Maria Morapedi is a highly experienced Director with over 25 years of expertise in international property and facilities management. She is known for her successful establishment and leadership of organizations, conferences, and initiatives within the FM field. Maria’s strengths lie in driving growth and fostering collaboration across borders, making her a trusted leader in the FM industry.

She holds a BSc in Property Management and an MSc in Construction and Project Management and she is a certified member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). Additionally, Maria holds the Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) certification awarded by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

Maria has extensive international experience, having worked in the United Kingdom with various local authorities and private sectors, as well as in Botswana, where she established the FM department at Botswana Accounting College. Her roles have spanned strategic and operational levels.

In her role as Director of GPFI Botswana, Maria oversees all operational aspects, ensuring the optimization of property and facilities management processes for client satisfaction and successful outcomes. Maria’s passion for advancing the facilities management profession led her to establish the Africa Facilities Management Association, where she currently serves as Vice Chair. She is dedicated to promoting and advancing facilities management across Africa, enhancing professional development through collaborative efforts and initiatives.

As the EuroFM Ambassador for Botswana, Maria fosters international collaboration and knowledge sharing in facilities management. She acts as a liaison between EuroFM and the industry in Botswana, promoting best practices and industry standards.

Maria chairs the Technical Committee – GDP9: Facilities Management ISO 41000 Series Standards, leading efforts to review and recommend ISO standards for adoption. Her contributions ensure compliance with international standards and promote the adoption of best practices in facilities management.

In 2017, Maria founded the Facility Management Conference and Exhibition (FMCE) Africa, a Pan African integrated Facility Management company offering conferencing, consultancy, and training services. FMCE assists clients in developing the necessary skills, capacities, culture, and strategy to effectively manage and enhance the value of their assets and facilities.

She organizes annual conference events through FMCE, bringing together speakers, product developers, and service providers to raise the profile of FM across Africa. These events serve as platforms for knowledge exchange, advocacy for professionalization, adoption of ISO standards, networking, and education.

In 2021, the first Africa-wide FM conference was hosted in Abuja, Nigeria under the theme “Working Together to Accelerate Facilities Management Adoption Across Africa … A Year On” which led to the inception of the Africa Facilities Management Community. She also led a skills gap survey across Africa and continues to play a vital role in advancing the profession on the continent.

With her extensive experience, Maria is highly respected in the industry. Her skills in property and facilities management, strategic planning, leadership, and sustainability make her a valuable asset in driving the growth and success of organizations and initiatives in the field.

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