It is my pleasure to introduce the new executive director for the National Economic Development and Labour Council Mr Alistair Graham Smith.
But before I go into details about Smith, let me first address the outgoing executive director Mr Herbert Mkhize.
He has been at the helm of Nedlac for eight years now and has been outstanding in creating the rapport with social partners and has gone to great lengths to deepen social dialogue. He was at the helm during the tough time when the world economic system imploded and this job required someone who is as grounded as him to keep all partners talking the same language.
South Africa owes him a debt of gratitude and it is incumbent upon me to wish him well in his future endevours.
Turning back to the incoming Executive Director, Smith is no rookie. He has been at the heart of social dialogue with various roles which have groomed him for this task at hand.
In brief, Mr Smith has been chief executive officer of the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council where he managed the transformation of the council leaving a financially more sustainable entity.
Part of his responsibility was to create good working relationships with amongst others the Department, DTi, CCMA and Nedlac and it is a test of his good work that this organization has seen him fit to give him the responsibility of taking the ropes.
Some of the organisations that he has worked for include:
- The National Labour and Economic Development Institute as project director
- Department of Trade and Industry as project facilitator in Spatial Development Initiatives
- Independent Mediation Services of South Africa as Project Director
- The Frederich Ebert Foundation as Project Co-ordinator and
- The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.
I believe that these institutions have prepared Smith well for the onerous task ahead and with the dark clouds hanging over the world economy, this task will be even more demanding.
I want to assure him of our support and cooperation as he embarks on this road to depeen social dialogue in this country.
As we all know, social dialogue is what has helped to address complex social and economic issues here and around the world and it is a necessary and critical ingredient for world peace.
Enquiries:
Musa Zondi
Cell: 082 901 8081
