Experience

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  South African High Commission to Pakistan

  • Islāmābād, Pakistan

  • Counsellor

    • Jul 2018 - Mar 2021
    • Islāmābād, Pakistan

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  Department of International Relations and Cooperation

  • South Africa
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Deputy Director: Conservation and Sustainable Development

    • Jul 2010 - Jul 2018

    Policy analysis, briefing papers, negotiating on behalf of the South African Government in international organizations and treaty systems dealing with global environmental conservation and international negotiations on sustainable development (17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development)

  • Personal Assistant to Deputy Director General: Americas and Caribbean

    • Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

    Drafted briefing / speaking notes; power point presentations (to Executive Management Committee and DIRCO Strat Plan) and background files for DDG – including EMC, Director General's Forum, and Departmental Management Committee meetings, bilateral and multilateral meetings; and ad hoc meetings such as DIRCO Strategic Planning. Drafted letters and memoranda for the DDG, from dictation and otherwise.Drafted ad hoc documentation emanating from instructions to DDG by EMC – e.g. DIRCO Draft Policy on Official Communication. Consulted with relevant sections in DIRCO, and individual research.Accompanied and supported DDG on visits to Canada, USA, Brazil, Mexico and Cape Town, and drafted minutes of meetings with various interlocutors.Ensured proper planning, coordination visits, programme and travel itinerary.Schedule and facilitate meetings with entire Branch on ad hoc basis when need arises, e.g. when formulating new Branch Business Plan based on new DIRCO Strategic Plan; after Cabinet Lekgotlas, etc. Compile agendas and reports; and follow up on actions and deadlines agreed.Drafted concise minutes of DDG meetings with Branch SMS members – for follow-up and facilitating timeous implementation of decisions and instructions.Coordinated and facilitated all Branch inputs to DIRCO Top ManagementCompiled budget for DDG’s Office and presented to DIRCO CFO at budget meeting with Branch.Maintained filing system and electronic files/folders kept for documentation for and from routine meetings, e.g. DGF, DMC, BMC, EMC, as well as other committees / task teams where the DDG may be leading / involved in, such as DIRCO Pledge, Future Foreign Service Policy, etc. Operated as “shared folders”, i.e. access to all staff in the Office of the DDG

  • Deputy Director: Office of the Deputy Minister

    • Jul 2009 - Dec 2009

    Project coordinator of process to compile first draft of policy documents on proposed South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) – concept document approved by Cabinet December 2009.Briefing notes for Deputy Minister for EMC, bilateral visits and meetings, attendance of multilateral meetings, including on Economic Partnership Agreements between EU and SADC, and SADC integration.Speech writing, report writing, political analysis

  • Counsellor: SA Permanent Mission to the African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa

    • Jul 2005 - Jun 2009

    Experience of inner workings of the AU Commission; working relations with key players in the Secretariat and diplomatic community.Multilateral diplomacy in context of AU and UNECA Continental and regional meetingsSupport and inputs to ministerial AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction Committee for Sudan, chaired by Foreign Minister Minister Dlamini-Zuma. Consensual management; real communication; Brainstorming; empathetic listening; coaching and monitoring; real delegation of responsibilities; within multi-disciplinary teams. Trained in Public and Financial Management. (PMFA)Travelled widely in Africa, as member of SA Delegations to various AU and ECA Inter-governmental and regional meetings. Experience in well-prepared and managed meetings to achieve and enhance actual implementation and progress on the ground. Acted as resource person in multi-disciplinary teams during AU Secretariat and inter-governmental meetings. Managerial experience through regular stints as Charge d’ Affaires of South African Permanent Mission in Addis [Consisting of various components, including military and trade sections]

  • Deputy Director: Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan)

    • Jan 2004 - Jun 2005

    Managed bilateral relations with above-countries – accompanied Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma on missions to Sudan/South Sudan; Ethiopia and Eritrea (President’s Special Envoy in Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict).Research projects on Sudan and Ethiopia/Eritrea conflict - to achieve synergies and translate into effective policy proposals and progressive action, in bilateral and multilateral processes.Managed DIRCO-UNISA-South Sudan Govt capacity building project for future South Sudan civil servants. Logistics; mobilised resources; budget; overall co-ordination of project. Facilitated support from donors. Experience in well-prepared and managed meetings to achieve and enhance actual implementation and progress on the ground - context to acting as resource person and manager of multi-disciplinary team (relevant DIRCO components, UNISA academics and South Sudan representatives) on South Sudan capacity building project. Chosen to represent Foreign Affairs on South African humanitarian missions (with Gift of the Givers NGO) to Darfur and Somalia - based on political analyses of the local conflicts; effective negotiations on logistics/engagement with all stakeholders during visits. Compiled and submitted report to President Mbeki after visit to Darfur - April 2004. Compiled internal research paper for top and senior management strategic planning on Sudan: “The Character of Sudan - Causes of Conflict and Prospects for Peace”. Integrated inputs from various role-players and made focused policy proposals. Paper received with acclamation.Chosen as part of small team to compile South African policy paper on Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Africa, subsequently adopted by African Union.

  • Deputy Director: Multilateral Conservation and WSSD Follow-up

    • Oct 2002 - Dec 2003

    Coordination of South Africa’s contributions to and effective participation in negotiations in multilateral processes and meetings on the Conventions on Desertification and Biodiversity, as well as other relevant environmental instruments and processes.Promotion of international implementation of WSSD (World Summit on Sustainable Development – 2002) outcomes (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation), also ensuring that these outcomes contribute towards the achievement of the MDGs – according to the principle of sustainable development.Negotiating and drafting resolutions as South Africa’s contributions to the above processes.

  • Deputy Head: World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Policy Unit

    • May 2000 - Sep 2002

    Management and coordination of DIRCO WSSD [6 diplomats, 2 researchers and logistics/technical staff] - during absences of Head of Policy Unit (Ambassador Baso Sangqu) - strategic planning, close coordination with counterparts in DEA WSSD Unit, and ensuring quality outputs (verbal briefings and documents). Experience of the UN system through attending WSSD Preparatory Meetings in New York, Nairobi Africa) and Cambodia (Asia-Pacific); and by working closely with UN Secretariat in finalising WSSD documents and resolutions; and on Summit logistics. Supervised and complied negotiating positions on substance and logistics of hosting; provided policy proposals, analyses, and briefing and research documents to WSSD Cabinet Committee.Delegated to give briefings/presentations to Ministers and high-level international [Asia-Pacific PrepCom] continental and national forums; and incoming bilateral visits, as well as relevant components of the Department. Managed national workshops for African WSSD negotiators and experts, including programme design, documentation, logistical / financial management, facilitation of discussions and compilation of outcomes / decisions.Interacted with national and international media, as well as wide range of civil society and private sector representatives on regular basis during preparations and hosting of WSSD.

  • Counsellor South African Embassy Cairo

    • May 1996 - Apr 2000

    Managed bilateral relations with Egypt.Responsible for bilateral relations with Syria while based in Cairo – including establishment of wide contact base in Syria; and managing visits to Syria by South African government and business delegations. Managed South Africa’s interaction and bilateral negotiations with wide range of interlocutors in Syria, in challenging circumstances.Manage and support incoming and outgoing bilateral visits – Egypt.

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  Department of International Relations and Cooperation

  • South Africa
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Assistant Director: Gulf States - Directorate Middle East

    • Jan 1995 - Mar 1996

    Promoted bilateral relations with above-countriesCompiled briefings documents and reports. Manage and support bilateral visits – incoming and outgoing. Charge d’ Affaires of South African Embassy in Riyadh during 1996 [i.a. to oversee relocation of chancery] – 2 months

  • Parliamentary Officer - Departmental Parliamentary Office Cape Town

    • May 1995 - Dec 1995

    Chosen as one of three officials to serve in the Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs at the South African Parliament in Cape Town at the start of South Africa’s democracy, May 1994.Assisted and provided guidance to Parliamentary Officials in engagement with the Department and relevant international events.Facilitated incoming and outgoing bilateral and multilateral visits involving Members of Parliament and support staff. Compiled reports on high level meetings, e.g. between President Mandela and Mr Beye [UN Special Rep to Angola-1994].

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  Department of International Relations and Cooperation

  • South Africa
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Assistant Director: Project Team for Inauguration of President Mandela

    • Jan 1994 - May 1994

    Facilitated attendance of VIPs (e.g. Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, Genl Colin Powell, etc) – ensured logistical arrangements were all in place and successful attendance of the Inauguration Ceremony.

  • First Secretary: South African Embassy London

    • Jan 1992 - Dec 1993

    Promoted bilateral relations with the United Kingdom – also responsible, with supervisor – to initiate and formalise bilateral relations with Ireland (non-residential representation)Personal assistant to Ambassador during South Africa’s constitutional negotiations [1992-1993] with intense work pressure and media interest. Compiled media statements, briefings on interviews, and reports for Ambassador. Researched and drafted all speeches for Ambassador.Managed and supported bilateral visits – incoming and outgoing.

  • Secretariat Officer: SECOSAF (Secretariat for Co-operation in Southern Africa)

    • Jan 1990 - Dec 1991

    Seconded by Department to a small secretariat - staffed by 22 public servants and private sector specialists.Facilitated well-prepared and managed meetings and compile lengthy reports and annexures.Presented capacity-building and training programmes to civil servants of former South African “independent homelands” to assist in their integration into a democratic South Africa [1991]. Topics included: operational planning; effective top management committee meetings; management by objectives; budgets – value for money; project effectiveness; managing change – people and processes as change vehicles; communication and presentation techniques; negotiation skills; and report writing.Successful participation in Negotiation Training Workshops, presented by private sector consultants.

  • Senior Foreign Service Officer: Directorate Nordic and German Speaking Countries

    • Jan 1988 - Dec 1989

    Promoted bilateral relations with the above countries.Compiled briefing documents

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  University of the Free State

  • Academic Assistant

    • Feb 1987 - Nov 1987

    Assist Philosophy Professor in writing a book on Christian Ethics; translation of source material from Dutch