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Vicky Cunliffe
Having been in the Department for many years Vicky says she is "old enough to know what she wants from life, and young enough to enjoy it". Such a gutsy attitude to life has seen her rise to one of the most powerful positions in the Department. Having been appointed Head: Corporate Services in August 2001 she has been closely involved in the strategic direction of the DOT both in the Minister’s office and operationally in the Department itself. Her career in the Department commenced in 1984, serving first in the Mechanical Directorate and later in General Administration. In 1994 she was seconded to the Office of the Minister of Transport as his Administrative Secretary. In this position she was the direct link between the Minister and the Department, and ran the office in all aspects. She was the first line contact with the Provincial and National Ministers, Departmental heads, the media and members of civil society. Because of her vast knowledge and experience in all aspects of the Department she was seconded back to the Department as Acting Director of Administration in September 1997. At the same time she continued to perform many of the Administrative Secretary duties. In December 1997 she was appointed as the Director of Administration, and held this position under 2001. In August 2001 she was appointed as Head: Corporate Services, which supports the technical and professional components of the Department. The Directorates/Sub-directorates under Vicky’s responsibility includes Human Resource Management, Motor Licencing Bureau, Provincial Motor Transport, Procurement, Legal Services, the Technology Transfer Centre and Corporate Support Services. With respect to workplace challenges, Vicky is firm that her gender neither advantages nor disadvantages her in meeting the challenge of delivery. "The fact that I am a woman perhaps may have been an obstacle in the past, but today I work among an enlightened and progressive management team that is focused and geared towards service delivery," she says. Career success is never easy. It requires dedication, continual development and in Vicky’s case, setting very high personal standards. "I set high standards not only for my staff but also for myself. It is something that one cannot compromise on, if one seeks to be successful". When it comes to sources of inspiration, she draws strongly on the fact that she grew up in the country and knows first hand the challenges transport can pose. "I also understand what poverty is and the great opportunities freedom of movement can create, the hope it can bring and how vital it is to make this movement safe and secure. Even though I might operate fairly remotely from the delivery coalface I am motivated by the fact that what we are doing does make a different for people first and foremost," she says. And how does she balance all aspects of her life? "As all women will know we are the masters of being able to do several things at once. I think that I manage to do this well, plus I have wonderful friends and family that chip in when needed." Vicky’s message to women in quite straightforward:
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Vicky
Cunliffe is the Chief Director of Corporate Services at the KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Transport.