I am proud to have been part of South Africa’s journey of growth and transformation, both in business and in philanthropy. As one of the founders and now Honorary Life President of Pick n Pay Stores, I helped, together with my late husband Raymond, to build one of the country’s leading retailers. Today, Pick n Pay has around 2,000 stores, employs nearly 90,000 people, and touches the lives of millions of families across southern Africa.

From the beginning, my role in the business went beyond commercial success. I worked to ensure that Pick n Pay could be a force for social good, even under the constraints of apartheid. I fought for black managers to have access to housing, for black cashiers to serve customers, and for women to be recognised as senior professionals in retail. These were bold steps at the time, but they set the tone not only for our business but for the wider industry.

That same spirit has guided my philanthropic work over the decades. The Ackerman Family Educational Trust, launched in the 1970s, and the Ackerman Pick n Pay Foundation, founded in 1997, have enabled sustainable development through education, entrepreneurship and job creation. We focused on empowering people to build self-reliance and dignity. When HIV threatened the lives of so many South Africans, I introduced workplace education and ARV access at Pick n Pay long before these were government policy, saving countless lives.

A lifelong advocate for women, I co-founded the 1000 Women Trust to fight gender-based violence and provide resources to shelters, advice centres, and survivor support initiatives. From just three shelters in the Western Cape at its inception, there are now more than 45, offering protection and empowerment to women and children.

I have also focused deeply on education for children with disabilities. In partnership with Rotary, I helped establish a school for autistic learners in Cape Town’s townships, which has grown from 28 to over 100 students. This effort expanded into the Noluthando Sheltered Employment Workshop, providing job opportunities in carpentry, sewing, weaving, and gardening for young adults with autism.

My passion for the arts, particularly music, has been another cornerstone of my life. Since 1973, I have run bursary schemes for talented musicians, many of whom now perform at the world’s leading concert halls and opera houses. Through the Duet Endowment Trust for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Cape Town Opera, I have worked to ensure the sustainability of the arts in our city. Nurturing young talent and watching it flourish on the global stage is one of my greatest joys.

I believe my nomination for the Jewish Achiever Awards reflects this lifelong commitment to empowering others, breaking barriers, and ensuring that business success always carries a responsibility to uplift society. If honoured with this award, I hope the judges will see a life dedicated to creating opportunity, dignity, and inspiration – values that reflect not only my own journey, but the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam, repairing the world.

My vision is simple and steady: to keep using every resource and influence to open doors for others, strengthen communities, and help build a fairer, more creative, and prosperous South Africa. My vision for Pick n Pay is to remain a leader in inclusive growth — creating jobs, building skills, advancing equality, and driving sustainable, responsible business that strengthens communities and the economy. For South Africa, I envision a nation where every talent is nurtured, education and healthcare are accessible, women and vulnerable groups are empowered, entrepreneurship flourishes, and arts and culture are sustainably supported.