Creating valued and valuable Property Managers

The WeconnectU Annual Exclusive In-Person Events

THURSDAY
13th FEB
9:00 - 12:00
Reserve your seat now
Live In-Person Event
Live online Zoom event

Elevating Your Business: The Blueprint for Building Skyscrapers of Value

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." – Alan Kay

At WeconnectU, we embrace this philosophy as we shape the future of the Property Management industry. ENGAGE was born from our vision to lead and innovate. ENGAGE is therefore more than just an event—it’s a movement to redefine what’s possible. This year, ENGAGE’25promises to be an unforgettable launchpad for growth, empowerment, and transformation. Designed exclusively for WeconnectU clients, ENGAGE '25 will deliver a full-day immersive experience where you’ll uncover strategies, master best practices, and ignite the potential within your team. ENGAGE isn’t just about learning; it’s about connecting. Forge meaningful relationships with peers and industry leaders, share valuable insights, and become part of a community united in driving positive change. Together, we’ll seize every opportunity this dynamic and growing industry has to offer.

This year, we’re handing you the blueprint to build a skyscraper of value. ENGAGE '25 will inspire your team to communicate their true value and elevate your property management business to new heights. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of property management. Register now and be part of the movement!

Venues

Johannesburg
Wednesday
19 Feb
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Protea Hotel
Wanderers
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
250
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT
Pretoria
Friday
21 Feb
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Time Square
Menlyn
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
180
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT
Gqeberha
Tuesday
4 Mar
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Running Waters
Conference Centre
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
120
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT
Durban
Thursday
6 Mar
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Radisson Blu Durban
Umhlanga
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
200
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT
Cape Town
Friday
14 Mar
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Protea Hotel
Techno Park
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
250
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT
Bloemfontein
Tuesday
18 Mar
Date
TBA
09:00 - 16:00
08:00 - 15:00
Monte Bello
Estate
Venue
To Be Announced
Limited Seats - Only
120
Attendees
REGISTER NOW
SOLD OUT

Agenda

08:00-09:00
Registration and Refreshments (Coffee/Tea/Juice)

09:00-09:15
Welcome

09:15-09:35
ENGAGE’25: The Past, The Present, and Blueprint for the Future

09:35-09:55
Community Management: Market Overview and Key Industry Metrics

09:55-10:15
Panel Discussion: Highlighting and Unpacking the Key Industry Trends affecting Community Managers

Industry Stakeholders discussing key trends affecting the industry

10:15-10:45
Mid-morning Tea Break

10:50-11:20
Bringing the Team together: Culture and Leadership Keynote

Reaching new heights in team performance through culture and leadership

11:20-11:40
Building Skyscrapers of Value – Part 1

Operational Levels: Tools and tactics - Strategic team collaboration and client engagement

11:40-11:55
Building Skyscrapers of Value – Part 2

Activating Elevators of Value: OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and Bank Integration

11:55-12:25
Building Skyscrapers of Value – Part 3

Solving the communication challenge: New CMS Features Launch - AI Assistant and CMS App

12:25-12:40
Community Management LEVEL UP Journey Launch: Empowering the Next Generation of Community Asset Managers

12:40-13:00
WeconnectU Panel Discussion: Summary of the morning session topics

13:00-14:00
Lunch Break / Networking, Stakeholder Engagement, and Interviews

14:00-14:50
ENGAGE Activation Sessions – Part 1 (3 Break Away Sessions for Business Owners, Community Managers and Finance Managers)

14:50-15:10
Mid-afternoon Tea Break

15:10-16:00
ENGAGE Activation Sessions – Part 2 (3 Break Away Sessions for Business Owners, Community Managers and Finance Managers

Why ENGAGE?

Schalk van der Merwe
ENGAGE is a cornerstone event for WeconnectU, where we explore the strategies shaping the future of Property Management. What started as an annual online event has now grown into a series of in-person ENGAGE events across the country, alongside multiple online sessions due to popular demand. Why ENGAGE? Because collaboration is at the core of everything we do. Our upcoming ENGAGE event is specifically designed for Rental Asset Managers, focused on shaping the future of Rental Portfolio Management.

ENGAGE is a cornerstone event for WeconnectU, where we explore the strategies shaping the future of Property Management. What started as an annual online event has now grown into a series of in-person ENGAGE events across the country, alongside multiple online sessions due to popular demand. Why ENGAGE? Because collaboration is at the core of everything we do. Our upcoming ENGAGE event is specifically designed for Rental Asset Managers, focused on shaping the future of Rental Portfolio Management.

SPEAKERS & Panelists

Johann
van der Merwe
Managing Director
WeconnectU
Johann van der Merwe
WeconnectU
Johann is the Managing Director of WeconnectU, a leading property management software solutions company. Johann has a history of working with one of the top ten multinational pharmaceutical firms where he was the Head of Marketing for Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011, he decided to end his corporate career and join his family in the property management industry. In 2017, he started WeconnectU with his brother, Danie.
Danie
van der Merwe
Director, Solutions Management
WeconnectU
Danie van der Merwe
WeconnectU
Danie is the Co-founder of WeconnectU, a leading property management software solutions company. Before the founding of WeconnectU, Danie gained his experience in the property sector while being the MD of PropConnect, a company specialising in the management of Sectional Title and Home Owners Associations. Danie believes success is largely determined by the impact and success one can create for others.
Schalk
van der Merwe
Director, Sales & Marketing
WeconnectU
Schalk van der Merwe
WeconnectU
Before joining WeconnectU, Schalk gained international experience working in property management in the UK. He returned to South Africa in 2006 and started his real estate career as a franchisee. He was responsible for the management of multiple franchises, which included the management of the residential and commercial property portfolios. Schalk has seen how digital transformation can be leveraged to create incredible customer experiences and how this will enable you to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Schalk believes that meeting the needs of the “always-connected” customer is essential and that it is inevitable that businesses must embrace technology to be relevant and profitable going forward.
Tobie
van der Merwe
Business Development Manager
WeconnectU
Tobie van der Merwe
WeconnectU
Tobie is a Business Development Manager at WeconnectU. Before joining WeconnectU, Tobie spent many years specialising in the field of Marketing and Sales in the Professional Services and Software as a Service (SaaS) industry. Besides a deep rooted passion for people, marketing and sales, Tobie believes that Property Professionals can become more valuable as solutions providers through a strategic approach to their business.
Maritza
Botha
Product Manager CMS
WeconnectU
Maritza Botha
WeconnectU
Maritza Botha is the Product Manager at WeconnectU for the community management software solution She has more than 16 years’ experience in the property management industry, including running a prominent managing agency in Cape Town with more than 10 000 units. She is passionate about creating innovative solutions and driving product strategy and believe that tools and technology have crucial role to play in solving the core challenges of the property manager - Compliance, Manageability, Scalability and Profitability.
Alize
van Vuuren
Product Owner
WeconnectU
Alize van Vuuren
WeconnectU
Alize van Vuuren is the Product Owner at WeconnectU for the community management software solution. She joint the product team 2 years ago and have since made a significant impact in creating innovative solutions to some of the key challenges that the the property manager faces. She drives product improvements by blending her enthusiasm for technology with a strong problem-solving mindset.
Lin-Marie
Carstens
Migration & Training Consultant
WeconnectU
Lin-Marie Carstens
WeconnectU
Nisha
Singh
Customer Success Consultant
WeconnectU
Nisha Singh
WeconnectU
Christiaan van den Heever
van den Heever
CMS Scrum Master
WeconnectU
Christiaan
WeconnectU
Hanta Strydom
Strydom
Customer Success Consultant
WeconnectU
Hanta
WeconnectU
Glennise Pretorius
Pretorius
Customer Success Consultant
WeconnectU
Glennise
WeconnectU
Odette Wiggins
Wiggins
Data Migration Specialist
WeconnectU
Odette
WeconnectU
John Loos
Loos
Commercial Property Finance
FNB
John
FNB
Michael Schaefer
Schaefer
Managing Director
ZDFin
Michael
ZDFin
Johan Stander
Stander
Director
Urbtec
Johan
Urbtec
Vita Wilkens
Wilkens
Non-Executive Director
NAMA
Vita
NAMA
Serena De Freitas
De Freitas
KZN Committee Chair
NAMA
Serena
NAMA
Shannon Moore-Barnes
Moore-Barnes
Eastern Cape Committee Chair
NAMA
Shannon
NAMA
Glen
Smit
National Chairperson
NAMA
Glen Smit
NAMA
Since 2005, Glen Smit has led in property management, serving communities across KwaZulu-Natal from Amanzimtoti to Port Edward as the owner of Glen Smit Property Administration. As National Chairperson of the National Association of Managing Agents (NAMA) and a 13-year member, Glen is committed to raising industry standards and fostering professionalism. Passionate about building trust and accountability, his work continues to inspire excellence in property management.

Engage platinum Sponsors

FAQs

What are the ENGAGE Exclusive In-person events?

ENGAGE exclusive in-person events are WeconnectU’s CMS events to be hosted in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town. Durban, Gqeberha, and Bloemfontein. Tailored exclusively for WeconnectU CMS clients, ENGAGE is an event to engage in-person, discuss industry insights, talk business best practice, share stories and unpack CMS product developments. There will also be break-away Activation Sessions to discuss practical applications for Business Owners, Community Managers, and Finance staff.

Will the ENGAGE exclusive event only be in person events?

The ENGAGE Exclusive Events will be in-person only events to be hosted in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, and Bloemfontein. These events will be invite-only events with limited seating available per event. Registration and bookings are essential. The ENGAGE events will take place in the months of February 2025 and March 2025. The ENGAGE in-person events are not accessible online and will not be recorded.

Who can join the ENGAGE'25 event?

Everyone ready to make a positive impact is invited! ENGAGE 2024 is designed to inspire and empower rental property managers, industry leaders, and key players to share knowledge, inspire change, and showcase the power of our Rental Asset Management Solution and RedRabbit Inspections & Maintenance tools.

Is ENGAGE free to attend?

ENGAGE is a free event for WeconnectU clients only. There are limited seats available per event, so bookings are essential. These events will include catering in the form of a lunch and coffee, drink and juice. Registration of non-WeconnectU clients are possible at a cost of R850 per person.

Who can attend ENGAGE?

Exclusively invited CMS clients can attend the ENGAGE regional events. We encourage attendance by Business Owners, Finance Teams and Portfolio Managers. There are not limits to registrations per company, but there are limited seats per event. Outside delegates can attend ENGAGE by booking a seat at a cost of R850 per person per event.

If I miss an event, will recordings be made available after ENGAGE?

Unfortunately not. ENGAGE is an in-person event, so there will be no recordings made of the event. We will however make the content that was shared available as downloadable resources after the event.

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