Johannesburg, 18 August 2026 — The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) celebrated women from across the Metals and Engineering Industry with its Reset & Rise Women’s High Tea on Friday, 14 August.
Just under 180 women gathered in Honeydew for a morning dedicated to reflection, connection and personal growth.
Professional coach Debbie Wheal of Routes Coaching, who describes herself as an unconventional coach, led guests through a process of self-discovery using her bespoke IDENTITY Workbook. Through personal anecdotes and honest conversation, Wheal encouraged women to ask deeper and sometimes uncomfortable questions about who they are, what drives them and what they want next.
“SEIFSA celebrates the women who play such a crucial role in the male-dominated Metals and Engineering Industry. We wanted this year’s Women’s Month event to be more than a celebration. We wanted to create a space where women could pause, reflect and think intentionally about themselves and what comes next,” said Nuraan Alli, Marketing, Sales and Communications Executive at SEIFSA.
The morning also provided an opportunity to introduce guests to SEIFSA’s Women of Steel – Women’s Leadership Mentoring Programme, a six-month pilot being run in partnership with the Danish Industries Gender Inclusion Initiative.
The programme pairs emerging female leaders with senior industry mentors and combines structured mentorship, leadership development and professional support. Its broader aim is to strengthen the pipeline of women progressing into senior leadership positions across the metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
The event was made possible through the generous support of the RMA Prevention Programme, the exclusive sponsor of Reset & Rise, whose partnership enabled SEIFSA to create a meaningful experience focused on the wellbeing, growth and development of women in the industry.
“At RMA, prevention is about more than physical safety. It is also about supporting the wellbeing of the people who make our industries work. Reset & Rise created an important space for women to step away from the demands of everyday life, connect with one another and reflect on their own wellbeing and growth. RMA is proud to support an initiative that puts women at the centre of that conversation,” said Dr Jessica Hutchings, Head of Prevention at RMA.
Invincible Valves added a special touch of class to the morning by providing guests with goodie bags filled with bright notebooks, pens, lip balm, mugs and sweet treats.
“I would like to thank the incredible women of South Africa’s Metals and Engineering Industry who show up each day with courage, resilience and strength despite the challenges they face. Our role at SEIFSA is not only to celebrate these women, but to continue creating opportunities that support their growth, development and progression within our industry,” said Alli.
