Events professional and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) consultant, Farirai Nandipa Mabodza has been chosen to be among this year’s first 15-member cohort of fellows to train under the Niche Partners MICE Research and Business Development Fellowship programme.
Mabodza announced this last week in a LinkedIn post. She described the development as an incredible opportunity to deepen her expertise and knowledge in the MICE industry.
“This journey will enhance my ability to drive impactful MICE strategies in Zimbabwe and Africa. (I am) looking forward to this amazing opportunity to learn and be mentored by industry’s greats,” she posted.
Niche Partners is a South African business advisory and strategic project services firm which manages projects that promote economic growth across multiple industries. It carries out research and manages events and exhibitions to capitalise on growth opportunities that will generate revenue and job creation in specific sectors. The entity is based in Cape Town.
The events professional and restaurateur is also set attend and exhibit at this year’s edition of Meetings Africa, which is pencilled for 24 to 26 February at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“I have hit a lot of firsts since I embarked on this journey of MICE tourism. Not only am I also one of the first fellows to be selected for an Africa M.I.C.E Fellowship Programme, (as) I will be exhibiting at Meetings Africa as a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO),” she said.
Mabodza paid tribute to the various people who have guided and mentored her in her events career.
“Since 2020, I have met the most amazing people in this sector that have mentored me, that have listened when no one else understood. Exhibiting at Meetings Africa is me saying I am ready for the next chapter. All your mentoring and leadership has brought me this far and I am truly thankful,” she posted.
The businesswoman has been involved in the events industry for the past 15 years in a career spanning various aspects such as wedding cake baking, bridal wear and event planning and management. In 2021 she founded the Institute of Events Professionals in Zimbabwe, which organised the inaugural Zimbabwe Events Professionals Expo (ZEPEX) that was held in February last year.
In 2020 Mabodza was selected for Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund grant to study for her certification in exhibition management. Administered by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE), which is based in the United States, the Fund supports exhibitions and events industry education and professional development. This culminated in her becoming the first to earn the Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation in Zimbabwe.
Two years later, she was selected by the South Africa-based Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) to be part of its mentorship programme. Mabodza organised the ZB Bank SMEs Expo, which was held in her home city of Gweru last year.