In February ITs manager of business analysis, Benette Brink, celebrated 25 years at Stellenbosch University and her dedication was rewarded with a long service award.
This achievement was preceded by a stint at Tukkies where she started out as a computer operator and later a systems programmer. But initially Maties wasn’t part of her long-term career plan. After Tukkies, she became involved with the implementation of software configuration processes at the old Krygkor.
Eventually she ended up at SU’s Information Technology department – a department she would later run.
Over the past few years her focus has shifted to business analysis. Within the IT context it is Benette’s responsibility to promote the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to resolve the university’s business issues.
Together with her team of business analysts she translates the business needs for technologists, as well as technology for administrative, management and academic entities and also analyses processes in the development environment.
Being exposed to the different business aspects of the university, is what makes her work so stimulating. Where others shy away from change, change is her motivation and a changing environment marked by progress, is the one she feels at home in.
“My job isn’t set in stone and there’s always something new on the horizon”
But there’s more to life than work. In spite of a career mostly shaped and defined by technology, being close to nature still speaks to her upbringing on a farm. These roots show in small things like her love for orchids and the challenge to grow them.
When it comes to holidays or short breaks, she prefers somewhere quiet and close to nature. They seldom stay over at the same place and prefer exploring different towns and areas.
“Sometimes I have to escape to somewhere quiet to stay sane.”
When she can’t get away from the daily hustle and bustle, she escapes by studying property prices. Not for buying, but rather to keep up to date with current trends. To add some excitement she also escapes by reading – most recently the Hunger Games series – and watching movies: anything from art house movies like As it is in heaven to crazy action ones like Mad Max.
She admits being a home-bird. After 4:30 in the afternoon is her favourite time, at home, with her husband. And possibly a book … and a movie.
IT se bestuurder van besigheidsanalise, Benette Brink, het in Februarie, haar 25ste jaar by die Universiteit gevier en haar uithouvermoë is beloon met ʼn langdienstoekenning.
Die tydperk voor die afgelope 25 jaar is verwyl by ʼn ander akademiese instelling. By Tukkies werk sy eers as rekenaaroperateur en later as stelselprogrammeerder. Hierna raak sy betrokke by die implementering van sagtewarekonfigurasie-prosesse en -stelsels by die ou Krygkor.
Eers hierna beland sy by sagteware-ondersteuning by Stellenbosch Universiteit Informasietegnologie, ʼn afdeling waarvan sy mettertyd die bestuurder sou word.
Sedertdien het haar fokus verskuif na besigheidsanalise. By IT is dit haar verantwoordelikheid om die aanwending van Informasie- en Kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) te bevorder om die Universiteit se besigheidsprobleme op te los. Saam met haar span besigheidsanaliste vertolk sy besigheidsbehoeftes vir die tegnoloë, asook tegnologie vir administratiewe, bestuurs- en akademiese entiteite en ontleed prosesse in die ontwikkelingsomgewing.
Die blootstelling aan die verskillende besigheidsaspekte van die Universiteit maak haar werk stimulerend. Waar ander wegskram van iets nuut, is dit Benette se dryfveer. Sy funksioneer beter in ʼn veranderende, progressiewe omgewing.
“My werk is nie gegiet in net een aspek nie en daar is voortdurend iets nuuts op die horison.”
Maar werk is nie alles nie. Ten spyte van ʼn loopbaan hoofsaaklik gevorm en gedefinieer deur tegnologie, is sy in haar hart eintlik steeds `n plaaskind wat geïnspireer word deur die natuur. Hierdie karaktertrek skyn deur in haar liefde vir orgideë en die uitdaging om hulle aan die lewe te hou.
Wanneer dit by wegbreek en vakansies kom, verkies sy erens stil en naby die natuur. Hulle hou selde op dieselfde plek vakansie en verkies dit om nuwe areas en dorpe te verken.
“Ek moet so nou en dan ontsnap na stilte om “sane” te bly.”
Wanneer sy nie elders kan vlug nie, bestudeer sy eiendomspryse. Nie om te koop nie, maar sommer net om op hoogte te bly van tendense.
Vir `n bietjie ekstra ontvlugting lees sy graag. Suzanne Collins se Hunger Games-reeks is die mees onlangse byvoeging tot haar gelees-lysie. En fliek natuurlik. Enigiets van kunsflieks soos As it is in heaven tot die meer absurde Mad Max.
Sy erken sy is `n huishen. Na 4:30 is haar gunstelingtyd – by die huis, saam met haar beterhelfte. En miskien `n fliek…. en `n boek.
Last month we reported on 
