Meet the woman leading impressive Health and Safety achievements at BIC South Africa
Meet the woman leading impressive Health and Safety achievements at BIC South Africa
There are many stories of women who have overcome challenges and succeeded . During Women ’ s Month , these stories resonate even more deeply , reminding us of the strength and resilience women bring to the table . There ' s a unique magic in the stories of women who ' ve turned their lives around , flipping the script in ways that inspire and empower other women to rise .
Meet BIC ’ s Health , Safety and Environmental Manager , Nonhlanhla Khumalo .
When Nonhlanhla first arrived at the BIC offices in August 2022 , she committed to institute a culture of safety in her role as manager . In less than half a year , she surpassed expectations .
BIC in South Africa won a gold medal and was named Safe Plant of the Year for two years in a row ( 2022 and 2023 ). Under her leadership , BIC in South Africa has lost zero time to injuries since 2022 . But her contributions don ’ t stop at awards and accolades .
Surprisingly , Nonhlanhla ' s passion for health and safety didn ' t originate in a corporate boardroom . It was rooted in her early life experiences .
" I grew up in a small area just outside Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal . My mother worked as a domestic worker and my father drove taxis ," says Nonhlanhla .
" We didn ' t have much and going to university seemed like a dream . I remember listening to our radio - I would tune into Ukhozi FM . Motivational speakers like Sbu Buthelezi would talk about education and believing in yourself and the importance of looking beyond your current circumstances to what you are capable of ."
Nonhlanhla was motivated by those words , and she put all her efforts in her studies . Her hard work paid off when she won a scholarship during her third year of studies and Nonhlanhla graduated with an Environmental Health degree . She subsequently completed additional qualifications in quality management , project management as well as logistics and operations management .
Her first stint in the corporate world was a local government position , where she was recognised for her role in achieving Blue Drop status .
She then moved into a hospital setting , gaining invaluable experience within a highly regulated environment before spending time in research and development , which involved testing vehicles from around the world .