Celebrating Women in the Plastics Industry at PCASA Empowerment Day 2026
On 27 August 2026, close to 70 women in the plastics industry came together for PCASA Women’s Empowerment Day. The morning centred on a simple idea: we rise by lifting each other up. Through shared experiences, conversations about leadership and messages of encouragement, the event created space to recognise women’s contributions and consider how we can better support one another.
For PCASA, bringing women together was an opportunity to strengthen relationships across the industry. It was also a chance to talk about challenges that can be difficult to raise during a busy working day, from being taken seriously to finding the confidence to lead authentically.
Three guest speakers explored these themes from different perspectives. Their topics connected professional growth with everyday experience, reminding us that encouragement, mentorship and recognition all have a place in building a stronger industry.
Why supporting women in the plastics industry matters
Professional growth depends on more than individual ambition. People also need opportunities to learn, contribute and have their abilities recognised. For women navigating an industry where leadership has often been associated with men, conversations about confidence and credibility can be particularly valuable.
Being capable does not always mean feeling heard. Someone may have ideas worth sharing but hesitate to speak in a meeting. Another person may be ready for greater responsibility but unsure how to take the next step. A colleague may simply need someone who understands the pressures she is managing.
Events like this create room for those conversations. They bring people beyond their immediate workplace into contact with others who may share similar experiences or offer a different perspective.
Supporting women in the plastics industry means making that sense of connection part of everyday working life. It can start with listening carefully, recognising a contribution or helping someone access a learning opportunity. These actions give practical meaning to the idea of lifting each other up.
Opening the conversation with Natalie van Vreden
PCASA CEO Natalie van Vreden opened the morning by sharing why the association is investing in women and why empowering and supporting one another matters more than ever.
Her introduction established the purpose of the gathering: creating an environment where women can encourage each other and recognise the value they bring to the industry. That purpose carried through the speaker sessions and the closing activity.
The event also reflected the importance of relationships within an industry association. Alongside the formal support that businesses need, there is value in bringing people together to exchange experiences and build connections beyond their own organisations.
Readers can learn more about the association and its work on the About PCASA page.
Finding an authentic leadership voice
Veronique Stanley from PIMMS Group
Veronique Stanley addressed being taken seriously in a male dominated industry and finding an authentic leadership voice. Her topic brought attention to the relationship between how women see their own capabilities and how those capabilities are recognised by others.
Authentic leadership invites people to consider how they can lead in a way that reflects their values and experience. There is room for different communication styles and approaches to solving problems. Confidence does not have to look the same in every person.
For women in the plastics industry, this theme raises useful questions. Where do you already contribute valuable knowledge? Which responsibilities have helped you develop your judgement? What would help you share your perspective more confidently?
Employers and colleagues have a role in this conversation too. Making space for someone to speak, acknowledging her expertise and considering her ideas fairly are practical ways to support participation. An invitation to contribute matters most when it is followed by genuine attention.
The broader lesson is to recognise leadership potential in the people around us and create opportunities for that potential to develop.
Choosing collaboration and mentorship
Anele Mkwanazi from Enviro Loo
Anele Mkwanazi explored moving from competition to collaboration. Her message focused on mentoring rather than judging and celebrating each other’s wins.
This theme asks us to think about how we respond to someone else’s progress. A colleague’s achievement can become an opportunity to learn from her experience, recognise her effort and encourage her next step. Sharing knowledge can help another person approach a challenge with greater understanding.
Mentorship can begin with a straightforward conversation. Someone with experience might explain how she prepared for a difficult meeting, approached a new responsibility or learnt from a mistake. A person earlier in her career might ask for feedback or guidance on an unfamiliar situation.
For women in the plastics industry, these exchanges can provide a useful source of perspective beyond the demands of a particular job. They also make it easier to ask questions without feeling that every answer should already be known.
The invitation is practical: be willing to help, stay open to learning and acknowledge progress when you see it. Support becomes more meaningful when people can experience it in their daily interactions.
Recognising leadership beyond a job title
Maggie Infante from Infinite Industries
Maggie Infante’s topic, “CEO at Home, CEO at Work”, explored the leadership women practise in everyday life, often before receiving a formal title.
The theme encouraged recognition of abilities that can become so familiar that they are overlooked. Planning, making decisions, coordinating responsibilities and responding to changing circumstances all require judgement. These capabilities can develop in different parts of a person’s life.
Recognising them offers a useful starting point for a conversation about growth. What responsibilities do you already handle well? When have you helped others work through a problem? Which experiences have taught you to remain calm, organise priorities or adapt?
Every woman’s circumstances are different, and leadership is not dependent on a particular family role. The value of the theme lies in noticing existing strengths and considering how they might support further development at work.
For managers, this is also a reminder to look carefully at potential. A job title tells only part of someone’s story. Conversations about experience and aspirations can reveal abilities that deserve further opportunity.
A Wall of Inspiration for future trailblazers
The morning closed with a Wall of Inspiration, where attendees left words of encouragement for future women trailblazers in the industry.
This activity gave attendees their own opportunity to contribute to the day’s message. Alongside hearing from the speakers, they could consider what they wanted another woman to know as she began or continued her professional journey.
The wall brought the focus back to encouragement. Advice does not always need to be complicated to be meaningful. A message of belief, a reminder to keep learning or an invitation to ask for support can offer someone a useful point of reflection.
The intention behind the activity was clear: the conversation should include the women who will help shape the industry’s future, as well as those contributing to it today.
Carrying the conversation into the workplace
The themes of PCASA Women’s Empowerment Day offer several starting points for businesses that want to support women in the plastics industry beyond a single event.
Begin with conversations about development. Ask employees which skills they would like to strengthen and what responsibilities interest them. Make it easier to understand how learning opportunities and additional responsibilities are allocated.
Encourage colleagues to share knowledge. This could involve an experienced team member making time for questions or a manager helping someone prepare for an unfamiliar task. Where mentoring relationships develop, allow space for honest discussion and constructive feedback.
Pay attention to recognition. Give credit for ideas, acknowledge work that might otherwise go unnoticed and celebrate achievements across different roles. These habits help turn support into something employees can see.
PCASA offers training, labour relations guidance and workplace support for plastics convertors. Businesses can explore PCASA’s services to understand the assistance available to their teams.
Thank you for helping us lift each other up
Thank you to Veronique Stanley, Anele Mkwanazi and Maggie Infante for contributing their perspectives, and to every attendee and everyone who helped make the morning possible.
PCASA Women’s Empowerment Day 2026 brought close to 70 women together around a shared purpose. The opportunity now is to carry those conversations forward through the way we listen, mentor, recognise achievement and make room for others to grow.
Supporting women in the plastics industry is something we can contribute to through our everyday choices. A conversation started, an experience shared or a colleague encouraged can be a meaningful next step.
To find out how PCASA can support your business, explore our services or contact the team on 011 314 0462 or natalie@pcasa.co.za. You can also visit our News and Industry Updates page for further articles and association news.