Petroné Pawson

My responsibilities focus mainly on:

• The development and implementation of professional L&D and organisational development programme in support of current strategic objectives and research programme.
• The redesigned professional development strategy and introduction of relevant career- and personal development opportunities, resulted in a 479% increase in staff participation over the last 6 years. This includes the training of group and team leaders, newly promoted supervisors, and future leaders.
• EDI training
• Working group to promote mental wellbeing across EMBL sites, along with the Health & Safety Office

The following are examples of milestones in my career at EMBL thus far:

• Complete overhaul to modernise the L&D offering at all sites/branches to all staff categories
• Development and implementation of an EMBL EDI Strategy and EDI Training Strategy alongside EDI Team
• Implementation of an all-EMBL coaching programme available to all staff
• Implementation of a Mental Health and Wellbeing awareness and training programme
• Implementation of a digital training platform and LMS

Pharmacies, clinics and distribution centres

• Head of Human Resources - Recruitment, Contracting, Operations, L&D, Labour Relations
• Developed and implemented Employment Equity Plans and a Workplace Skills Plan and thereby ensured statutory compliance to ensure Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace.
• Reduced labour disputes through collaboration and fair labour practices
• Implemented professional skills development programmes at all business units in line with national health sector requirements
• Integrated the legally required pharmaceutical training programme into the HR function at 36 business sites to operate as one organisational function

Private tertiary performing arts academy

• Implemented musical theatre training programmes for students to achieve national and international certification levels
• Collaborated with diverse groups of students, musicians, singers, actors, theatres, arts festivals and producers
• As business owner, I was responsible for strategic planning, operational activities (training and events), HR and marketing. The finance/accounting function was outsourced. (14 staff members)

• My main responsibilities included the implementation, management and quality assurance of the academic programme, research, staff development, international student/staff exchange programmes and collaboration with universities in SA, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.
• I established an Industry-Academic Advisory Board to ensure training relevance and employment opportunities for students.
• In 2006 I led a team that improved and upgraded the University of Johannesburg’s Tourism Management programme to subsequently be awarded full accreditation from the UN-WTO.
• Sol Kerzner School of Tourism and Hospitality

Consulting member of:

• External Review Panel for Quality Assurance at South African universities
• National Tourism Research and Knowledge Management Committee, SA
• Skills Audit and Development Stakeholder Committee for Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training, SA

Implementation of SA National Department of Education’s National Curriculum

University of South Africa - assessment of practical assignments, continuous and final theory assessment, learning material development.

• Academic Head (Research and Staff Development), co-ordinated Academic Programmes, Administrative Head (HR and Finances)
• Increased social outreach through community projects.
• Project managed a joint staff development project between the university and the Christelijke Hogeschool Noord-Nederland.
• Co-ordinated the establishment and implementation Tourism training at the university
• Department of Tourism & Hospitality