By: Nontobeko Moimane- 25 January 2023

Dr Johan van der Westhuizen has recently been appointed the HoD: Human Resource (HR) Management (Academic) in the Faculty of Management Sciences. He has more than 20 years of experience in a multicultural environment.

He is a results-driven, dynamic leader with substantial management experience in various industries and businesses. These include the Procurement officer and HR officer for a large steel company, the manager of a transport business and owner/manager of a portfolio of small businesses, the General Manager for a private higher education provider, and the National Manager focusing on academic excellence and improving operational efficiency for ten campuses. He has a proven record of mentoring and entrepreneurial skills for start-up businesses.

Dr Johan completed his doctoral studies in Business Management with a focus on Leadership. He also holds an MBA, a Bachelor’s degree in Personnel, Training, and Labour Relations, and a PG diploma in Higher Education.

He joined the Vaal University of Technology in 2009 as a lecturer, progressed through the ranks to the senior lecturer level and acted as the HoD: Logistics and Supply Chain Management for the last 12 months.

He has published on HR, Logistics and Supply Chain Management topics within the research field. He is interested in postgraduate research, having supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students.  He was also a recipient of the Research Award. He is an HR Professional member of the South African Board for People Practices, a member at the South African Institute of Management Sciences, and with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.