The 41st Annual SAPOA (South African Property Owners Association) Convention & Property Exhibition to be held in June 2009 aims to provide a vibrant and thought-provoking forum to address issues ranging from politics and economics, to African markets and the global environment.

“Property professionals throughout SA are focusing their minds on beating the risk of global recession both at home and across SA’s borders,” says SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal.

“The Convention is the place to discuss risks and opportunities, share successful business cases and find out how the rest of the market is thinking – and acting.”

Sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, this year’s Convention will focus on tools that the commercial and industrial property industry needs to weather any economic fallout from the global recession: insightful and accurate market intelligence.

“The 2009 Convention gets straight to the heart of things with four clear themes: Economic; Africa; Global and Political,” explains Gopal.

SAPOA has, as always, pulled in renowned experts from SA and internationally to confront these complex issues.

“One of the real differentiating characteristics of the annual SAPOA Convention is the caliber of the speakers and 2009 will be no exception,” says Frank Berkeley, managing director of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance.

The theme of Economics will be tackled by respected economist JP Landman along with the chair of the King Committee on Corporate Governance Mervyn King, and Brian Azizollahoff, CEO of Redefine Income Fund.

Critical to the success of SA’s property industry is not only a keen understanding of global forces, but also of a growing expansion into African markets. Global factors and opportunities in Africa will see experts like John Cushman of international property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, Ben Kodisang of OMIGPI and Stewart Shaw-Taylor, Global Head, Real Estate Investments, Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Properties share their insights and experiences.

Norbert Sasse, Chief Executive Officer - Growthpoint Properties and Dick Purtell, Chair and President of BOMA International (Builders, Owners and Managers Association of USA) will also be sharing their experiences and insights.

A panel discussion with political analyst Steven Friedman; well-known columnist Max Du Preez and Leon Louw, executive director of the Free Market Foundation will tackle the question of SA’s new political dispensation and the implications of the 2009 Elections.

The 41st SAPOA International Convention and Property Exhibition will take place at the International Convention Centre in Durban from 3 – 5 June 2009.