Pumla Dlamini

I am a qualified public health Nutritionist with 19+ years of experience in the public sector, private sector and international nutrition and food security. My technical expertise encompasses nutrition across the life cycle. This has included working in initiatives that improve food and nutrition security during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

I am proud to have been a leader in the effort to improve the food and nutrition status of South Africans. My experience has included programme and project development and delivery, research, advocacy, communication campaigns, and stakeholder and community engagements. Through my experience and stakeholder engagement throughout the years, I am regarded as an upcoming leader in nutrition.

To note, I am currently the Nutrition Lead for the SACSoWACH Coalition, working alongside the First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe and 33 other national/international civil society organizations to improve nutrition and food security as well as maternal and child health. I am skilled at forming new working relationships, and have been a self-starter in most of my work experience.

My professional experience includes

• Currently working with the international nutrition NGO, Vitamin Angels, as Country Programme Manager for 6 years; managing the maternal nutrition programme
• Previously worked for Save the Children as National Health Project Manager, managing a programme addressing malnutrition through the early childhood development channel for 1+ years
• Have worked for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, delivering market based nutrition strategies for 5 years
• Worked for Nestle, training healthcare professionals on how to manage poor health and nutrition through specialised nutrition products for 5 years
• Was with the Eastern Cape Department of Health for 1 year, managing the district nutrition programme
• Started off my career at the National Department of Health as an Nutritionist Intern for a year

I have qualifications in science and health (BSc Human Nutrition + Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition-UKZN), as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management- UNISA.