The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s (SEIFSA’s) industrial relations executive Vuyiswa Miya-Mokwana is an Admitted Attorney who holds an LLB degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law from the University of Johannesburg. She has over 15 years of extensive experience spanning legal services, risk mitigation and industrial relations. In her work, she has built a stellar reputation for modernising employment policies, fostering positive workplace cultures, and promoting proactive conflict resolution.

Her professional background encompasses drafting contracts, handling complex contractual disputes, providing strategic legal advice, and appearing in different bargaining councils. Miya-Mokwana regularly chairs and prosecutes complex disciplinary hearings, and also facilitates seminars and conferences on labour matters. Beyond her executive role, her strategic governance insights are further leveraged through her leadership as a non-executive director across multiple organisations.

Miya-Mokwana is deeply passionate about women’s empowerment and active transformation in traditionally male-dominated sectors. As a founding member, she helped launch SEIFSA’s groundbreaking “Women of Steel” initiative, a platform dedicated to shattering glass ceilings and building sustainable pipelines for female leadership in industry. The high-impact gathering featured prominent women in leadership who shared their raw trials and triumphs, providing delegates with a practical roadmap and the inspiration needed to live without self-imposed limits.

Building on that momentum, Miya-Mokwana spearheaded the launch of the Women of Steel Women's Leadership Mentoring Programme in 2026. This innovative programme intentionally brings together both male and female mentors to guide, sponsor, and uplift women across the industry, fostering an inclusive ecosystem of allyship and professional growth.

Miya-Mokwana’s career is defined by her exceptional ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, building robust, collaborative relationships with employee representative bodies, trade unions and regulatory authorities. Her track record in training managers and employees on employment best practices, grievance handling and compliance underscores her commitment to building long-term organisational capability. Armed with sharp analytical skills and a collaborative spirit, Miya-Mokwana continues to drive institutional compliance while passionately shaping a more equitable, empowered future for women in business.