Barbara has been involved in communication for the past twenty-five years, in a training, research and a practical capacity.

Her expertise is government communication, international relations, communication research and the implementation of stakeholder mobilisation and transformation campaigns. Barbara is part of the Gautrain’s Project’s senior management team since the project’s inception in 2000 and is specifically responsible for its communication and marketing.

She holds a Doctorate in Business Management. The title of her doctoral thesis is The Search for Communication Equilibrium through Political Public Relations. Barbara is a senior member of the PR industry in South Africa and frequently delivers papers at national and international conferences.

Under her leadership, Gautrain’s communication had received numerous national and international awards, the latest being the International Association of Business Communicator’s Gold Quill for media management in New York in June 2008.  Gautrain’s communication was also awarded the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa’s Overall PRISM Gold Award in 2008.  The Gautrain Kids’ Station (kiddies website) was awarded the UITP’s inaugral Youth Marketing Awards for “Promoting Public Transport to the Youth”.