With 30 years experience in the Special Events industry, Vernon and Sandie Hattingh have a wealth of expertise to offer. Vernon started his career in the entertainment industry and progressed to the conceptualisation, staging and production sector and for many years held the portfolio of technical director for conferences such as Multi Rand Forum, National Automobile Dealers Association, Institute
of Insurance of S.A., Liberty Life, Sanlam, Fedsure Life, Accpac and many more blue chip companies. Sandie joined Vernon at this early stage of the company’s growth and they have worked together ever since. Together they launched Matex Innovations in 1988, and specialised in conference theme conceptualisations, overall audio visual requirements including sound, lighting and video/data supply, entertainment, theme decor, stage management and production. The company’s portfolio is also full of product launches that Vernon and Sandie conceptualised and produced, amongst these being Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Lexus, Elweda Eurostar Coach as well as many other product launches for cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. Over the years, Matex Innovations, adapted to the changing trends within the industry and since moving to Cape Town some twenty years ago Vernon and Sandie decided to steer Matex Innovations into the specialised theme decor market. However, Vernon’s technical knowledge remained an integral part of the business, especially when involved with the production of gala events, corporate functions and conferences. The Matex team grew considerably and Matex Innovations became a dynamic and well respected décor and events company that catered, wherever possible, to every request and created incredible function and theme decor. Matex Innovations acquired a strong and loyal client base who came to expect and rely on the team to create the perfect function. In 2007, Vernon and Sandie sold the decor sector of Matex Innovations, re‑launched as Sanver Projects and went back to their roots of planning conferences and events. They are extremely proud of the fact that they have had the privilege to manage the annual conference for Sage ERP (formerly LA Technology/Softline Accpac) for twenty-one years.
