AFSUGThe African SAP User Group, an independent non-profit organization representing SAP customers and partners across Africa, has reappointed Louise Steenekamp to its board and named her Chair of SAPHILA 2027, the organization's flagship biennial conference. Steenekamp joined TWK Agri, a South African agricultural company, as Chief Information Officer in January 2025 and is leading the organization through a greenfield SAP implementation.
Steenekamp previously served on the AFSUG board during her time at Aspen Pharmacare, the South African pharmaceutical company, where she spent nearly seven years in senior technology roles including Head of IT for South Africa Commercial and Head of Innovation and Change. During that period she co-architected Aspen's global Technology Enabled Shared Services organisation before joining TWK Agri. Her return to the AFSUG board puts an active SAP customer in the middle of a large-scale implementation directly on the conference's steering committee.
Duke Mathebula, AFSUG Chairman, described what her return means for the organization: "Louise was a strong voice on this Board before, and we have missed that voice. Some people bring energy back into a room the moment they walk in, she is one of them. AFSUG is better with her at the table. The AFSUG Board welcomes her back, now also in her additional role as SAPHILA Chairperson, and looks forward to working with her to shape SAPHILA 2027 into a conference that reflects the real challenges our members are solving, not just the ideal-world case studies."
As SAPHILA 2027 Chair, Steenekamp will work alongside Amanda Gibbs, AFSUG's CEO, the SAPHILA governance structures and SAP leadership on the conference's strategic direction. The stated priority is ensuring customer experience sits at the center of the program, with space for practitioners to share what worked, what did not and what they would do differently rather than presenting polished outcomes alone.
Corlia van Zyl, AFSUG Vice-Chairperson, said: "Louise is widely recognised as a true community leader, with a passion for driving business success in organisations built on an SAP foundation. It has been a true privilege and honour to work alongside Louise and witness the impact of her leadership, expertise, and commitment firsthand."
Amanda Gibbs, CEO of AFSUG, said: "We are delighted to welcome Louise back to the AFSUG Board. Louise is an exceptional technology and business leader who understands both the SAP ecosystem and the realities of leading organisational transformation. We all look forward to the new chapter and planning SAPHILA 2027."
SAPHILA is held biennially and brings together SAP customers, partners and industry practitioners from across Africa. No date or location for the 2027 edition has been announced.