SEIFSA’s Industrial Relations and Legal Services Executive Louwresse Specht

Louwresse Specht is SEIFSA’s Industrial Relations and Legal Services Executive. She holds a LLB from the North West University and an AMBA accredited MBA from the North West University Business School. She was previously employed as group legal counsel in the road freight, logistics and commodity trading industry, where her duties included compliance management, IR management, employment law matters, commercial law matters and company secretarial duties.  She also practiced as an attorney, specialising in corporate law, commercial litigation and trial advocacy.

 Louwressè has an insatiable curiosity in understanding business needs and learning about the business environment. She is an avid problem solver who strives to find the best suited, economical and strategically sound solutions to any challenge. Louwressè prioritises adding value in whatever she is involved with

SEIFSA’s Industrial Relations Manager Michael Lavender

Michael Lavender joined SEIFSA in 1991 as an Industrial Relations Manager.  He has held various positions within the Industrial Relations Division, including Senior Industrial Relations Advisor and Industrial Relations Services Training Manager, and was appointed to the position of Industrial Relations Manager in 2013.

Providing key Industrial relations consultancy and training services, Michael holds:

• a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Industrial Psychology and Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, formerly the University of Natal,
• A Personnel Management Trainee Programme from Rand Mines,
• a Certificate Programme in Industrial Relations (CPIR) from the University of the Witwatersrand’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (Wits Business School), and
• An Expert Negotiator Certificate issued by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

In addition, Michael is the Lift and Escalator Employer spokesperson for the Lift negotiations. And is also a representative in the Engineering Industries Bargaining Council.

Michael has gained extensive knowledge and experience and daily duties include but are not limited to, advising and training companies on the Main Agreement and labour law, and chairing hearings in the areas of disciplinary, incapacity, grievance. Representing various companies in retrenchment consultations and other industrial relations matters such as disputes and industrial action, as well as at the CCMA and the MEIBC Bargaining Council at conciliation and arbitration.