South African Women in STEM

Date : 07 August 2023

Women’s Month in South Africa has always symbolised the strength and transformation that can take place when women stand together. It’s also a month that, since the inception of Women’s Day in 1995, that highlights areas of concern or celebration for women in South Africa. According to the South African Government Newsroom; “We will celebrate this year’s Women Month under the theme: “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience”.  The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign and links South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030.”

Sabrina Khoosal

Proof that all science doesn’t just involve sending rockets into space or formulating the world’s next wonder drug. Sabrina Khoosal is a Hair Development Scientist in the Research and Innovation department at L’Oréal South Africa. Currently pursuing a Society of Cosmetic Chemists South Africa (COSCHEM) diploma, she recently graduated with her Masters in Environmental Analytical Chemistry.(Women in Science. Africa) She is project manager within her department, which means she handles and delegates many of the marketing briefs that are sent their way.

Zeenat Ghoor

Engineering, in many people’s minds, involve construction sites, brick and mortar and the largest machinery you have ever seen, transporting beams and bricks to skyscrapers. No place for a woman, right? Wrong! Zeenat Ghoor has made it her mission to change the face of the sector by mainstreaming women’s participation in the industry and by leading from the front. She does this as owner of Aspire Consulting Engineers South Africa which has led the way to creating a more humane environment for female engineers.

Ethel Delali Cofie

Ethel is an IT professional and IT project consultant, as well as an established entrepreneur. Her achievements include founding Women in Tech, a group that innovates and mentors women in IT across the African continent. This all started in 2013 when she formed Edel Consultancy. It is here that she tapped in to her entrepreneurial skills and has gone on to enrich and mobilise women in the IT profession’s innovations and intellectual properties.

Michelle de Lange

This accredited accounting lecturer was determined to reach the top after placing fourth in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Gateway exam in 2019. This determination has placed her in second place in 2023. Making her the highest ranked accounting professional in South Africa in a mere four years. CIMA is a is the world’s largest global professional management accounting body to offer training and qualification in management accountancy. (womeninscience.africa)