SAFCOL FORESTRY INDUSTRIALISATION CONFERENCE

October 2017

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Theme: “Forestry Industrialisation”
“Promoting a Wood Culture”

Time / Speaker / Topic
Tuesday 3October 2017
18:00–21:00 / Cocktail evening
Welcome: Mr Lungile Mabece, SAFCOL Board Chairperson
Masterof Ceremonies: Mpho Pops
Entertainment: Marimba Band and Organic Lounge
Wednesday 4October 2017
08:00–08:30 / Registration / Refreshments
08:30–09:00 / Opening and Welcome: Mr Lungile Mabece – SAFCOL Chairperson
Plenary Session 1 – Setting the Scene
09:00–09:20 / Mr Dikobe Martins – Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises
09:20–09:40 / General BhekiCele – Deputy Minister ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
09:40–10:00 / Mr BulelaniMagwanishe – Deputy Minister ofTrade and Industry
10:00–10:20 / Mr McebisiSkwatsha – Deputy Minister ofRural Development and Land Reform
10:20–10:30 / Panel Questions
10:30–10:45 / Tea Break
10:45–11:45 / Plenary Session 2 - Forestry industry: expansion, opportunities and challenges
10:45–11:00 / Mr Michael Peter – Executive Director of Forestry South Africa (FSA)
“Challenges and opportunities for forestry and expansion in South Africa”
11:00–11:30 / Prof Paxie Chirwa – SAFCOL Forestry Chair at the University of Pretoria (UP)
“The South African academic environment supporting forestry industrialisation” and
Mr Phillip Tshidzumba – Head of Forestry and Natural Resource Management at Fort Cox University
“Evaluation of land restitution benefits to communities in selected commercial plantations in South Africa”
11:30–11:45 / Prof. Godwin Kowero – Executive Secretary, African Forest Forum (AFF), Nairobi, Kenya
“Afri 100 and commitment to the African continent on forestry”
11:45–12:00 / Panel Questions
12:00 – 12:45 / Plenary Session 3 – Processing and Technology
12:00–12:15 / Mr Marko Nokkala – Key Account Manager for Bioenergy and Biofuels at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
“Overview of technological advancements in processing efficiency, and the application of forestry biomass for bioenergy”
12:15–12:30 / Mr Goesaert Didier– Area Sales Manager of the DIEFFENBACHER Group, Eppingen, Germany
“Assess new downstream products from timber and derived products”
12:30–12:45 / Mr Milan Detko – Product and technical manager for HWZ International South Africa - timber materials and wood construction systems
“Cross-laminated timber as an engineered wood solution – applications in South Africa, requirement to industrialise the use of CLT and encourage acceptance of the product”
12:45–13:00 / Panel Questions
13:00–13:45 / Lunch
13:45 – 14:30 / Plenary Session 4– Opportunities and applications within the timber value chain (Alternative timber products, agro-forestry, furniture)
13:45–14:00 / Dr Bruce Sithole – Chief Scientist and Director, Bio refinery Industry Development Facility at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
“Research into the use of timber products and biomass residues as alternative high-value products and the development of new value chains”
14:00–14:15 / Ms Jeanette Clarke – Independent forestry consultant specialising in the role of forestry in poverty reduction, employment and livelihood security
“Opportunities for social and economic development programmes through the application of agro-forestry practices”
14:15–14:30 / Sibusiso PenwellLunga – Chairman of the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI)
“Timber furniture manufacturing as an industry to promote development and growth of the industry, for the development SMME’s and the value chain”
14:30–14:45 / Panel Questions
14:45–16:30 / Parallel Sessions
BreakawayRoom 1: Wood products research needs and priorities
Facilitator: Stella Maphiri (the DTI)
  • Speakers:
  • Dr Brand Wessels – University of Stellenbosch
“Sawn Wood Products in South Africa: A Challenge of Volume, Value and new products”
  • Dr.PrabashniLekha / Dr Bruce Sithole – CSIR
“Wood waste – potential pathways for beneficiation”
  • Mr Richard Muller– NelsonMandela University: George Campus (Saasveld)
“State of Research at Nelson Mandela University”
  • Purpose of the session:
  • To reinforce industry research in an effort to build industry capability, product and market innovation, enhancing competitiveness and commercial success. The session will also be directed at establishing a Forest Products Research Forum and stimulate discussions on current industry issues and encourage working collaboratively towards solving industry issues and realising opportunities.

BreakawayRoom 2: Funding and business support (access to finance and markets, business planning etc.)
Facilitator: Mr Michael Reddy – Furntech CEO
Speakers:
  • Nedbank – representative
  • Mr Steven Ngubane – IDC
/ Panel members:
  • Mr BavelileHlongwa– Deputy Chair of NYDA
  • Mr Don Mashele – SEFA
  • Mr Roy Southey –Sawmilling South Africa
  • Mr GijimaneDladla – MEGA GM: Funding
  • Mr PenwellLunga– SAFI (the SA Furniture Initiative)
  • Mr Michael Peter – ED: Forestry South Africa
  • Ms Hazel Banda – SAFCOL
/ Proposed discussion points:
  • Access to markets
  • Access to finance
  • Business support
  • Business models
  • Success stories
  • Challenges the industry faces & ways to overcome the challenges
/ Who should attend:
  • Entrepreneurs
  • SMME’s
  • Associations
  • funding and insurance providers
  • SETA’s

BreakawayRoom 3: Education and training (skills development across the industry)
Facilitator: Ms FellengYende (CEO FP&M Seta)
Speakers:
  • Ms FellengYende – CEO FP&M Seta
  • Mr VuyaniMpofu – Deputy Director General: Education Support, Gauteng Provincial Department of Education
  • Ms Ntsiki Mbono – DPE DDG: Economic Impact and Policy Alignment
/ Panel members:
  • Prof Paxie Chirwa –SAFCOL Chair at University of Pretoria
  • Mr Richard Muller – NelsonMandela University: George Campus (Saasveld)
  • Mr Phillip Tshidzuma – HoD Forestry Fort Cox
  • Mr Norman Dlamini – FSA
  • Mr Leo Long (FITPA Chairperson)
  • Mr George Mathye– DAFF Deputy Director: Policy Support and Tertiary Education
  • IreneMathabela– DAFFDeputy Director: Sector Capacity Development
/ Proposed discussion points:
  • Forestry Qualifications (Supply to meet future demand)
  • Impact of industrialisation
  • TVET qualifications in forestry
  • ND in forestry offered in part time
  • QCTO alignment of qualifications
  • Sector collaborations and standardization
  • International Partnerships and exchange programmes
/ Who should attend:
  • SETA’s (submitted contact list)
  • TVET Colleges
  • Grower companies (Mondi, SAPPI, York, etc.)
  • Institutions (Fort Cox, NMU, Stellenbosch, UniVen, UMP, UP, etc.)
  • FITPA members (Forest industry vocational training providers)
  • Forestry South Africa, SA Forestry Magazine (Chris), etc.
  • DPE sector skills planning unit

16:30–18:30 / Afternoon Break
18:30–22:00 / Gala Dinner
Welcome: Mr Kgathatso Tlhakudi, DPE DDG: Manufacturing Enterprises
Keynote Address: Mr Mogokare Richard Seleke, DG of Department of Public Enterprises
Masterof Ceremonies: KatlegoMaboe
Entertainment: Soweto Gospel Choir
Thursday 5October 2017
08:00–09:00 / Refreshments
09:00–09:15 / Welcome
Mr Harvey Theron– SAFCOL Acting CEO
09:15–09:30 / Recap of the previous day proceedings
Mr Kgathatso Tlhakudi – DPE DDG: Manufacturing Enterprises
09:30–10:00 / Feedback from parallel sessions
Parallel session facilitators or nominated spokespersons
10:00 – 11:00 / Plenary Session 5 – Opportunities and applications within the timber value chain (timber construction, architecture and engineering)
10:00–10:20 / Mr Richard Stretton – Founder of Koop Design, a small architecture and furniture design studio in Durban
“The use of timber for the delivery of public service structures, the development of small and micro businesses to produce the components for these buildings as well as changing the perception of the use of timber in public buildings and housing in South Africa to play a role in social upliftment and stimulating economic progress”
10:20–10:40 / Mr Werner Slabbertjnr – Rustic Timber Homes
“Benefits of timber construction over traditional brick-and-mortar, the current timber frame housing market and barriers to market entry”
10:40–11:00 / Mr Erwin van der Weerd– Greenpods / Perfect Places – Modular Building by Nature (small scale modular buildings in SA)
“Benefits and applications of small scale modular buildings in SA which contribute to sustainable development”
11:00–11:15 / Panel Questions
11:15–11:30 / Tea Break
11:30 – 12:30 / Plenary Session 6 – Creatingan enabling environment for forestry industrialisation in South Africa
11:30–11:45 / Mr Werner Slabbert snr – Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA)
“Driving the adoption of wood”
11:45–12:00 / Mr Benson Wekesa – Technical Group Leader, Engineering, Agrément SA
“Standards for timber construction”
12:00–12:15 / Department of Public Works – representative
“The application of timber in public infrastructure including schools, clinics, timber bridges etc.”
12:15–12:30 / Mr M Macikama – CEO of National Skills Fund
“Skills development as a precursor to support forestry industrialisation in South Africa”
12:30–12:45 / Panel Questions
12:45–13:45 / Closing discussions and actions – facilitator, NalediMoleo
13:45–14:00 / Closing
Mr Mogokare Richard Seleke – Director General of Department of Public Enterprises
14:00–15:00 / Lunch