Timber iQ February - March 2020 // Issue: 48 | Page 21

COVER STORY
SUCCESS FACTORS
Zaida Davids has been part of the conference for the past
seven years and is involved with the planning and organising.
Part of her responsibilities include sourcing local speakers,
online registrations, and other aspects to make the event
successful. Over the years, Davids has observed how the
conference has grown to become an event that professionals
look forward to attending each year.
One of the factors that have made the conference successful is
an overall improvement of the event after each successive year.
After every conference, delegates are given an opportunity to
provide feedback. Delegates are given questionnaires to
complete on their experience. The questionnaire covers various
aspects, which provides the organisers with a holistic overview
of the event. Some of the questions included in the feedback
questionnaires are:
• What was most valuable about the conference?
• What was least valuable about the conference?
• What topic(s) or theme(s) you would like to be addressed
at the next conference?
The feedback derived from the questionnaires is used
constructively by organisers in preparation for the next
conference.
Another individual involved with the conference is Klara Popova
who is responsible for assisting at the registration desk on the
day of the event and preparing marketing materials for the
HWZI stands. She explains that from a technical point of view,
changes were made to make the registration process easier for
delegates as well as for the team. “There are also more South
African architects and other building professionals introducing
their projects and visions, which is very important, because I
think a conference such as this should be a combination of
local and international presentations,” she explains.
In Kuratle Jnr’s view, the mindset change about alternative
building methods is another aspect that has made the event a
success. “The great speakers have also attracted interested
guests. Through word of mouth recommendation, previous
attendees have brought new attendees every year,” he adds.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EVENT
Since the start of the conference, there have been a lot of
opportunities that have encouraged the development of
sustainable building using wood in South Africa. The Wood
Conference has seen the launch of various projects.
One of those is the Wood Student Foundation (WSF) which
was founded in 2012, with the aim of promoting the usage
and application of wood in South Africa as well as to lecture
students at various Universities in the country – Cape Town,
Johannesburg and Stellenbosch – to increase their knowledge
as how to deal intensively with all aspects of wood.
These and other projects have added value to timber
www.timberiq.co.za
construction in South Africa. Another value add of the
conference is the manner in which it brings professionals in
the market sector together to gather knowledge and create
awareness of the evolving timber industry. “Further, it adds the
value of a well-established platform to exchange innovative
ideas and to expand the network,” explains Kuratle Jnr.
According to Davids, events such as the Wood Conference
are important because the market still has a tunnel vision
approach when it comes to building with timber. “This
conference allows them to see timber construction in a
different way,” she explains.
Popova is of the view that timber constructed buildings are a
minority of the building market in most countries. “It is
important to offer a platform where people, who support this
‘minority’, can meet, network, exchange their experiences and
also show local authorities that modern timber materials offer
much more than what most people think or expect,” Popova
explains. She also highlights that the conference is an amazing
platform for architects, builders and other professionals
interested in sustainable construction to meet, get inspired and
find out what possibilities are out there for timber construction.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOOKING
TOWARDS 2020 AND BEYOND
After each year the conference has achieved different
milestones. For Popova one of the highlights has been the
introduction of the timber competition. The competition gives
young South African architects an opportunity to create
designs for timber homes. “It’s amazing to see how
experienced young South African architects are, and their
desire to create sustainable designs.”
Davids’s highlight was seeing the innovative timber projects
each year. “To be involved with the event has been a huge
learning curve for me and to see how this event has brought on
a huge attendance each year.” She hints that this year there
will be a celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the event.
As the conference continues to grow, there is still a lot of
potential for the event to make an impact in the timber
construction and sustainable building in South Africa. One of
the goals is to increase awareness about a broad general
understanding that timber is a valuable and sustainable
building material. “A whole industry with all its players needs
to understand the broader goal that we need to achieve is to
create a sustainable market for timber construction,” Kuratle
Jnr adds. Attendees can also look forward to Garny’s familiar
voice and face as he will be the MC at the event.
A big part of the conference’s success over the past 10 years
has been through the continued support from attendees and
sponsors. “I would like to thank all attendees for coming out
and constantly supporting the Wood Conference. I believe we
have achieved a milestone by bringing the industry together,”
concludes Kuratle Jnr.
// FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020
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