The highly anticipated HERS-SA Higher Education Women Leadership Awards 2024 (HEWLA) which wrapped up women’s month, took place on Thursday, 29 August 2024 at the Two Ocean’s Aquarium, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The Programme Director for the Awards was the effervescent Speaker, Entrepreneur & Radio Host, Heart FM’s Olwethu Nodada.
HERS-SA, a non-profit organisation (NPO) was established with the explicit brief to respond to the critical under-representation of women in leadership positions in Higher Education in South Africa. This 2nd HEWLA Awards Ceremony was preceded by the five-day HERS-SA Academy, which – for the first time this year – was hosted in collaboration with MTN SA Foundation (Headline Sponsor) at the Double Tree by Hilton nearby Woodstock from Sunday, 25 August to Thursday, 29 August 2024.
This year’s HEWL Awards, in particular were an opportunity for HERS-SA to yet again recognise and celebrate academics as well as embrace women across all leadership roles in tertiary education, including support and other ancillary roles. Other co-sponsors that made HERS-SA’s 2024 HEWLA Awards possible included: Old Mutual, Fundi, Home Owner Magazine, McDonalds South Africa, Chill Beverages, Igugu Lentokazi Wines, CPUT, Havilah Beauty, L&L Traditions, Orisons, PURA and Zahara Country Girl Haircare. The winners for the eight (8) categories of the 2024 HEWL Awards are:
- Emerging Young Women Leaders (Academic) Award – Dr. Maurine Musie – University of Pretoria
- Emerging Young Women Leaders (Support) Award – Masimbulele Buso – Rhodes University
- Women in Humanities & Social Sciences Award – Prof. Roula Inglesi-Lotz – University of Pretoria
- Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) – Prof. Priscilla Baker, University of Western Cape
- Women in Support Services (WISS) Award – Zanobia Kanjee – North-West University
- Trailblazer Award – Prof. Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya – University of Johannesburg
- Women in Academic Administration Award – Prof. Nalini Moodley – Tshwane University of Technology
- Lifetime Achiever Award – Prof. Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya – University of Johannesburg
Marco Alfino, Senior Manager – Regional Operations at MTN South Africa said: “We would like to congratulate the winners for this year as well as the rest of the finalists who were part of the 35 that was shortlisted. As an organisation, we are very excited to be part of this year’s Academy and Awards. Our decision to sponsor both initiatives was motivated by how impressed we were by the work that is done by HERS-SA in the local Higher Education sector.”
Last year, MTN SA Foundation sponsored the inaugural HEWLA Awards. Inspired by the work that HERS-SA does in empowering women leaders in the academic space, the MTN SA Foundation decided to extend its support and became the headline sponsorship partner for both the 2024 HERS-SA Academy and the Gala Awards function. The main purpose for this incredible Foundation is to bring about meaningful, measurable and sustainable change that helps disadvantaged and rural communities become self-sufficient and bridge the digital divide.
Alfino elaborated further: “HERS-SA’s raison d’etre aligns seamlessly with our Women in Digital Business Challenge, which was conceptualised to address the under-representation of women in IT and bolster their participation in the broader STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. However, MTN’s dedication to empower women extends beyond empowering women in tech to succeed. Our organisation is committed to advancing women’s equality and diversity across our operations, promoting an inclusive environment free from gender bias.”
The winners for this year’s HEWL Awards along with the rest of the shortlisted finalists were also part of the week-long Academy which comprises of a series of sessions facilitated by an assortment of around 200 prominent leaders from various institutions in South Africa and beyond who share their knowledge, expertise, experiences and insights with the assembled Higher Education women leaders.
Brightness Mangolothi, Director at HERS-SA said: “This year, we would like to acknowledge and celebrate the winners, finalists and our sponsorship partners. Without these partnerships, we would not have been able to empower and recognise the achievements of South African women in Higher Education who lead, inspire and motivate those in and outside their institutions to be more and do more. As HERS-SA, we are re-affirming our commitment to helping our partners to create awareness around their brands and enhance their reputation while also creating engagement opportunities with key stakeholders within the higher education space and beyond.”
