The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber awarded outstanding leaders from its geographical clusters and task teams at the weekend for volunteering their time and expertise to help create an enabling environment in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Chamber chief executive officer Denise van Huyssteen said the chamber’s success with its action-orientated approach in various key initiatives had been achieved due to the incredible work of volunteers.
“Often this work happens behind the scenes, without the individuals seeking any recognition,” Van Huyssteen said.
“I would venture to say the biggest asset we have in the Bay is our people.
“We may have wide urban sprawl but if you look at the way the chamber has been able to mobilise the business community into action, we have achieved something special and remarkable.”
Among the award recipients, Grindstone Property Management director Paola Horak received the operational sustainability award for her extensive involvement in getting the clusters off the ground and supporting their key initiatives.
Boardwalk Hotel general manager and beachfront cluster chair Tati Tsunke was recognised for his exemplary leadership in driving collaboration and action.
Isuzu Motors senior manager and Struandale cluster lead Angus Clark was commended for helping to address infrastructure challenges related to electricity outages.
David Mertens also received recognition for his work on municipal electricity tariffs, successfully mitigating substantial increases that would have affected domestic and industrial users.
His intervention resulted in savings of more than R600m for the current tariff year.
Basil Mugwagwa and Gary Koekemoer were honoured for their leadership in helping to improve the metro’s sanitation system through collaboration with the municipality.
Mugwagwa is the lead for the water and sanitation task team and the head of engineering at Aspen Pharmacare.
Koekemoer is a climate change consultant and the lead for the chamber’s low carbon economy workstream for the Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank.
“Their work included an assessment of the system, the development of plans to address issues and ongoing technical support,” Van Huyssteen said.
“This resulted in driving the improvement in the efficiency of the system from 15% to over 80%.”
Kelvin Naidoo, the overall think-tank lead, and co-lead Quinton Uren received Visionary Awards for demonstrating strategic vision and dedication which has enabled the think-tank to progress, while ensuring that the various volunteers working in the various workstreams are getting ahead of the curve.
This is critical to saving and creating investment and jobs in our local manufacturing economy.
Naidoo is the vice-president of the chamber and technical director at Auto X.
Uren leads the altermotive workstream and is the managing director of Jendamark. This workstream is focused on a greener, technology-driven and diverse future.
“These recognitions underscore the chamber’s commitment to mobilising the business community for positive change in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“To all the winners today, we would like to extend our warm gratitude for the sterling work you do for the chamber as this aligns with our vision of positioning the metro as the Bay of Opportunity,” Van Huyssteen said.
The chamber also handed out the Entrepreneur of the Year award to The Eco Laundry as the 2024 winner.
The business provides environmentally conscious laundry services through energy-efficient and self-heating machines with advanced aqua-mixer technology that allows the company to reduce water and energy consumption.
The owner, Michiko Mavunga, received various prizes, from MTN and Action Coach, including R100,000 grant funding towards the purchase of equipment and machinery sponsored by Standard Bank.
To date, the chamber has established 11 clusters, all driven by a team of committed business leaders from a common geographical area who come together to address operational problems within the sectors of the Bay.
Task teams run by the chamber cover the priority areas of electricity, water, sanitation, transport and logistics, disaster management, safety and security and business enablement.
HeraldLIVE
Business chamber honours leaders who make difference in Nelson Mandela Bay
Those driving geographical clusters and task teams hailed for volunteering their time and expertise
Image: Supplied
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber awarded outstanding leaders from its geographical clusters and task teams at the weekend for volunteering their time and expertise to help create an enabling environment in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Chamber chief executive officer Denise van Huyssteen said the chamber’s success with its action-orientated approach in various key initiatives had been achieved due to the incredible work of volunteers.
“Often this work happens behind the scenes, without the individuals seeking any recognition,” Van Huyssteen said.
“I would venture to say the biggest asset we have in the Bay is our people.
“We may have wide urban sprawl but if you look at the way the chamber has been able to mobilise the business community into action, we have achieved something special and remarkable.”
Among the award recipients, Grindstone Property Management director Paola Horak received the operational sustainability award for her extensive involvement in getting the clusters off the ground and supporting their key initiatives.
Boardwalk Hotel general manager and beachfront cluster chair Tati Tsunke was recognised for his exemplary leadership in driving collaboration and action.
Isuzu Motors senior manager and Struandale cluster lead Angus Clark was commended for helping to address infrastructure challenges related to electricity outages.
David Mertens also received recognition for his work on municipal electricity tariffs, successfully mitigating substantial increases that would have affected domestic and industrial users.
His intervention resulted in savings of more than R600m for the current tariff year.
Basil Mugwagwa and Gary Koekemoer were honoured for their leadership in helping to improve the metro’s sanitation system through collaboration with the municipality.
Mugwagwa is the lead for the water and sanitation task team and the head of engineering at Aspen Pharmacare.
Koekemoer is a climate change consultant and the lead for the chamber’s low carbon economy workstream for the Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank.
“Their work included an assessment of the system, the development of plans to address issues and ongoing technical support,” Van Huyssteen said.
“This resulted in driving the improvement in the efficiency of the system from 15% to over 80%.”
Kelvin Naidoo, the overall think-tank lead, and co-lead Quinton Uren received Visionary Awards for demonstrating strategic vision and dedication which has enabled the think-tank to progress, while ensuring that the various volunteers working in the various workstreams are getting ahead of the curve.
This is critical to saving and creating investment and jobs in our local manufacturing economy.
Naidoo is the vice-president of the chamber and technical director at Auto X.
Uren leads the altermotive workstream and is the managing director of Jendamark. This workstream is focused on a greener, technology-driven and diverse future.
“These recognitions underscore the chamber’s commitment to mobilising the business community for positive change in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“To all the winners today, we would like to extend our warm gratitude for the sterling work you do for the chamber as this aligns with our vision of positioning the metro as the Bay of Opportunity,” Van Huyssteen said.
The chamber also handed out the Entrepreneur of the Year award to The Eco Laundry as the 2024 winner.
The business provides environmentally conscious laundry services through energy-efficient and self-heating machines with advanced aqua-mixer technology that allows the company to reduce water and energy consumption.
The owner, Michiko Mavunga, received various prizes, from MTN and Action Coach, including R100,000 grant funding towards the purchase of equipment and machinery sponsored by Standard Bank.
To date, the chamber has established 11 clusters, all driven by a team of committed business leaders from a common geographical area who come together to address operational problems within the sectors of the Bay.
Task teams run by the chamber cover the priority areas of electricity, water, sanitation, transport and logistics, disaster management, safety and security and business enablement.
HeraldLIVE
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