#WomenInForestry – meet Pamela Naidoo
South African Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA)
Capacity Development Manager
Qualifications:
Forestry career: +10 years
As Capacity Development Manager, my role ensure that skills development is implemented amongst contractors’ workers through various initiatives and projects. As Qualifications Development Facilitator, I have been instrumental in securing funding from the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sectoral Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA) and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and has been leading the development of curricula and material. I also lead the SAFCA NPC team with managing and overseeing the implementation of Grower contractor worker training (Mondi) and capacity development (Sappi) programmes.
WHY I LOVE WORKING IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR
My role enables me to make connections in the industry that has propelled SAFCA NPC to be recognised within the forestry sector as a key stakeholder. The ripple effect of these connections has resulted in partnerships being formed for the greater good of the industry, Forestry really is a sector where teamwork counts. I love how through my job I have influence on the transformation of contractor training from routine skills compliance training to specific, identified targeted and needs driven industry related training interventions in accordance with innovation and technology (mechanisation and modernisation), technical competence in forestry operations, risk management, health and safety training, driver and driven machinery and forestry supervision as her greatest achievement. As a result, thousands of contractor employees have been trained and skilled through learnerships, skills programmes, work integrated learning and shorts courses during my time in the forestry industry.
MY ADVICE TO THOSE EXPLORING A CAREER IN FORESTRY
My aspirations is to see SAFCA NPC as a registered assessment centre and witness the first learners from the forestry sector receive occupational certification in the qualifications that have and are being registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) through the QCTO.
