Full Name: Jane Molony

Position: Executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA)

Main Activity of the Company: The PAMSA has been promoting the interests of the South African pulp and paper industry since 1992. It represents more than 90% of the country’s paper manufacturers, providing a forum for the development and presentation of common views on precompetitive industry issues

Date and Place of Birth: May 8, 1962, Harding, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: BAFA (Hons), University of KwaZulu-Natal; marketing diploma, Institute of Marketing Management

First Job: I worked in the backroom of a publishing house

Career History Prior to Current Position: Area manager for Technical Publishing House (in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape); editor of the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper industry of South Africa (TAPPSA) journal and TAPPSA executive director

Size of First Pay Packet: Too little to mention

First Job with Present Organisation: Executive director

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 14

Management Style: Empowering – I help people to be the best they can be

Personal Best Achievement: Being married and raising four children

Professional Best Achievement: Running my own business for more than ten years. Apart from offering services to the PAMSA, my business produces a journal for the corrosion prevention industry, called Colour, Coating and Corrosion SA.

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who always said I could be anything I wanted to be

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My husband, who has supported and encouraged me through the good times and the bad

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Cyril Ramaphosa – he is astute, yet approachable

Philosophy of Life: Fulfil God’s purpose for your life by giving it your all and never shy away from a challenge

Biggest Ever Opportunity: It is still out there

Biggest Ever Disappointment: That South Africa Incorporated is not doing as well as it should be, but this could change and it doesn’t mean I will ever give up on this beautiful country of ours

Hope for the Future: That people realise that paper is a sustainable and renewable resource and that tablets and computers may be convenient but are not saving the environment

Favourite Reading: Printed books

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Hansa. I love the advert – Vuyo and the kiss of the Saas hop

Favourite Music: Eclectic – from Mumford and sons to Vivaldi

Favourite Sport: Rugby (watching) and running and tennis (participating)

Favourite Website: www.thepaperstory.co.za and www.windguru.cz

Hobbies: Flying a motorised glider and sketching

Car: Seat Leon Cupra

Pets: A ginger tomcat called Fudge

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Email footnotes that ask me to consider the environment or save a tree by not printing something. These statements are founded on ignorance – paper is far more green than its digital counterparts

Favourite Other South African Company: All five of the PAMSA’s members: Mondi, Nampak, Kimberly-Clark, Mpact and Sappi

Favourite Foreign Company: Södra, a Swedish market pulp cooperative company

Married: To Sean since November 24, 1984

Children: Claire, (she is married to Luke Merrick and has one child, Zachary Caleb); Lara, 26; Amy, 24; Thomas, 22

Clubs: East Rand Gliding Club