Alida Louisa Thuynsma - Senior Operations Manager

Date and place of birth: 10 June, Bethlehem

Education: UNISA: Honours Environmental Management University of Stellenbosch: Post-graduate Certificate in Education University of Stellenbosch: BSc Sport Science and Chemistry

Management style: Leading by example and ensuring my drive for success motivates those in my team to do the same. Each person needs to put in the work to realise their potential and in my capacity, I have the responsibility and honour to support my team in their journey to personal and professional growth and success.

Personal best achievement: My two kids aged 4 and 1.

Person you would most like to meet: Siya Kolisi. He is an inspiration to so many and leads by action, not position.

Philosophy of life: Make improvements, not excuses.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: Learn from the mistakes of others, no matter their position or status. You are never too powerful or too important to make mistakes. The important thing is to use them as steps for achieving new heights.

Naadira Nadasen - Environmental Assessment Practitioner

Date and place of birth: 11 June, Durban

Education: University of KwaZulu-Natal: MSocSci, Geography and Environmental Science University of KwaZulu-Natal: BSocSci (Honours), Geography and Environmental Science University of KwaZulu-Natal: BSocSci, Geography and Environmental Science

Management style: Lead by example and offer solutions.

Personal best achievement: Growing my environmental knowledge in the mining sector and contributing to publications in the environmental arena.

Person you would most like to meet: Hans Cosmas Ngoteya (environmental activist) Philosophy of life: Don’t just learn, experience!

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: Never be intimidated by your challenges no matter how tough they are.

Jana Liebenberg - Environmental Assessment Practitioner

Date and place of birth: 10 February, Pretoria

Education: UNISA: Bachelor of Science Honours Environmental Management UNISA: Bachelor Environmental Management

Management style: I don’t consider myself to have a particular management style. I assess the situation before deciding on the best approach and action to be taken.

Personal best achievement: My latest best career and personal achievement was obtaining my EAPASA registration.

Person you would most like to meet: David Attenborough Philosophy of life: Don’t let anyone define who you are and what you can or can’t do.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: Find a good mentor and strive to be a good mentor. Embrace opportunities, be curious and never stop learning. Learn from your failures as well as from your achievements. Be willing to share knowledge.

Dashentha Moodley - Environmental Assessment Practitioner

Date and place of birth: 9 August, Durban

Education: UNISA: BA Environmental Management (Honours) (cum laude), University of KwaZulu – Natal: BSocSci, Geography and Environmental Management

Management style: A combination of a few: collaborative, participative, and consultative. I believe in an open and just work environment.

Personal best achievement: My best personal achievement thus far is being able to assist with voluntary work within local communities. Partaking in voluntary work is something close to my heart and one of my life passion’s.

Person you would most like to meet: I would like to have met Steve Jobs.

Philosophy of life: Live life to the fullest, make your mark and try your best, as you only live this life once.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: “Where there is a will, there is a way”. No matter what your situation is, wake up and try to be the best that you can be. For ladies, it is critical to improve self-promotion, motivation and skills of other women, especially disadvantaged and abused women who want to get up but are afraid.