SA's Businesswoman of 2005
3 August 2005
The Airports Company of South Africa's Monhla Hlahla has been announced South Africa's Businesswoman of the Year for 2005.
The award was made at a ceremony in Sandton on Tuesday night where Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was the guest of honour.
'Role Model'
"Hlahla's accomplishments are an inspiration to us and she is a role model for other women," said BWA president Dr Namane Magau.
Monhla Hlahla, managing director of Airports Company South Africa, heads a successful, commercialised and semi-privatised state company that paid its shareholders a dividend of R360-million in 2004 (2003: R330-million).
Hlahla has restructured the company, improved earnings, accelerated and intensified the process of transformation, reinvigorated and incentivised the workforce, and widened the scope of corporate social investment interventions.
"This year's winner has demonstrated that transformation,
sound leadership and a customer driven culture have become an intrinsic part of doing business the South African way," Nedbank CEO Tom Boardman, told Engineering News. Nedbank have sponsored the award for the last five years.
"We applaud Monhla Hlahla on her achievement."
Previous winners of SA's premier award for women in business, now in its 26th year, include Futhi Mtoba of Deloitte & Touche (2004), Nicky Newton-King of the JSE Securities Exchange (2003), Kim McFarland of Investec Asset Management (2002), Maria Ramos when she was with the National Treasury (2001), and Irene Charnley of Johnnic Holdings (2000).
Hlahla was chosen from among the five finalists: Angela Dick, of Transman, Robyn Heathfield, of Torquip Earthmoving Equipment, Yvonne Johnston, of the International Marketing Council of SA, and Maserame Mouyeme, of FCB South Africa.
The Businesswoman of the
Year award seeks to honour the achievements of South African women business leaders, and to help create a cadre of women role models.
It also makes a sustainable contribution to the next generation of women business leaders, as all proceeds of the annual awards banquet go to the Businesswomen's Association's Bursary Fund, which has assisted more than 45 women to further their tertiary business studies since 1988.
Finalists
Angela Dick
Angela Dick, managing director of Transman, has been instrumental in growing the company's revenue from R85 000 in 1983 to a R350-million operation.
Since the company's inception, Dick has been responsible for recruiting and placing between 7 000 to 10 000 temporary and contract staff into the workplace, with a focus on previously disadvantaged individuals.
Robyn Heathfield
Robyn Heathfield, managing director of Torquip Earthmoving
Equipment, is the sole owner of Torquip Mining Svc, Torquip Earthmoving and Torquip Construction Equipment.
In 2001, the company was awarded Best International Terex dealer for overall contribution to the brand, and in 2003 Torquip was appointed to take over the South African distribution of the Fiat-Hitachi.
Yvonne Johnston
Yvonne Johnston, chief executive officer of the International Marketing Council of South Africa, has been in this position since December 2001. The IMC is a presidential initiative created to change perceptions about South Africa, to encourage tourism, trade and investment, and to build national pride.
Johnston, a frequent speaker at conferences, has held many industry-related positions, including chairman of the Media Directors Circle. She was voted the best media director in the country, is a patron of Life College and Take A Girl Child to Work Day, sits on the board of South African Tourism and is a member of
the International Woman's Federation of South Africa.
Maserame Mouyeme
Maserame Mouyeme is the group managing director of FCB South Africa branded Advertising Agencies and Specialist Communication Companies. Mouyeme plays a leading role in the advertising and communications industry as chairperson of the Association for Communication and Advertising.
She also sits on the Loerie awards committee and is involved in the GCIS monitoring and steering committee for the transformation of the advertising and marketing industry.
"The 2005 finalists represent diverse industries and are an influential group of candidates," said Magau.
"It has always been part of the BWA's commitment to highlight successful businesswomen who can, in turn, inspire other women and make it possible for them to excel."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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