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27 August 2021 | Story Dr Cindé Greyling | Photo Sonia Small
Lacea Loader, an award-winning communications professional.

Lacea Loader is an award-winning communications professional who heads the UFS Department of Communication and Marketing as Director. She works with a multi-talented team that takes care of all aspects of corporate communication and marketing at the UFS. 

What is the best thing about your job?
Having a portfolio that is ever-changing and that provides me with a broad perspective of the university’s business, which is enriching and insightful. Most of all, I enjoy the people I work with in every area of my job. In general, I stand amazed at the commitment and dedication of our staff, especially during the national lockdown. It has been encouraging to experience how my team has grown and developed their skills and transitioned to the virtual workspace during this time.  

What is the best and worst decisions you have ever made?
I learn from every decision, whether it has a good or challenging impact on my life. Marrying my best friend from school and raising two beautiful, strong, and independent children are the best decisions I could have made.

What was/is the biggest challenge of your career?
The balancing act. Balancing work life and personal life; this remains a challenge throughout my career. I am trying, but I still don’t get it right!

What does the word woman mean to you?
Being able to be powerful and assertive, yet kind, gentle, compassionate, vulnerable, and understanding at the same time. 

Which woman inspires you, and why?
I work with a team of exceptional women leaders who inspire me every day. Many women at our university have reached incredible heights and put the institution on the national and international stage with their achievements. I salute all my women colleagues in whatever role they play. Also, my involvement with professional organisations and international awards programmes has given me the opportunity to work with so many women across the world in the field of communication and marketing who are making a difference in our profession. 

What advice would you give to the 15-year-old you?
Grab the opportunities that may come your way, and always think of ways to enrich yourself personally and as a professional. Remember that your character is like a tree and your reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what others think of you; the tree is the real you.

What is the one self-care thing that you do? 
I make time to drink tea, and lots of it! Walking with my husband, spending time with my family and friends, camping and enjoying nature are some of my favourite things.

What makes you a woman of quality, impact, and care?
My intuition and sixth sense, positive mindset, and deep belief that nothing will get me down. If you ask my children, they will say it is my work ethic – as it inspires them in their studies, my kind heart, and my resilience. 
 
I cannot live without … my music playlist and a good night’s sleep.
My secret weapon is … knowing when to pause and to take time out.
I always have … a plan B.
I will never … jump from anything higher than five times my length.
I hope … to visit Easter Island, Alaska, and Norway.

News Archive

SA-YSSP scholars attend high level colloquium with policy makers and research stakeholders
2014-02-12

From the left are: Prof Frans Swanepoel, Deputy-Director of the African Doctoral Academy, Drs Aldo Stroebel, Executive Director: International Relations and Cooperation at the National Research Foundation, Priscilla Mensah, co-director of the SA-YSSP, and Ulf Dieckmann from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Dean of the SA-YSSP.
Photo: Renè-Jean van den Berg

Scholars taking part in the 2nd Southern African Young Scientists Summer Programme (SA-YSSP), attended a one-week seminar hosted by the African Doctoral Academy at the Stellenbosch University, which concluded with a colloquium at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study.

This was part of the final leg of their three-month stay and studies at the University of the Free State.

This seminar was a capacity development intervention with the purpose of equipping SA-YSSP young scholars with the skills to communicate their research work effectively with different audiences.

The 36 scholars were hand-picked from some of the world’s most promising and top researchers to take part in the novel three-month programme for advanced doctoral candidates. Their research interests closely aligned with the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) grand challenges and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis’ (IIASA) current research programmes regarding global environmental, economic and social change.

The SA-YSSP is an initiative that contributes to the establishment, growth and enhancement of high-level strategic networks internationally. At the same time it develops capacity in systems analysis at the PhD and supervisory levels through research conducted in the areas of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) grand challenges.

At the colloquium, students were expected to showcase their work and research according to their various fields of expertise. High-profile policy makers and policy funders, as well as academia and fellow researchers judged and critiqued the work.

Dr Priscilla Mensah from the UFS and co-director of the programme, says it is important for the young scientists to frame their findings in a way that will be relevant to policy makers and the public at large.

“The partnership with the African Doctoral Academy was crucial in this regard since it is a capacity development entity aimed at strengthening and advancing doctoral education, training and scholarship on the African continent. The objective of this week-long capacity strengthening intervention is to equip the young scientists to be able to communicate their research effectively with different audiences, including potential funders and policy makers.

“I am convinced that the young scientists will no longer view policy makers as abstract entities, but as stakeholders who must be engaged to facilitate implementation of evidence-based policy.”

Dr Aldo Stroebel, Executive Director: International Relations and Cooperation, National Research Foundation, says the purpose of the colloquium is to bring together different sectors in one room to look at different challenges holistically, with an emphasis on systems analysis for a common goal.

The SA-YSSP forms part of an annual three-month education, academic training and research capacity-building programme jointly organised by IIASA, based in Austria, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the DST. IIASA is an international research organisation that conducts policy-oriented scientific research in the three global problem areas of energy and climate change, food and water, and poverty and equity. South Africa’s engagements with IIASA, specifically with regard to the SA-YSSP, relate primarily to the DST’s Ten-Year Innovation Plan.

The UFS is the first institution outside Austria to host the summer programme. Researchers in the programme are, among others, from South Africa and the rest of the African continent, the USA, the Netherlands, India, Hungary, Austria and Germany.

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