Meetings magazine and SA Conference celebrates the women who have made their mark on the MICE industry. Everyday this week we will be highlighting eight of the phenomenal women who made the list.
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- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 1
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 2
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 3
JANE MOKHARI
Client services and liaison at Tshwane Events Centre
Service provider: Venue
Fondly referred to by the staff at Tshwane Events Centre as the resident dinosaur, Jane has worked at the centre since the 1960s in various positions. As a customer liaison officer, sheโs a focal point for customer problems, questions or concerns.
When thinking of Jane, a Maya Angelou quote comes to mind, โIf you donโt like something, change it. If you canโt change it, change your attitude. Donโt complain.โ Jane is one of the most positive people alive and can seldom be found without a smile โ a real attribute having to deal with clients on a daily basis. She constantly seeks to fully understand a customerโs requirements and provide outstanding support. It is this reason why the centre has a lot of repeat business.
FAST FACT Janeโs motto in life is to work hard to ensure success.
STEPHANIE MOSS
Managing director of Solutions Group
Event practitioner
Starting her career in client service of advertising agency Grey Philips, and then doing the advertising and public relations for Unisys Computers, Stephanie saw a gap in the event industry for innovative and stylish events. In 1990, she started Solutions Group and under her guidance it has grown into one of the leading events and incentive companies in South Africa. Putting her expertise and knowledge at your disposal, Stephanie ensures the smooth running of every aspect of an event, down to the very last detail. With her passion for perfection comes her lack of tolerance of anything but the best that people can give. For Stephanie, there are no boundaries to innovation and to achieving the ultimate event for you.
FAST FACT The passion and rigour Stephanie puts into orchestrating very special events bring out the individuality of each client and function.
SIGAL NASSIMOV-GEVA
Assistant operations manager for Premier Hotels and Resorts
Service provider: Venue
Overseeing the day-to-day operations of both the HR and marketing departments, Sigal has been instrumental in the growth and development of the hospitality sector. She has continuously grown the permanent staff contingent at Premierdespite tough economic times and has been pivotal in structuring the companyโs employment equity and skills development plans. Sigalโs drive to ensure that customersโ needs are met has resulted in the group receiving various awards, such as the South African Tourism five-star award, which was given to the East London International Convention Centre.
FAST FACT Her skill and passion have not gone unnoticed. She was recognised in the hospitality industry when she was awarded the Regional Business Woman of the Year in the Corporate Category in 2012.
DR MATI NYAZEMA
Executive director of Sandton Convention Centre
Service provider: Venue
Matiโs extensive experience in many aspects of the tourism and hospitality industries, including airlines, hotel groups and tourism boards, spans more than 20 years. In her current role, which she has been in since 2005, Mati holds executive accountability for overall financial, business and operational performance of the SCC and represents the convention centre at
local and international forums to steer business growth and development. She holds a doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch business school, based on a study of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) policy in the hotel industry in South Africa in 2013.
FAST FACT Mati started her career in broadcasting, as a television news editor, before moving into in public relations and destination marketing in tourism.
FATIMA OMAR
Managing director of Divaz Event Management
Event practitioner
Fatima not only strives to infuse genuine innovation into this saturated industry, she also serves to inspire those yearning to enter the daunting sphere of business ownership. Cutting her teeth following graduation, through various learnerships, Fatima gauged an insight into the travel, events management and tourism industry from the bottom. Her upward soar through the corporate ranks took her to companies like Thebe Reward, Uwin Iwin and Global Choices, before eventually knuckling-down to birth Divaz Event Management in 2013, at the age of 29. As a hardworking young woman, Fatimaโs motto in life is, โNothing is insurmountable, provided you are determined to pursue those goals relentlessly.โ
FAST FACT Fatima describes her company as the events management mavericks that arenโt afraid to challenge the status quo.
JACQUI REYNOLDS
Managing partner: On Show Solutions
Service provider/ buyer
Jacqui leads a team of dynamic ladies at On Show Solutions, where innovation and improvements coupled with vision and creativity are a must in their day-to-day activities. Passion for the business events industry is what drives Jacqui to pursue new opportunities. With her extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, Jacqui has cemented a number of international relationships that have enabled her to grow their business from strength to strength. Jacqui inspires and motivates her team and those around her to achieve great heights. She continuously supports and guides her clients on making the best out of the roadshows and exhibitions that she and her team put together.
FAST FACT With a masters degree in tourism and 17 yearโs experience in the local and international exhibition industry, Jacqui has played an instrumental role in expanding the exposure of Africaโs tourism trade.
NICOLE ROLLINGS
Managing director of EnOv8 Event Management
Event practitioner
Nicole started EnOv8 Event Management in 2009 with one conference client on the books, and has grown the company in five short years to a fully fledged event agency, which works with many well-known big brand names like Ray-Ban, All Gold and Cape Town Tourism. Nicole is an event and brand expert with 11 year’s event experience. She brings to the industry an international customer service background, and her work is completed to the highest standards, with the consumer experience in mind at all times. Regardless of the size of an event, promotion or conference, Nicole recognises the importance of brand authenticity and the delivery of a โgenuine experienceโ that engages and encourages the audience to bond with a clientโs brand.
FAST FACT With amazing energy and a true passion for event management, Nicoleโs mantra is โconsider it doneโ.
DEBBIE RORICH
Director of Event Management Solutions
Event practitioner/service provider
Before starting Event Management Solutions, Debbie achieved executive management level in a multinational hospitality organisation. She is very much a peopleโs person who invests a lot of time and energy into any project she is involved in. Debbie brings broad-based management experience to every event through her ability to think, plan and implement strategically. She has been privileged to manage several medical conferences over the last few years, allowing her to meet and work with many doctors and professionals from all areas within the medical sector and, more specifi cally, those working at Red Cross War Memorial Childrenโs Hospital and Groote Schuur.
FAST FACT Debbie has travelled extensively around the world, gaining invaluable international work experience in London,
Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.
