Forestry South Africa

Office manager, Pietermarizburg FSA office

Qualifications:

• Matric

Forestry career: 37 years

My work requires me to be a ‘Jill of all trades’. My responsibilities are many and very diverse. I am not only the PA to our Johannesburg-based Executive Director, but I also support the Operations, Business Development and Research & Protection Directors, Development and Operations Managers and consultants. In addition to this I am an administrative officer for the Pietermaritzburg office which involves everything from reception to petty cash-handling and secretarial services. I am responsible for all FSA meeting logistics which includes our annual Regional Group meetings and the piece de resistance our Annual General Meeting.

WHY I LOVE WORKING IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR

After 37 years working for the same company, I think I would require some sort of intervention if I didn’t love it! Forestry is home to a passionate and wonderful bunch of people from all spheres. With the odds stacked against foresters (legislation, fire, pests, diseases, water — let alone the long wait for return on investment), they really have to love their chosen path!

MY ADVICE TO THOSE EXPLORING A CAREER IN FORESTRY

Women are becoming more involved in all aspects of forestry and that’s definitely a positive sign. As it is still a male-dominated world though, it definitely takes courage and resolve. Quoting from someone well known in the industry, ‘women sometimes need to be rottweilers with lipstick’!