HEFMA

What HEFMA does

HEFMA (Higher Education Facility Management Association) is a non-profit association founded around 2001 as a transformation of the Tertiary Institutions Maintenance Conference (TIMCON). It serves facilities management professionals working at higher education institutions in Southern Africa, with a defined membership base of 27 universities and, since 2024, 50 newly on-boarded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges admitted with the backing of the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET). The organization provides a portfolio of member services rather than a discrete software product: annual conferences (with the 2026 edition scheduled at the University of Botswana for the 25th anniversary), a COO Forum for executive leaders launched in February 2025, professional development workshops covering automated FM systems, construction contract management, integrated spatial planning, outsourced services management, governance/risk/compliance, and sustainable green campuses, benchmarking services, a job portal, and eight regional chapters across Southern Africa. Reciprocal international partnerships with AUDE (UK), APPA (USA), and TEFMA (Australasia) extend its knowledge and benchmarking network.

Underlying technology is minimal: HEFMA operates a standard association website (hefma.org), a dedicated workshop registration portal at training.hefma.org, and a job portal, with no proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or SDK. The association supplements its reach via the HEFMAmania newsletter, LinkedIn, and partner-driven events.

The business model is community- and membership-led. Revenue is generated from three streams: (1) recurring membership dues from universities and TVET colleges, (2) one-time conference registration fees (the 2026 conference charges R9,000 for late registration), and (3) fees-for-service from professional development workshops. Growth has been driven by community expansion into the TVET segment, geographic extension through regional chapters, and deepening of international knowledge networks. The organization is independently governed by an elected Executive Committee (EXCO), currently led by President Ms. Hlamarisa Kubayi following the departure of former President Lindokuhle Mzolo.

Name

HEFMA

Legal name

Higher Education Facility Management Association

Website

https://hefma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HEFMA is a non-profit association serving facilities management professionals at 27 universities and 50 TVET colleges across Southern Africa, delivering professional development workshops, benchmarking, an annual conference, regional chapters, and a COO Forum for executive leadership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services (Higher Education Facilities Management)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) & Hard/Soft Services (EDAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Workplace & Office Support Services (Reception/Mailroom/Porterage/Helpdesk) (IMAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Facilities management association
• Higher education services
• Professional development workshops
• Institutional benchmarking
• Membership association services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue generated from annual conference registrations. The 2026 conference charges R9,000 for late registrations.
2. Membership Dues: Revenue from membership fees paid by universities and higher education institutions for access to HEFMA services, resources, and professional development programs.
3. Professional Development Workshops: Training workshops offered to members with associated registration fees for professional development and capacity building programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HEFMA is a non-profit membership association that provides professional development, peer benchmarking, and networking services to facilities management professionals at universities and TVET colleges across Southern Africa. Its core offerings include an annual conference, COO Forum, professional development workshops, benchmarking services, eight regional chapters, and a job portal for member institutions.

Product overview

HEFMA (Higher Education Facility Management Association) is a non-profit association with members from higher education institutions, primarily universities in Southern Africa. The organization functions in the facilities management field of 27 universities in and outside South Africa, recently expanded to include 50 TVET colleges. HEFMA operates as an association rather than a product company, offering a portfolio of member services including Annual Conferences (with the 2026 conference scheduled at University of Botswana), the COO Forum for executive leaders, Professional Development Workshops covering topics such as Automated Facilities Management Systems, Construction Contract Management, Integrated Spatial Planning, Outsourced Services Management, Governance/Risk/Compliance, and Sustainable Green Campuses, Benchmarking Services, Regional Chapters (eight across Southern Africa), and a Job Portal. These services work together to empower Facilities Managers to develop, maintain and sustain high quality facilities and infrastructure for Higher Education Institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Conference Annual flagship event for higher education facilities management professionals across Southern Africa, featuring presentations, networking, exhibitions, and professional development. The 2026 edition is themed 'Maturity of Facilities Management in Higher Education' and held at the University of Botswana. Late registration is priced at R9,000.
• COO Forum (Chief Operations Officers Forum) Premier executive platform for Chief Operations Officers and senior leaders shaping the future of infrastructure, facilities management, and operations across higher education in Southern Africa. Enables high-level dialogue, insight sharing, and co-creation of solutions to sector challenges.
• Professional Development Workshops Annual structured training programme covering facilities management topics including Automated Facilities Management Systems, Construction Contract Management, Integrated Spatial Planning, Outsourced Services Management, Governance/Risk/Compliance, and Sustainable Green Campuses. Delivered as a mix of virtual and in-person sessions to member institutions and TVET colleges.
• Benchmarking Services Member service that enables higher education institutions to compare facilities management practices and performance metrics against peer institutions across Southern Africa, supporting evidence-based improvement in campus operations.
• Regional Chapters Eight regional chapters across Southern Africa that provide local platforms for member collaboration, peer benchmarking, and the localization of HEFMA's professional development and networking activities, including the South Gauteng Regional Chapter.
• Institutional Membership Institutional membership programme under which universities and TVET colleges pay recurring dues to access HEFMA's full portfolio of professional development, benchmarking, networking, conference, and job portal services.
• Job Portal Online portal hosted on the HEFMA website for posting and viewing facilities management job vacancies across member higher education institutions.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PURCO SAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPURCO SA (Purchasing Organisation Southern Africa) provides procurement services and tools for the higher education sector, including procurement toools and collaborative procurement solutions.
• Turner & TownsendcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional services company specializing in programme management, project management, cost management and advisory services.
• SAFMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African Facilities Management Association - national FM association collaborating on industry standards and professional development.
• AUDEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of University Directors of Estates (UK) - international partnership for sharing best practices and hosting collaborative webinars with HEFMA.
• APPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Physical Plant Administrators (USA) - international partnership for professional development and knowledge sharing in facilities management.
• TEFMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTertiary Education Facilities Management Association (Australasia) - international partnership for benchmarking and professional development.
• Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET)coreOthersGovernment department providing support for inclusion of TVET colleges in HEFMA membership and policy direction for the sector.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities: Alternate reference to APPA, the leading US higher-education FM association that serves as a direct knowledge partner and conference-format analogue for HEFMA.
• APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators): US-based association for educational facilities professionals. Listed as a strategic mutual partner of HEFMA; directly comparable in offering conferences, professional development and benchmarking to higher-education FM staff.
• AUDE (Association of University Directors of Estates): UK-based association for university estates and FM directors. HEFMA's direct international counterpart and mutual partner, sharing the same higher-education FM professionalisation mission and conference/benchmarking format.
• TEFMA (Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association): Australasian association for tertiary education FM professionals. HEFMA's mutual partner and one of the closest geographic-functional analogues outside Africa, covering universities across Australia and New Zealand.
• SAFMA (South African Facilities Management Association): National South African FM association serving all sectors. HEFMA's domestic strategic partner and direct competitor for FM professional mindshare, training programmes and corporate memberships.

Broad incumbents

• FMA Australia (Facility Management Association): Australia's national FM association covering all sectors. Provides comparable credentialing and chapter structure, and competes regionally with TEFMA which HEFMA partners with.
• EuroFM: European FM research and professional network. Adjacent peer in the FM association ecosystem, useful for benchmarking HEFMA's research and training agenda.
• BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management): UK professional body for FM practitioners across sectors. Provides similar credentialing and standards frameworks that HEFMA could adopt or compete with for Southern African members seeking international qualifications.
• IFMA (International Facility Management Association): Global FM professional association offering credentials, training and chapter networks. Competes with HEFMA for the same FM professionals in Southern Africa but operates across all industries rather than higher education.
• CEFPI (Council of Educational Facility Planners International): International organisation focused on planning, design and operation of educational facilities. Adjacent peer with overlap on higher-education campus infrastructure topics that HEFMA members engage with.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hefmasouthernafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HEFMA