VANDERBIJLPARK – She may have been born during the dark times when it was said ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen, however, the Vaal University of Technology’s (VUT) Professor Christa Grobler, never believed in those stereotypes and has taken maximum advantage of the opportunities for women since 1994.
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Grobler is therefore part of Ster’s Women’s Month special focus as we shine the spotlight on women who are breaking barriers. Grobler is the first woman to hold the position of Executive Dean for the Faculty of Applied and Computer Science at VUT.
Her journey at VUT began over two decades ago in 1997 when she started as a technician and steadily climbed the ranks to become a lecturer.
As the years continued, she then became a senior lecturer, head of the Health Science Department, and eventually an associate professor.
Applying her dedication and expertise, Grobler rose to her historic appointment as an Executive Dean in July 2023.
Speaking to Ster, Grobler said “My journey in academia started at the then Vaal Triangle Technikon as a medical technologist. Transitioning from industry to education wasn’t just a career change for me; it was a profound shift that allowed me to balance my professional life with my role as a mother to my children, Marko and Amé. Academia provided me the platform to pursue my passion for building capacity and transferring knowledge.”
Her extensive experience in medical technology, which spans back to 1989, has been recognised on a national scale.
In 2020, she was appointed by the Minister of Health to serve on the Professional Board for Medical Technology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), where she currently serves as vice-chair.
Her responsibilities include contributing to the education and registration as well as the Professional Practice Committees.
Grobler’s influence extends further as she serves on the Provincial Health Research Committee of Gauteng and the Council of Higher Education’s Institutional Audit Panel.
Despite her impressive credentials, Grobler remains deeply committed to her philosophy of serving leadership.
“I am surrounded by excellence, knowledge, and skills. My role as a leader is simple, I need to support my colleagues and create a conducive environment for each of them to reach their full potential,” she said.
