The South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) will host its annual convention from 11 to 13 September 2019. The theme of this year’s convention, which is taking place at the Durban ICC, is ‘Funding the Future’. The convention will showcase South Africa’s landscape with regard to accessing funding to participate in the property sector, highlighting property finance and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) funding/enterprise development in South Africa’s property sector.
Durban has been chosen as the host city of this convention because there are a number of property development opportunities within KwaZulu-Natal. The eThekwini Municipality has come on board as a partner of the event. While property development opportunities within eThekwini will be highlighted at the convention, prospects within the sector in other parts of the country will also be addressed.
The upcoming SAIBPP Annual Convention 2019 provides a valuable platform for delegates from all spheres of the property sector, built environment, financial services sector, public sector and academia to benefit from presentations by industry leaders as well as interactive group and panel discussions, workshops and a range of networking opportunities.
During the convention, delegates can gain a range of useful knowledge from a dynamic line-up of speakers and panelists who are best minds in the industry. They include property sector leaders and subject-matter experts offering groundbreaking research as well as political economists and industry leaders from the private and public sector. The keynote address will be given by former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas and speakers include, but are not limited to, Andrew Walker, the CEO of the South African Property Investors Network, Nonhlanhla Mayisela, the Executive Director of the Izandla Property Fund and Carien Storm, a property development advisor at Property Point. Delegates can also look forward to presentations by Siven Govender, the Regional Mortgage Manager of the Trust for Urban Housing Finance (TUHF), Rory Gallocher, the CEO of the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) and Simphiwe Dzengwa, the CEO of the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF).
The convention provides the chance to network and be coached by some of the most influential local and international property industry stakeholders and decision makers. Additionally, delegates with small businesses servicing the property sector can showcase their businesses to an influential audience in the exhibition area.
Those attending the conference can engage directly with numerous funding institutions like major banks - including First National Bank - development finance institutions and government right through to crowdfunding platforms and venture companies providing information on diverse funding and financing options to access the commercial property sector.
Vuyiswa Mutshekwane, the CEO of SAIBPP, highlights that the convention won’t just focus on traditional financing institutions but also look at property stockvels and the technology of the finance and property industry such as apps for crowdfunding.
To ensure delegates are capacitated with practical skills to enter and succeed in the property sector, there will be masterclasses (workshops) run by various organisations like Pareto, a highly respected property loan stock company. During these workshops, delegates can acquire constructive know-how on various topics like getting started in property investment and/or building a commercial property portfolio, the ins and outs of commercial property development finance and deal structuring as well as how to put together a funding proposal.
By attending this important event, delegates can engage in interesting, informative dialogue around growing the economy and accessing finance to be meaningful players in the property industry. Key topics and themes of discussion include, but are not limited to:
• Proptech: The impact of the 4IR and new technologies on the property sector
• Access to funding and development finance:
- Property finance and alternative funding models
- Innovation and entrepreneurship in the property sector
- Crowdfunding
- B-BBEE legislation: The property sector charter and the impact of the amended B-BBEE codes on property practitioners
- Township development: catalysing township development through innovative financing
- Affordable housing and inclusionary development
- Public-private partnership opportunities
- New industries and opportunities
Mutshekwane says the convention is crucial because one of the biggest challenges facing the property sector is that many in the industry - especially black property professionals - don’t have the capital to invest and participate meaningfully in it.
“The future of South Africa lies in our ability to meaningfully integrate the majority of its population into the mainstream economy,” says Mutshekwane. “The 2019 SAIBPP Annual Convention is looking at how to increase black participation in the property sector through providing greater access to funding. Black property professionals are a relatively untapped market for property ownership.”
Wrapping up the programme of presentations, panel discussions and workshops is the SAIBPP Awards Dinner. The awards honour companies leading the way in terms of transformation and that demonstrate excellence in their field.
For more information and to register for the convention, visit: www.saibpp.co.za/convention-2019/