Exemplary Leader
Leaders visibly demonstrating strong leadership, strong management skills and commitment to continuous development.
Ms Janki works in the Financial Management unit at George Regional Hospital. Her portfolio covers overall Financial Management, Supply Chain Management, Information Management, Admissions, Medical Records, and Revenue Management, including Patient Billing. She also forms part of the Executive Management Team responsible for Strategic Management. She is a transparent manager who provides clear direction. Her clearly defined goals and values-based rules reduce staff stress levels. As a caring leader with everyone’s interest at heart, Ms Janki handles change management without resistance and has a gift of easing staff fears and anxieties. She works hand-in-hand with junior staff to ensure efficient service delivery. During the pandemic, all components were affected with staff being ill or quarantined for periods of time, but through commitment, Ms Janki ensured that service delivery was never compromised.
Dr Kharwa is responsible for Facilities Management at Karl Bremer Hospital. Through his innovative managerial and leadership skills, the near impossible was achieved with the commissioning and decommissioning of the CTICC Hospital of Hope, and the commissioning of the Brackengate Hospital of Hope in record time, as per project schedules and within budget. In collaboration with the Directorate Information Management, the Department of the Premier Centre for e-Innovation and lead clinicians, Dr Kharwa developed the paperless system used at both hospitals. The electronic storage of patient admission notes was conceptualised to reduce the indirect spread of COVID-19. The implementation of the electronic Meal Order System at both hospitals with Sub-Directorate Food Services is yet another example of Dr Kharwa’s high level innovation to provide a more efficient, sustainable and cost- effective service delivery in our fiscally-constrained environment.
Dr Smith is the Medical Services Manager at Karl Bremer Hospital. Along with service delivery goals, he has made team wellness a priority. He does not expect anything from his team unless he is prepared to action it himself. He leads with inspiration and encouragement; reminding the team of their purpose. He guided the Karl Bremer Hospital COVID-19 response with replicable guidelines and assisted the establishment of field hospitals in the province. He leads outward through substructure teams to establish COVID pathways that address patient needs. Dr Smith took on a new clinical manager role at a large urban hospital, while at the same time acted in the role of Chief Executive Officer. He also managed the Brackengate field hospital. His selfless attitude and dedication to the public is a stellar example of what happens when humility and skill collide.
Ms Fisher is the Deputy Manager for Nursing at Alexandra Hospital. Leading with courage amidst the pandemic, she avails herself after hours to ensure that staff are safe and supported and that patients are in good hands. A nurse by profession, she has studied consistently, achieving a Diploma in Labour Relations. She engages other departments despite her own high workload and readily acknowledges good performance. She meets with staff regularly to provide constructive feedback for professional growth and to improve services, encouraging staff to take ownership for their actions. She offers her time unconditionally, without compliant and has demonstrated compassion and exceptional ability in times of crisis.
Mr Samodien is an experienced Life Coach and Facilitator, who has served socio-economically challenged schools for 40 years - 19 as Principal of Kannemeyer Primary School - a beacon of possibility in the Grassy Park Community. He is the co-founder of internationally-acclaimed Partners for Possibility, the flagship programme of SymphoniaSA; partnering business leaders with principals. By joining teachers and learners on their leadership journeys, he ignites improved social and academic outcomes for his school community, and the education sector at large.
As a community leader, he has shown courage and vision in his response to the pandemic. His experiences are relayed in the Partners for Possibility’s latest publication. He also contributed to Professor Jonathan Jansen’s soon to be published book, “Teaching under Lockdown” and participated in a national webinar highlighting schools’ potential inability to pay School Governing Body salaries due to the pandemic’s economic fallout. Mr Samodien’s passion is building lasting relationships, fostering reconciliation and developing holistic human beings who embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
