News & Media
Unisa alumna heading Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa
Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan was appointed as CEO of one of the biggest and most influential industry bodies for the legal tobacco sector, the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa (TISA), in June 2016.
TISA is the industry body in South Africa but extends its services to the SADC region to ensure that tobacco growers, leaf merchants, leaf processors, manufacturers, importers and exporters of tobacco products are legally compliant, and that there is regulation and education about the use of tobacco products.
Pillay-van Graan is an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and joined TISA from Business Against Crime South Africa, where she was CEO for three years. She has a BProc LLB from the University of Natal, Durban, and an MBA from Unisa. She has extensive leadership experience garnered in her career over the last 20 years.
Pillay-van Graan took over from Francois van der Merwe, who has been at the helm of the organisation for the past 15 years. Van der Merwe now occupies the position of Chairman of the TISA Board and remains in an advisory capacity for TISA.
Van der Merwe believes that Pillay-van Graan’s acceptance of her appointment as CEO of TISA is a significant step for TISA, which “confirms our commitment to transformation, the sustainability of tobacco in SA, and the sector’s contribution to the economy of Southern Africa. She already has her work cut out for her. She steps into a position knowing that this is a very important time for the country economically and socially.”
“One area of great concern to both TISA and our government,” said Pillay-van Graan, “is the impact of the illicit cigarette trade, which erodes the market share of legitimate players and government revenue alike.” According to her, TISA believes that public/private partnerships between government and industry are the only sustainable solutions to combating and reducing the incidence of illicit trade in tobacco and tobacco products.
The illicit trade in cigarettes has been known to undermine government’s health agenda to reduce smoking, as it allows for more cigarettes to become accessible to the public at low prices. “This,” says Pillay-van Graan, “puts our youth at risk and we, as business and government, must work together to ensure that our youth are protected.”
Pillay-van Graan said that she was looking forward to working with members and stakeholders at this important time in our country. “TISA is consciously aligned to supporting the government’s objectives as identified in the National Development Plan, especially around economic development, job creation, and transformation. TISA’s members add substantial value and economic contributions to our country and the region, but, as always, there is so much more that can be done.”
*Information provided by TISA
Publish date: 2016/08/12
From unemployed graduate to business founder
Multidisciplinary showcase set to celebrate the creative achievements of Unisa art students
Cheers! Unisa toasts its award-winning student brewers
Building a community of strategy-as-practice researchers
Matrimonial magnificence as husband and wife graduate at Unisa