Through IWEC connections in Peru, Janine was recommended for the post
One never knows where introductions may lead you!
Congratulations to Janine Myburgh, CEO, Myburgh Attorneys Inc and former president of the Cape Chamber, South Africa for her recent appointment as Honorary Council to Canada from Cape Town.
It is indirectly as a result of IWEC that Janine received her appointment to Honorary Consul!
When the IWEC Conference was held in Peru in 2014, she met the Economic Consul to South Africa and he since recommended her to the Canadian High Commissioner as the Honorary Consul some three years ago.
As the approval process takes years, she was just appointed in April 2019. The influence of IWEC is not to be underestimated!
About Janine:
Cape Town – Public Protector nominee and president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry Janine Myburgh said filling the vacant position was the furthest thing from her mind when she first learnt of her nomination. She served from 2014 to 2019. Myburgh said that she will remain on the Board as the Immediate Past President.
“I was truly surprised, honoured yet filled with excitement as this is an opportunity to serve, which is always an honour,” she said.
She had been contacted by colleagues who suggested she make herself available, and after serious thought, gladly accepted the nomination.
First woman president of Cape Chamber
Myburgh grew up in Parow, Cape Town, and still sleeps in her childhood room.
She obtained her BProc degree from the University of Port Elizabeth, now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in 1994.
She is managing director of her own boutique law firm, Myburgh Attorneys, and an accredited mediator and facilitator at Family Mediators’ Association of the Cape.
Her law firm specialises in mediation, facilitation, matrimonial law, motor vehicle injury claims and general litigation.
She is also the first woman to serve as chair and president of the Board of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, currently serving her fifth term. She turns 48 on October 19, the day Madonsela’s contract terminates.
Committed to fairness
After many years serving as an advocate and owner of her own company since 1999, Myburgh was elected to attend the judicial training course to serve on the bench in 2007.
In July 2011, she was selected for, attended and completed the advanced judicial training course with a distinction pass rate, allowing her to serve as a judge.
“I was one of only 14 people selected to attend nationally,” she said of the achievement.
She was granted honorary membership by the United Nations Association of South Africa in 2007, in recognition of contributions to South African society and to the advancement of the goals of the UN.
She is also the Cape Law Society and Law Society of South Africa National Forum representative, as appointed by the Minister of Justice in 2015.
When asked what her greatest characteristic is, she said:
“I believe that a clear articulation of the problem is crucial: There are many ways of solving the right problem; there are no ways of solving the wrong problem.
“These are what I would consider my best achievements, but the characteristics that I believe got me there, is my commitment to fairness, my commitment to creating a platform for equal opportunity to succeed.
Leadership and pressure
Myburgh also opened up about the possibilities of intimidation and the pressures of the job, saying she wants to lead by empowering others.
“Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others,” she said, quoting John Maxwell.
“I see myself as a hardworking, determined, honest, competent, diligent and committed person. When you have to demonstrate fairness it always comes at a cost. I know that what I have to do is what is right and what is not necessarily easy.
“I am an independent thinker, independent of any pressures that may prevail.”
