Michael Bagraim Michael Bagraim, a Member of Parliament (MP) in South Africa for 11 years, has committed his professional and parliamentary life to improve job creation in South Africa. Over the past few years, this practising attorney and Democratic Alliance (DA) member has enhanced numerous pieces of labour legislation to influence job creation, something that has inspired others. “I’ve been involved in numerous groundbreaking labour legislation cases causing amendments to the Labour Relations Amendment Act,” said Bagraim, who has served as DA labour spokesperson for the past 10 years. In the past year, he is most proud of fostering and guiding legislation regarding strike rules and ballots before strikes. His biggest challenge has been “trying to educate MPs within the ANC [African National Congress] as to why social engineering and Black Economic Empowerment has destroyed jobs in South Africa. I hold a monthly tutorial with members of the portfolio committee of employment and labour to train them with regard to job creation.” The founder of Bagraims Attorneys, Bagraim has been involved with numerous civic organisations. He has served in positions such as the president of the Association for the Physically Disabled, and as national president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. He was named the Law Society’s Human Rights Attorney of the Year in 2015, and received the South African Medical Association’s “In the Spirit of Service to Medicine for Medicine” award in 2015. Bagraim said representing independent trade unions over the past 35 years had made an enormous difference to peace in the workplace. “Over the past year, I was able to settle dozens of disputes which could have led to strikes, but resulted in peaceful solutions,” he said. He has helped South Africa create jobs and develop skills by liaising with the departments of employment and labour, basic education, and higher education respectively. Bagraim made plans to leave South Africa when he matriculated from Cape Town High School. However, that all changed when “my mother spoke to the Rebbe, who wrote back to say that I must stay and make my mark”. He graduated from Rhodes University, where he was a member of the student representative council and numerous other student organisations, with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. In 1979, Bagraim experienced a lifechanging moment when he attended a two-day seminar with Professor Nic Wiehahn on the new Labour Relations Act. “This seminar convinced me that this Act would be my future career,” he said. The past few years have taught Bagraim, elected to the National Assembly in 2014 and now part of the Government of National Unity, to tolerate opposing viewpoints and diverse ideology and to approach his own point of view with caution and greater temerity. “Despite the completely broken government, I have steadfastly stood in the parliamentary gallery pushing for changes to job creation,” said Bagraim, a keen mountain walker and motorbike enthusiast. Dr Steven Firer Dr Steven Firer’s career has been defined by his resignation as head of finance at Gauteng Cricket, academic achievements, teaching successes, and massive contributions to the accounting profession. “Each of these experiences shaped who I am today, and solidified my reputation as a leader and innovator in the field of finance and accounting,” says the 66-year-old Firer, an auditor, accountant, and chief executive of FirerForensics. Firer, who was dubbed, “Auditing’s White Knight” in the media for upholding the highest standards in the auditing profession, has pioneered the development of a new type of forensic audit that integrates advanced analytical techniques with traditional auditing methods. “This innovative approach has enhanced the ability to detect and prevent financial fraud,” he said. He describes FirerForensics as “financial detectives, courtroom warriors, and compliance champions who bring clarity, justice, and integrity to the world of finance. Our journey may have started in the face of adversity, but it has transformed into a relentless pursuit of truth, ensuring that every case we handle is met with the highest level of expertise and commitment.” For Firer, one of the greatest days in his professional career was when he resigned from Gauteng Cricket. “This decision, deeply intertwined with the David Teeger matter [in which the young sportsman was dropped as team captain for his views on Israel], marked not only a pivotal moment in my career, but was also a testament to my unwavering commitment to ethical standards and integrity in the financial sector. “The circumstances surrounding the Teeger matter left me with no alternative but to stand by my convictions. The decision was a culmination of years of dedication to transparency and accountability. It was a day when I affirmed that my values and ethical standards were non-negotiable. “This period tested my relationships within various communities,” he said. “The emotional weight was immense, and tears were shed as I grappled with the implications.” His love for Israel and faith in Hashem helped him get through it, and he has continued contributing to the accounting profession. Firer has always stepped up to the challenge for good. In 2010, when a director of a company questioned his legal knowledge, he took on the challenge to get a law degree. He went on to attain a Master of Laws, one of his five degrees from various universities. He has also authored more than 40 articles in professional and academic journals. “My research has had a profound impact globally, with my work being ranked as the third-most cited among accounting academics worldwide.” Firer has given more than 100 public lectures, which have further established him as a thought leader in the field, allowing him to influence the profession and educate the next generation of accountants. “I have never had a single student fail under my tutelage,” he says. He advises young professionals to prioritise continuous learning, maintain ethical integrity, seek and provide mentorship, gain practical experience, engage in networking, and contribute to the profession. Firer, the proud father of four, was a Springbok soccer player, the winner of the 1979 South Africa Soccer Championships with South African Universities Soccer XI, and a Nuffield Week cricketer. “Golf is another sport that has been a significant part of my life,” he said. “At one point, I had a 4-handicap.” He served as treasurer of Houghton Golf Club. “I combined my passion for golf with my professional expertise in finance, contributing to the club’s financial health.” Clinical social worker Carin Berman has dedicated more than 25 years to working with people experiencing the pain of grief, loss, and trauma. “Having lost my father at the age of 11 in the Helderberg air disaster, I feel privileged to have been able to evolve from this tragedy and find immense meaning and purpose in the career that chose me,” said this alumnus of King David Linksfield and the University of the Witwatersrand. Whether helping people in her practice, addressing audiences in lecture rooms, or giving guidance in hospital corridors, Berman hopes that her work has given comfort to many others in dark times. “Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside people through their darkest times [by] holding a space of compassion, tenderness, permission, and healing,” she said. Berman feels immense gratitude for, as she puts it, being “invited into people’s lives”. “The work of a therapist is the quiet sacred work that happens in safe places. Hence, it’s such an honour to be nominated and recognised for my professional contribution. “Grief, suffering, and trauma are shrouded in fear of our helpless vulnerability. My hope is to demystify and create words and courage where fear lurks so that we can provide a space to talk, share, and support ourselves and others.” Berman counts as her first achievement the development of children’s board games – games for bereaved and HIV-affected children. “Thereafter, my achievements have included being widely recognised for my expertise in the field of grief and oncology; writing for publications; presenting at conferences; training the broader community; completing my logotherapy course; being elected to the board of the SABJE [South African Board of Jewish Education]; and maintaining my humour and humanness despite the suffering and pain I bear witness to.” She is always learning, saying that each person she meets teaches her about life and human resilience. “I had to go on the journey of my own grief before I could walk alongside others, and I don’t regard what I do as work but as a privilege. We never stop learning. There’s no expert other than the person whose life we are entering.” Berman, who has made television appearances on SABC 3 and eTV to share her expertise, admits that the past few years have put her career in the spotlight. “From the COVID-19 pandemic to the situation in Israel, humanity is going through dark times. Death education was something people felt they needed only when bad things happened. However, I believe now, more than ever, it’s a life skill!” Enjoying family time, walking, and baking, Berman hopes to be a torch in dark times. “To bear witness to suffering is painful, and I value my support system that energises me in order to keep doing this work. My spirituality and religion also play a critical role in helping me to cope.” Carin Berman 22 Absa Professional Excellence Award Nominees
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