Making up an important element of the congress are the property tours of which there will be two, the first to Blu Bird Centre and Melrose Arch and the second along the Gautrain Route and to the Irene Village Mall. In addition there will be a number of networking events, which have been highlights of past congresses, and a glittering gala dinner.

The conference will also feature an exhibition, which runs parallel to the main event. This will give delegates an opportunity to learn more about other companies in the retail space and to benefit from networking opportunities.”   

The first shopping centre conference in South Africa was held in 1989 and it has developed in association with the SA Council of Shopping Centres into THE networking event for the industry. The 1st African Congress of Shopping Centres took place at Sun City in 1992 and attracted 290 delegates. It has grown in delegate numbers each year (to 1074 in 2008) and is a much-anticipated annual diary date.