"Until and unless transformation becomes part of the fabric of corporate South Africa we will, I believe, never reach our potential as a country,” says Peter Walsh, CFO of Servest Group, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
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In the coming weeks and months, we will be chatting to all the Indaba partners, asking them why they are joining the event and what their most important message for finance professionals is.
Do you want to hear more about Servest's custom facilities management solutions? Do you want to be informed about the latest and greatest in finance? Then don't miss the Finance Indaba Africa 2016.
Why will you be present at the Finance Indaba?
"The Finance Indaba is an opportunity to interface with fellow professionals and to get an understanding of what service providers to the industry have to offer. It is the first event of its kind in South Africa and I hope to play a small part in making it a success."
What will you be talking about?
"I will be talking about transformation. Part reflection on where I believe we are from a transformation perspective and part acknowledgment of just how far I believe we have to go. Until and unless transformation becomes part of the fabric of corporate South Africa we will, I believe, never reach our potential as a country."
What are the challenges you can help finance professionals with in 2016?
"As an integrated facilities management company, Servest is uniquely positioned to give finance professionals the opportunity to compare their current facilities spend against a custom solution that will allow them to realise savings and improving service delivery."
How is Servest dealing with the increasing pressure on businesses to become sustainable and eco-friendly?
"Many of Servest's initiatives focus on improved service levels through automation, which has a direct impact on our paper consumption. More effective scheduling, route planning and deployment of our vehicles across the country also limits our carbon footprint. We are also leaders in water-wise landscaping and energy management solutions and our Technical Services division is currently involved in research to bring electric vehicle charging stations to South Africa."
How does the South African facilities management sector compare with that of the UK?
"The UK facilities management sector is a more mature market, particularly in the approach to how FM is procured. Research we have done in our UK business indicates that bundling or integrating of service providers is on the increase, as customers realise the benefits not only in cost saving, but also in improved partnerships, single points of contact and streamlined administration."