Jolene Steenkamp

Biography  

Jolene Steenkamp is an experienced administrative professional with more than fifteen years of service in higher education and the public sector. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, specialising in Business Administration, from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, complemented by an FET Certificate in Business Administration and additional training in project management, events management, and leadership development.

Jolene currently serves as an Administrative Assistant at the Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) at the University of Cape Town. In this role, she provides comprehensive operational, HR, and finance administration support; manages procurement and budget tracking; services faculty-level committees; and coordinates travel, seminars, and institutional logistics. Her work is grounded in strong organisational capability, precision, and a deep understanding of university governance processes. Previously, she worked as Administrator: Branch Coordination & Executive Support at the Western Cape Government, where she supported the Acting Chief Director, oversaw complex scheduling, led administrative staff, and strengthened asset audit readiness across multiple sites. Her earlier UCT roles include Event Coordinator & Administrative Officer in the Communication & Marketing Department, where she coordinated major institutional events such as Parent Orientation, the Vice-Chancellor’s Inaugural Lecture Series, and stakeholder relations events, as well as Admissions Officer at the Graduate School of Business.

Jolene is a two-time UCT excellence award recipient, including the IABC Silver Quill Merit Award for experiential event delivery and the UCT Development Dialogues Exceeds Award. Having lived and worked across Cape Town’s academic and government sectors, she remains committed to advancing efficient, people-centred administration. Her professional goals include further developing her expertise in organisational operations and contributing to innovative, inclusive institutional practices.