​Jerusha Naidoo works in Information Governance's Centre for Institutional Information. This institutional information officer particularly enjoys the culture of collaboration at Stellenbosch University (SU).

In the month of Workers' Day, we feature some of our staff and their part in keeping the wheels turning at our institution. Naidoo took some time to answer a few questions about her role at SU.

What is your role at Stellenbosch University? 

My role combines responsibilities relating to privacy, access to information, and institutional permission (gatekeeping) for SU.

What does a typical day at work look like? 

Currently, a typical day involves facilitating online privacy workshops to ensure compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ('the POPI Act'), facilitating online privacy impact assessments for researchers or SU process owners, providing training on the new privacy impact self-assessment tool, and consulting with stakeholders. I also deal with access-to-information requests under the POPI Act, which may be submitted to SU at any time. And then I serve on the institutional permission committee, assisting researchers to obtain SU's permission to involve the institution – whether its staff, students, alumni and/or affiliates – in research.

How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this job?

I previously worked as a consultant in the legal field. I dealt with compliance issues and credit-legal matters, and also worked as an in-house legal advisor for a registered South African trade union. My past experiences have taught me to see matters from another's perspective, and to follow up if I do not understand a process. I am continually learning about the SU environment. It is a vast landscape to navigate, so even though I started working at SU on 1 June 2018, I still see myself as a newcomer!

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at Stellenbosch University?

I work with many different colleagues and students. They are all unique in terms of personality and skills. I am fortunate to learn new things from them constantly, and to be able to collaborate where necessary. I enjoy that Stellenbosch campus is an open campus. Pre-COVID-19, I could easily go and consult with colleagues at the various offices. I also get to work with external researchers, and it is wonderful to see how SU collaborates with other institutions, locally and abroad.

The pandemic has changed the way we work and live. What keeps you motivated during these times?

My motivation comes from my faith in Jesus, and the grace community I am part of. I also receive a lot of support from colleagues within Information Governance in particular, and at SU more broadly.

Tell us something about you that few people would expect/something exciting that few people know about you?

I'm a privacy professional, so I won't be sharing any secrets! I will state that I like plants and enjoy receiving flowers.