It is with regret that I inform you of Dr Benice Sivparsad’s resignation from her role of Senior Scientist in the ICFR’s Forest Protection Program, effective 31 December 2024.
Benice has been with the ICFR since September 2016 and has been instrumental in growing the forest protection research program. She is a wonderful mentor to students and interns and has actively pursued collaborative project work with various academic and industry partners, increasing stakeholder value from projects. It has been a privilege and a pleasure working with Benice and it is with much sadness that we will say farewell to her at the end of the year.
We wish her all the very best in her future position at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as a Senior Lecturer (Plant Pathology) in the School of Agriculture, Earth, and Environmental Sciences and are pleased that her changed role provides renewed opportunities to work together and to strengthen collaborations with UKZN.
Replacement recruitment plans will be initiated immediately and Benice will collaborate closely with her successor for a few months to ensure a smooth handover and to maintain continuity in the program and ongoing projects.
Direct communications with stakeholders will also take place immediately to confirm transition and contact arrangements.
Contact Dr Ilaria Germishuizen (Ilaria.germishuizen@icfr.ukzn.ac.za) in the meantime with any queries.