I had the pleasure of working with the SAMRC Conference Centre and Events Management for more than ten years. I have worked with them for both the PHASA and SAPRIN conferences, and their professionalism was outstanding. They always managed the project seamlessly, communicated clearly, and ensured every detail was handled with care. Their extensive network allowed them to secure top-quality services efficiently, and they delivered everything on time and within budget. Their ability to balance cost, quality, and logistics made the events a great success. I also value the creativity they bring to the events they manage. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and experienced events management partner.

The Strategic Research Initiatives division of the SAMRC worked closely with the Events Management Office to arrange three African Rotavirus Symposia under the auspices of the African Rotavirus Network funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other donors held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019, a virtual meeting in 2021 and in Abuja, Nigeria in 2023. Joint arrangements are currently underway to convene the International Rotavirus meeting in Cape Town in September 2025. SRI has also worked with the Events Management Office on several other events. The team offers a wide range of services and able to customize their offering to the client’s specific needs. In all cases, it has been a seamless experience from start to finish. Their local and international event management experience and ability to anticipate our needs ensured our events were a great success. We highly recommend their services for any event, big or small.

We have had the privilege of working with the South African Medical Research Council’s conference team on six, soon to be seven, of our international SVRI Forums, the largest conference on research and practice on violence against women, violence against children and other forms of violence rooted in gender inequality. Simply put, the SAMRC conference team is exceptional. The team consistently delivers events of the highest standard, always on time, always with kindness, competence, and a deep understanding of our field and its unique needs. They are not only meticulous in planning and execution but are also incredibly supportive and flexible, helping us navigate challenges with calm professionalism. Their financial management is excellent, giving us full confidence that every detail is handled with care and integrity. The SAMRC conference team has become an extension of our own team, and we are deeply grateful for the role they play in making our Forums a success, time and time again.

I had the pleasure of working closely with the SAMRC Events Management Office on all aspects of organizing a large international conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in October 2023. This included programme development, budget preparation, securing funding, planning social events, arranging bursaries and travel for bursary recipients, organising transport and hotels and hosting the conference itself. I also recently collaborated with the team on planning and hosting smaller meetings in both Cape Town and Pretoria for a project involving senior colleagues from the USA. These events all went off incredibly smoothly. It was a true privilege to work with Mandy Salamo and her team. Their responsiveness, energy, and commitment to excellence were evident throughout. They consistently went above and beyond to ensure the success of both the conference and the smaller meetings, and their proactive approach made a significant difference. I wholeheartedly recommend them and would be eager to involve them in future event planning and execution.

I had the opportunity to work with the SAMRC professional conference organising (PCO) team since 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were faced with the challenge of transitioning to PHASA’s first-ever virtual conference in 2021. From the outset, they were incredibly engaging, supportive, and solution-focused; helping us navigate an uncertain and complex time with confidence. Over the years that followed, they remained a trusted partner in planning and delivering our conferences. The team was always attentive to PHASA’s evolving needs and context, solution-focused, and committed to excellence and high-quality outputs . They worked with us in a way that felt genuinely collaborative and invested in our shared goals. Looking back, I truly appreciate the role they played in elevating the quality and impact of our conferences.