Soon after she was elected as the first female chairperson of the Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa (Fertasa), Dr Nicole Hart has now also been appointed as the new managing director of biostimulants company Afrikelp.
Today is Hart’s first day at the office in her new role at Afrikelp. Before joining Afrikelp she was the commercial general manager in Omnia Fertilizer’s international team. She has previously served as a sales director at Experse, an AECI company, where she gained 13 years’ experience in the agriculture industry, also internationally.
She passionately believes that inputs, such as those provided by Afrikelp and derived from nature itself, will be crucial for future food and fibre production.
“What drives me as an individual, is helping companies to evolve and capitalise on changing market conditions whilst at the same time growing people to reach their full potential. I am passionate about South Africa and enjoy using my skills and experience to contribute to its economy and the development of all its people,” she says.
Hart, who has a PhD in chemistry from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, served as either director or alternate director on the Fertasa board since June 2013, and she has recently served as chairperson of the Fertasa technical committee.
She is passionate about agriculture and is confident that the vast experience she brings, will not only make an important contribution to Afrikelp, but also towards sustainable food production. “I was born on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal in the eastern part of South Africa, so agriculture, the environment and sustainable food production are in my blood.”
Looking at the road ahead, she is positive that Afrikelp will continue to grow as a highly focused agricultural company not only in South Africa, but across the globe.
