South African exhibition and events supplier, Scan Display, was delighted to be recognised with an award from the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) at its national congress earlier this month. The company’s Managing Director, Justin Hawes, was also acknowledged with an award in his personal capacity.
Scan Display was presented with the Ubuntu Award for its contribution ‘socially, culturally and environmentally’ to the South African business tourism industry. Ubuntu is an African word meaning ‘humanity towards others.’ Scan Display runs a very successful learnership programme, with a large proportion of staff members having joined Scan Display as part of this programme. The company is committed to enterprise development and skills development and the Scan Display BEE Trust, representing several long-standing staff members, owns a share of Scan Display.
As a proponent of sustainability and the environment, Scan Display has been an active member of the Event Greening Forum (EGF), a non-profit organisation promoting sustainability in the South African events industry, since the organisation was formed in 2009.
Justin Hawes was presented with the Godfrey King Hall of Honour Award for his contribution to the business tourism industry over the years, including his involvement in promoting sustainability within the industry and representing South African business tourism globally.
Driven by a passion for preserving the environment, Justin was a founder of the EGF and is currently the organisation’s Treasurer. He has also promoted the local MICE industry through his involvement with the Brussels-based International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES). In 2011, Justin became the first African to be represented on the association’s board. He was the association’s Treasurer from 2013-2016, Vice President from 2017-2020, and President from 2021-2022.
The SAACI annual conference was held in the Eastern Cape in South Africa from 30 July to 1 August 2023. Justin says the event was a very successful networking opportunity: “It was great to connect with industry colleagues and the conference covered excellent content and included innovative sustainable elements, a cause close to my heart.”
