World FM Day 2024 Report: Botswana Commemoration, Mike Mafa

Sunday, September 22nd, 2024

WORLD FM DAY 2024 REPORT: BOTSWANA COMMEMORATION, MIKE
MAFA

On 8th May 2024, Botswana proudly joined the global celebration of World FM Day under the theme
Inspire, Integrate, Innovate: Ignite your career in FM Dikago Facilities Solutions (DFS) is proud to
have successfully hosted this event in collaboration with the Institute of Workplace and Facilities
Management (IWFM). This marked the 8 th consecutive year DFS hosted this event gathering Facilities Management professionals and stakeholders from across the country, including government, parastatal organizations, private companies, and individuals aspiring to grow their careers in FM.
Facility Management has become a cornerstone of sustainability, with FM professionals being at the
forefront of implementing eco-friendly practices, optimizing resources, and fostering green building
initiatives. Our event sought to align with this year’s theme by highlighting the pivotal role FM plays in shaping greener, smarter, and more resilient environments. In line with this, the event featured a panel
discussion centered around Facility Management and the Green Revolution, exploring how FM
professionals can be catalysts for sustainability.

Panel Discussion: Facility Management the Green Revolution

The panel featured esteemed industry leaders who shared their experiences and insights on advancing
green initiatives in the built environment:

Mr. Kantho: Electronic Engineer – Ministry of Transport and Public Works
Mr. Kantho spoke on the importance of integrating energy-efficient technologies into public
infrastructure projects. He highlighted how the Ministry has been focusing on incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar power, into government buildings and transport networks to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. He emphasized that facilities managers must adopt energy-saving technologies, including smart building systems, to ensure that public spaces are both functional and environmentally responsible. He further explored how data from IoT devices can be used to optimize energy consumption and improve maintenance efficiency.

Miss Mogae: ReWaste Solutions
Miss Mogae brought attention to the critical need for improved waste management strategies in both
public and private facilities. She outlined the challenges that facilities managers face in managing waste and proposed solutions like implementing more recycling programs, reducing single-use plastics, and creating waste segregation systems within buildings. She emphasized that sustainability starts with small changes, such as adopting circular economy principles within FM operations, to reduce the environmental impact of facilities.

Mr. Ntokozo: Botswana Green Building Council
Mr. Ntokozo discussed the importance of building green-certified facilities to ensure long-term
environmental sustainability. He highlighted how green buildings not only reduce energy consumption but also improve the health and well-being of occupants. He elaborated on the role of facilities managers in maintaining green-certified buildings, explaining that the process involves ongoing monitoring of energy use, water conservation, and air quality management. Mr. Ntokozo also stressed that facilities managers must take an active role in the design and construction phases of buildings to ensure that sustainability is integrated from the ground up.
Together, the panelists underscored the urgency of adopting sustainable facility management practices and the potential of FM to lead the charge in the Green Revolution.

Keynote Speakers
The event was further enriched by presentations from two distinguished international speakers:
Miss Lara Peamen, Managing Director of IFMA EMEA, elaborated on this year’s theme, urging FM
professionals to adopt innovative approaches, integrate diverse skills, and ignite their passion for the
profession. Her talk focused on how FM can lead the way in shaping future workplaces, driving
innovation, and advancing sustainability.
Mr. Michel Theriault of FM Insight Consulting shared his expertise on promoting FM as a critical
function within organizations. He outlined strategies to elevate the visibility and value of FM teams in
contributing to organizational success.
Exhibition: FM Service Providers
As part of the event’s efforts to foster collaboration and promote sustainable facility solutions, we
invited various FM service providers to showcase their innovations:
• Smart Water Solutions and IoT Communications demonstrated how data driven technologies can
improve water conservation and energy efficiency.
• Skip Hire, Skitters Cleaning Company, and ReWaste Solutions showcased waste management
strategies focused on reducing environmental footprints.

• Botswana Housing Corporation, Heating & Cooling Systems, and Gadget Guru presented cutting-edge
innovations in smart building technologies and HVAC systems.
• C Track Botswana and Design Genre displayed solutions in vehicle tracking and sustainable facility
design.
• Dikago Facilities Solutions being the hosts and service provider, we showcased our expertise in
facilities management consultancy, importance of training and our commitment to integrating
innovative FM practices and sustainable solutions for our clients.
Celebrating Our Team
We are particularly proud of our own Operations Manager, Miss Kesegofetse Mganga, whose
leadership and dedication were instrumental in organizing and mobilizing the event. Under the guidance
of Mr. Michael Mafa, she ensured a successful turnout and a seamless program that left a lasting impact on all attendees.

Conclusion
World FM Day 2024 in Botswana was a remarkable success, bringing together industry experts, service providers, and aspiring FM professionals to exchange knowledge, foster innovation, and discuss strategies for building sustainable facilities. As we look ahead, we remain committed to inspiring, integrating, and innovating within the FM sector, driving both career growth and sustainable practices for a greener future.