Bridging the Skills Gap and Empowering the Next Generation of Supply Chain Leaders
South Africa’s supply chain sector is vital to the country’s economy but faces a skills gap that is threatening growth, says supply chain industry body SAPICS.
In response to growing concerns over the shortage of supply chain talent, the upcoming Conference in Cape Town will place a strong emphasis on developing the next generation of professionals. The event will feature dedicated sessions, including presentations, panel discussions, and youth-focused initiatives, designed to equip young leaders with the skills and exposure needed to thrive in the industry. Now in its 47th year, SAPICS remains Africa’s foremost supply chain conference and continues to serve as a vital hub for professional development, collaboration, and innovation.
A key highlight of this year’s Conference will be a dynamic panel discussion focused on practical strategies to empower and equip young supply chain professionals. The session will delve into approaches such as mentorship, industry-academic partnerships, and targeted skills development programmes. Alongside sharing inspiring success stories, the panel will offer clear, actionable recommendations for organisations looking to build future-ready talent pipelines.
SAPICS emphasizes that this session will spotlight the power of collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector in developing a resilient and skilled workforce for the supply chain industry. The discussion will be led by Yaseen Ahmid, CEO and founder of the Circular Economy Institute of Africa, who will guide the conversation with a panel of distinguished experts. Joining him are Prof. PJ Kilbourn, associate professor and senior deputy head of the Transport and Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Johannesburg; Asekhona Ngeno, corporate supply chain director at Procter & Gamble; Azel van der Walt, IMEA head of Logistics at Maersk; and Nicole Petersen, programme manager at the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA).
“How AI and gamification are reinventing supply chain learning” is the topic to be presented by France-based supply chain expert Laurent Vigouroux, a b2wise brand ambassador and winner of the prestigious French award, King of Supply Chain. According to Vigouroux, traditional supply chain training often struggles to engage participants and drive real-world results. Gamification and AI are transforming the learning experience, with serious games like DDBrix simplifying complex concepts, fostering collaboration and boosting retention. Attendees will learn how AI personalises training, identifies skill gaps and enhances decision-making.
Missing skills can slow down or stop the flow in a supply chain, turning into a bottleneck, stock outs and delivery delays. A presentation by leading international supply chain management expert and author Caroline Mondon will introduce attendees to the Demand Driven Skills Model (DDSM). It allows organisations to locate and size skill buffers in order to protect the operational flow in a supply chain.
This year, SAPICS has partnered with sponsors Industrial Logistics Systems (ILS) and Bertling to enable 20 students from institutions including Stellenbosch University and the University of South Africa (UNISA) to attend the conference. This forms part of its youth development programme, which aims to upskill and empower young graduates and professionals for career success in the important and dynamic supply chain profession, address the skills gap in the supply chain field and fight the country’s high youth unemployment rate.
