PASA Sustainability Sub-Committee
The purpose of the PASA Sustainability Sub-Committee is to:
Raise awareness of goals and sustainability with PASA members, specifically relevant to the South African market;
Share relevant information (including any government legislation);
Provide practical advice and guidance to help members to reduce their carbon footprint; and
Track progress of sustainability goals in the industry (in the medium-term).
Rob Laing
Chairperson - PASA Sustainability sub-committee
Rob is the chairperson of the PASA Sustainability subcommittee. Rob is Managing Director of Cambridge University Press Sub Saharan Africa and has spent over twenty-five years’ within the education sector in Sub Saharan Africa having previously gained experience with both Oxford University Press and Maskew Miller Longman. Rob is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a passionate trail junkie and surf skier.
Hetta Pieterse
Commissioning Editor and Manager
Commissioning Editor and Manager Hetta Pieterse has worked at Unisa Press in various roles across the scholarly publishing spectrum, from editorial, graphic design, marketing, and lately as Commissioning Editing – advising authors on book content and structure, including PhD to book conversion. In April 2022 Hetta completed her MA degree in Information Science (on open access business models for local scholarly book publishers, Unisa). Hetta also holds a three-year Fine Arts Diploma(UJ), a BA(Ed) degree, HonsBA degree (English Literature, University of Pretoria) and two Centre for Business Management Diplomas (one in Marketing and one in Entrepreneurship, Unisa). She is an artist doing printmaking (drawings, etchings and monoprints), has worked at the Cite des Arts, Paris, France, and has exhibited locally as well as overseas. On weekends she works within a community volunteer team to paint murals on walls and bridges in Pretoria (`Die Moot Projek’, since November 2022).
Chéri
Sustainability and Publishing Project Manager
Chéri is the Sustainability and Publishing Project Manager of Cambridge University Press Sub Saharan Africa. She previously worked at the South African Book Development Council and is passionate about building and developing the industry. She has also served on PASA’s Skills Development Committee. Chéri currently champions environmental, social and governance awareness and initiatives across Africa, with a particular focus on driving engagement within Cambridge’s South African branch. She is passionate about finding purpose in what she does and being able to contribute to meaningful change and diving into sustainability has been an incredible way to make that change tangible. Being part of PASA’s Sustainability Committee gives Chéri the opportunity to help people see the abundance in living sustainably, and to empower and inspire them to take action.
Dusanka Stojakovic
Senior Executive at New Africa Books
Dusanka Stojakovic has held senior positions at a several Macmillan companies and is currently the most senior executive at New Africa Books - an independent publisher which merged with David Philip Publishers in 1999. Recognising a gap in the market for childrens' books with African content, New Africa Books has become the only wholly owned South African publishing company to publish books for children and Young Adults, in all eleven languages. In 2022,New Africa Books won the Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publisher in Africa.
Lisl McLachlan
CEO of Future Managers
Lisl McLachlan, the CEO of Future Managers, has over 16 years of experience in education publishing and stands as a driving force for equitable education in South Africa. Her journey, from a chartered accountant to a multifaceted publishing professional, speaks to her dedication and passion for quality education for all. With a rich publishing background at Juta and Company, she assumed her current role in 2021, spearheading the next phase of growth at Future Managers. Future Managers is rewriting the narrative of education. Rooted in Africa and driven by a motto of "Siyafunda Siyakhula!" (we are learning, we are growing), Future Managers is dedicated to delivering high-quality learning materials that transcend traditional boundaries. Lisl's leadership propels Future Managers as they shape accessible and impactful education, making a lasting difference in the lives of learners and educators alike.
