Ed’s Comment

CHANGE IS AFOOT

Dearest friends and MICE industry family, I am sad to say that, after more than four years at the helm, my time with Meetings magazine has come to an end, and I will be moving on to a new endeavour. I am, however, pleased to say that I leave you in some very capable hands.

But before I say adieu, I would like to share some insights from my journey with 3S Media, the publisher of Meetings magazine, as well as my time spent with you all in the business events industry.

THE POWER OF WOMEN Perhaps my greatest highlight and honour was running the Women in MICE (WiM) Awards. While we postponed this outright during 2020 and hosted a successful nomination and judging process last year, we were unfortunately not in a position to host a physical event in 2021. We decided that we would be changing the strategy behind the WiM drive to recognise key women throughout the year while still continuing our Women in MICE Mentorship and Development Initiative. The Mentorship Programme with Queen Ramotsehoa, executive coach at the Tsheto Leadership and Coaching Academy, is looking forward to its second intake later in the year. In the meantime, I am very proud to present you with our Women in MICE Recognition Edition, where we have spoken with several women from across different parts of the industry’s value chain to hear about their experiences during their careers. Turn to this section on page 7 for some incredible insights and pearls of wisdom that we can take with us wherever we go.

We feature an extensive spread of one my other favourite topics in this issue of the mag, with three beautiful features dedicated to sustainability. Sustainability communication strategist Angela Barter provides us with exclusive content on the dangers of greenwashing on page 28, while Laura Pastrone, founder of Peace by Piece International, speaks to us about her operation, which seeks to provide meaningful corporate gifting while giving opportunities to those living in marginalised communities. Lastly, in this section, we visit the gorgeous Thaba Eco Hotel – not to be missed for anyone looking for a venue that meets sustainability standards.

YOUR NEW EDITOR While we have a number of other exciting features that you will discover as you browse through the pages of the magazine, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce to you the remarkable Pippa Naude who takes over from me as acting editor of the publication. Not only has Pippa worked extensively with 3S Media in the past, but she has years of direct MICE industry experience on both a supplier and association level. I am confident that I will be leaving you in the best hands possible.

Thank you to my colleagues at 3S Media for all your kindness and support through the years. To those I leave behind in the industry, I will miss you all and hope that our paths cross again.

All my love and luck to you all,

Shanna

Managing Editor Shanna Jacobsen (shanna@3smedia.co.za)

Chief Sub-Editor Tristan Snijders Head of Design Beren Bauermeister Contributors Moizyll Baatjies, Angela Barter, Sven Bossu, Glenton de Kock, Lesley Ferreira, Gabor Ganczer, Rivania Govender, Natalie Kyriacou, Scott Langley, Thuli Mtolo, Victoria O’Sullivan, ElzaLee Pretorius, Morwesi Ramonyai, Catherine Schulze

Production & Client Liaison Manager Antois-Leigh Nepgen

Group Sales Manager Chilomia Van Wijk Bookkeeper Tonya Hebenton

Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham

Advertising Vanessa De Waal +27 (0)84 805 6752 | Vanessa.DeWaal@3smedia.co.za

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Publisher Jacques Breytenbach 3S Media Production Park, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep, Johannesburg South, 2136 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 www.3smedia.co.za

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