SAPICS has issued a call for speakers for its 2026 SAPICS Conference, set to take place in Cape Town from 19 to 21 July 2026, with submissions closing on 20 January 2026.
The upcoming conference coincides with a major milestone: SAPICS’s 60th anniversary. Under the theme “Legacy to Leadership: 60 Years of Connection, Collaboration and Transformation,” the organisation is using the moment to reflect on its history while actively shaping the future of supply chain management on the continent. “For six decades, SAPICS has connected and developed generations of supply chain professionals,” says SAPICS president Thato Moloi. “In 2026, we’re looking ahead and inviting professionals to help shape the next phase of the discipline.”
The SAPICS Conference is positioned as a learning-led event focused on education, knowledge exchange, and professional connection within the supply chain sector.
Speaker submissions are open to practitioners, academics, consultants and industry specialists, with an emphasis on content that is practical, forward-looking and grounded in real-world experience.
Proposals should address:
- Current and emerging supply chain challenges
- Technology and innovation
- Case studies and applied insights
- Trends shaping the future of supply chain management, particularly in Africa
Submissions may take the form of:
- 40-minute presentations
- Panel discussions
- Interactive workshops
Both individual and multi-speaker proposals will be considered, and SAPICS has also invited topic ideas and applications from those interested in facilitating panel discussions.
All submissions will be reviewed by the SAPICS speaker selection committee. In line with the conference’s educational focus, proposals that directly promote products or services will not be accepted, although commercial participation is accommodated through the conference exhibition.
Why does this event matter? : As supply chains across Africa continue to navigate infrastructure constraints, digitisation, sustainability pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, the 2026 SAPICS Conference positions itself as a moment of reflection and recalibration, not just a celebration of longevity, but a deliberate handover from legacy to leadership.
For professionals working at the intersection of operations, policy, technology, and people, the call for speakers signals an opportunity to shape the conversation rather than simply respond to it.
Full submission guidelines and registration details are available on the SAPICS Conference HERE on their website.
