Citylife Business

By CITYLIFE BUSINESS STAFF WRITER

Bridget van Oerle is a successful entrepreneur and active citizen.

Over and above being the co -owner of SMME, The BUZ Factor – an award-winning boutique-style public relations, events, training  and media liaison company – van Oerle also dedicates time to her role as the PR for 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. She has been involved in this initative since the very start of the project, when Carolyn put out a call one hot December night.

She was also involved with setting up the initiative I’m for The Arts in 2020 with Sibongile Mngoma when the industry went into lockdown. Bridget assisted with PR for various initiatives that were set up to assist the creatives during lockdown – one of them being Waiting in the Wings. 

Bridget also supported the Abahlali artists during the 60 day sit in at the NAC , assisting with media liaison, dealing with media and assisting in coordinating funds, collecting donations, ensuring they were fed and meals delivered and an awareness was created. She also was one of the founding members of SAUCCIF -South African United Cultural and creative industries foundation

Bridget has been involved her suburb for many years as an active member of the community, she has sat on the residents associations in the area and is actively involved I liaison between residents and Clr and the MMC or city officials.

More recently worked with a handful of community members to raise funds to secure the substations in the area that were being damaged due to the vandalism and crime. She is active in community involvement and assisting where able as an active citizen. She attends meeting with the Clrand mmc where needed.

She is involved in a number of philanthropic ventures and additionally, ensures she gives her time to mentoring, coaching and lecturing. 

Having run a successful agency for over 27 years, van Oerle’s business acumen has benefited NGOs, students, community-based organisations, blue-chip companies and international projects. Her leadership has seen the company build a reputation for excellence with its impressive client base in the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental and independent arts organisations.

Bridget is a firm believer in mentoring and interning in particular young people and especially young women, she feels that she has had the privilege of a vast education and experience and that it is important to pass the baton and learnings.

Qualifications and accolades

van Oerle was selected for a Common Purpose course in 2007 and was selected a participant in the Goldman Sachs GIBS “10,000 Women” Certificate Programme for Women Entrepreneursin 2013-2014.

She is a qualified life coach, and does guest lecturers (at Wits – Drama for Life, PRISA and Varsity College) and is SETA-accredited in Outcomes-based Assessments and Facilitation.

van Oerle graduated with a National Diploma in Theatre Crafts from Pretoria Technikon in 1990. Prior to starting her entrepreneurial journey and launching BUZ Publicity in 1996, she worked for PACT Drama and Leads Artist Agency.In 2022 she merged with Thabo Pule to start a new company which offers far more – a one stop shop- start to end and end to start  called The BUZ Factor.

Today, her work extends (over above publicity and media) into the realms of consulting, mentoring, stakeholder management  training, and lecturing and she has been the recipient of various awards and accolades. 

These include:

• The Arts and Culture Trust Award for Publicist of the Year in 1999 and 2004.
• Nominated for the Women of Substance, Woman in Media Award 2017
• BUZ Publicity won the Business and Arts Award for support of a small business supporting an arts organisation for their work with Assitej in 2014
• Being part of the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day team. Her role managing all PR, was a great contributor to the team breaking 3 Guinness World Records
• BUZ Publicity was part of the team that won the ANN7 South African of the Year (SATY) – Campaign of the Year. The SATY awards seek to celebrate extraordinary South Africans, who are making a difference in the lives of ordinary people. 
• Her company was nominated for a 2009 Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Award for its sponsorship of the Trevor Huddleston Centre
• BUZ Publicity was named one of SA’s top 10 PR companies by advertising industry journal The Annual in 2008.

Expertise

van Oerle has a lauded reputation in the industries and clients she works with. She prides herself in:

·Strong teaching, facilitation, coaching and mentoring capabilities.

·An extensive media (traditional and social) database, which is continually updated and extended, supported by excellent media relationships

·Customised publicity solutions and campaigns that accommodate clients’ specific budgets and requirements

· A substantial repository of industry knowledge, including strong relations with the relevant stakeholders, ancillary service providers and contacts

· Solid experience and proven track record in expertly handling a spectrum of clients and events, ranging from rural and community happenings to international prestige projects.

· A strong network of media, arts organisations, business and international cultural organisations.

·A hands-on, personalised approach to all projects she works on.

Skills:

van Oerle is viewed as a thought leader in the sectors she works with and is frequently asked to sit on panel discussions, conduct workshops and act in a consultative role.

She has a strong creative ethos with an active ability to implement out-of-the-box thinking to problem solve, solution and implement ideas.

Her strong business acumen allows her to recognise opportunities, tackle challenges and find sustainable and suitable solutions.

She fosters strong relationships with all stakeholders which is key in her ability to recognise and utilise synergies in the work she does.

Specialist skills include:

Media relations

Stakeholder and reputation management

Coaching

Mentoring

Skills development

Lecturing

Outcomes-Based Assessments

Public Relations

Branding

Eventing

Workshops

Project Management

Hybrid Events

Networking

Connecting Projects

Clients and projects:

Over 26 years, van Oerle has worked with and on the following clients and projects:

· Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra

·  South African National Editors Forum – Nat Nakasa Awards and now the SANEF Fundraising Gala Dinner

·67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day

· Working on The Suit Concertized with Dr Mothobi Mutloatse

· Joburg in your Pocket

· Buskaid

· Locrate Market

· Arts and Culture Trust

·The Womanly Face of War – Crisis Action

· Human Rights Festival -Con Hill

· Beautiful Things Craft Exhibition

· National Crafts Award

· Forgotten Angle Theatre Collective – partnership and ongoing PR

·Rosebank CID

·Westdene/Sophiatown Residents’ Association – pro bono

·City of Johannesburg – various departments PR and events and logistics

·IFAS – Fete de la Musique and The Art of Comics at JAG

·The Lion King

· Thami Mynele Exhibition

· Wits University – PR and project management various departments

· Drama for Life – partnership and ongoing PR

·Media Monitoring Africa

·UNESCO Creative conference

·Africa -Media Freedom week

·City Press /Rapport Land Indaba – PR and event

·Reception Restaurant

· City Press / Report Battleground Gauteng – PR and event

·VUMA Reputation – assistance on various clients’ campaigns

· European Union

· Assitej – pro bono

· Department of Arts and Culture – various projects since 1996

· Re – launch of the Joburg Library (2012)

· City of Joburg Libraries – PR and media liaison various events

·  Pieter-Dirk Uys and Evita Bezuidenhout – a client for 20 years and ongoing

. Business and Arts South Africa – BASA

·Mozart Festival – ongoing annually

·Wits University – PR 

· Coca-Cola

·Rapid Lion Film Festival

·European Union Film Festival

· Wits Art Museum 

· VANSA – PR and media

· Asanka Restaurant

· Orient Restaurant

· 27 Boxes – PR

· State Theatre – PR

· Artist Proof Studio – PR and media for specific projects 

· Kasi Art Exhibition, Lucky Dance – 2013 to present

· Concerts SA – PR

· My Body My Space – FATC and collaboration with DAC & Ekurhuleni Arts & Culture

· Voorkamerfest, Darling – PR and Media Liaison

· Argentina Cultural Week – PR and media liaison for photo exhibition, theatre, dance

· Vuyani Dance Theatre – PR and Media Liaison

· Market Theatre – work closely with the team on independent productions 

· Port Elizabeth opera House – training and consultation

· Gauteng Opera – 2015 PR and media liaison

·European Union Cultural month – 2015

·FROM THE TRENCHES OF THE MARNE TO THE HILLS OF RWANDA, REFLECTIONS ON 100 YEARS OF WAR, GENOCIDE AND MASS VIOLENCE – 2013, collaboration with Goethe Institute, IFAS. Alliance Francais, Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, British Council & the South African History Archive

·Room – PR and media liaison for the gallery

· 21 Icons – PR and media liaison 2014 – 2015

· SANYO and James Galway National Tour – (2014)

·Robertson’s Wine Festival, Pretoria – (2014)

·Doritos (2009 – 2016)

·Moving into Dance Mophatong

·Naledi Theatre Awards (2003 – 2014) 

· Black Like Us Art Exhibition (2013)

· Wits Theatre – as a consultant and including So Solo, 969 Festival and more

· People Theatre – client for 13 years

· National Arts Festival training Hands On Masks Off

· Launch of the Soweto Theatre (2012)

· Disney’s Lion King SA Tour (2007)

· Spier/SA Season New York (2004)

· Mandela Day Celebrations

·Spokesperson for former rugby player Joost van der Westhuizen·         Joburg Carnival (since 2005 – 2013)

·Field Band Foundation

· Sibikwa Arts Centre

·Elaine Page South African Tour

·Jennifer Rush South African Tour

·The People’s Theatre – a client for six years

· Kurt Wenner South African Tour

·MTN Bushfire Festival in Swaziland 2012 and 2013