Carla Lyon
Summary
Detail-oriented Executive Assistant experienced in providing high-level strategic support to Social Science and Implementation Science leads. Delivered exceptional organisational efficiency through effective calendar management, prioritisation of competing demands, and proactive communication with stakeholders. Focused on optimising executive operations by coordinating travel logistics and ensuring timely follow-ups.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Assistant
Africa Health Research Institute
11.2021 - Current
- Provided high-level executive support to Social Science- and Implementation Science Leads, managing complex calendar, prioritising competing demands, ensuring effective time utilisation for optimal scheduling
- Act as key liaison between executives, internal teams, and external stakeholders, ensuring timely and accurate communication flow
- Manage confidential correspondence and prepare reports, presentations, emails, and official documentation
- Screen and prioritise incoming requests, exercising judgement to resolve, escalate, or redirect matters appropriately
- Monitor deadlines and deliverables, providing proactive follow-ups to ensure the timely completion of tasks
- Facilitated meetings and governance processes by preparing briefing materials and tracking actions in minutes.
- Coordinate domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries, logistics, and meeting preparation
- Coordinated events, meetings, and conferences, managing logistics and executing all aspects to ensure successful outcomes
- Delivered administrative support that enabled leadership to concentrate on strategic priorities under tight deadlines, facilitating smooth operations
Associate
Farrell Inc. Attorneys
01.2021 - 10.2021
- Managed employment and labour relations for diverse teams, fostering a collaborative work environment
- Resolved disputes through effective negotiation and mediation, achieving satisfactory outcomes for all parties
- Developed and maintained contracts and service level agreements, ensuring compliance and clarity in operations
- Strategic commercial strategies
Senior Provincial Manager
South African Teacher Union
01.2017 - 12.2020
- Led wage negotiations and collective bargaining to secure fair agreements for members
- Facilitated mediations and arbitrations to resolve disputes effectively
- Coordinated media communications to strengthen public relations and enhance community engagement
- Member recruitment campaigns
- Soft skills, sector content and EQ training
- Internal policies and regulations
Legal Adviser
South African Teacher Union
01.2011 - 12.2016
- Union’s legal adviser and delegate to the executive committee of the ELRC
- Delivered legal opinions on cases and issues, informing strategic decision-making and risk management
- CCMA representative
- Facilitated strike and lockout resolutions, promoting workplace stability and compliance
- Drafted service level agreements, clarifying performance expectations and enhancing accountability
- Internal policies and regulations
- Shop steward and labour relations training
- Advocate briefs
- Debt collection for FINSA (Pty) Ltd
Junior Attorney
Hepple Inc. Attorneys
01.2011 - 12.2011
- Facilitated divorce negotiations and mediations, achieving amicable resolutions for clients
- Prepared bail applications for court presentation, ensuring adherence to legal standards
- Drafted bills of costs and negotiated taxation orders to maximise client recoveries
- Magistrate court maintenance orders
- Debt collection and debt reviews
Attorney Candidate
Strydom & Bredenkamp Inc. Attorneys
01.2010 - 12.2010
- Represented clients in court, effectively arguing cases and securing favourable outcomes in various legal matters.
- Represented clients at court hearings, tribunals and administrative boards.
- Managed liquidation and sequestration applications, ensuring compliance with legal standards
- Conducted legal research and facts investigation for case litigation.
- Conducted legal research to enhance case preparation outcomes
Education
Executive Secretaries and Personal Assistants Certificate - Business and Administration
Prospen Africa
Durban, KZN01-2025
Notary Public -
High Court of SA
Pretoria, GP01-2012
Labour Law Diploma (NQF7) -
NMU
Port Elizabeth, EC01-2011
Attorney & Commissioner of Oaths -
High Court
Pretoria, GP01-2010
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - Law
UP
Pretoria, GP01-2009
Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com Law) -
UP
Pretoria, GP01-2007
Senior Certificate - Six higher grade distinctions
Overkruin
Pretoria, GP01-2003
Skills
- Executive support
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Document management
- Appointment scheduling
- Travel administration
- Deadline monitoring
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional communication
- Time management
- Information confidentiality
References
Professional references available on request. Current employer to be contacted with consent only.
Personal Information
- Driver License: Full/Clean – Code B
- Criminal Record: None
- Physical address: St Lucia, KZN, SA
- Age: 40 (1985-08)
Languages
Afrikaans
First Language
English
Proficient
C2
Interests
Hiking, golf and chess
Accomplishments
- I pride myself on being detail-oriented, creative yet analytical, which allows for sound judgment to identify gaps in the organisation’s policies, practices, and succession strategies. I tailored industry-specific internal policies and regulations, including but not limited to environmental policies, code of conduct, legal compliance, and dispute policies.
- Negotiation and mediation experience, and legal document drafting skills enabled me to seamlessly finalise disputes, contractual agreements, and business strategies between diverse entities.
- I doubled the union’s provincial voting rights for public workers’ salary negotiations in all relevant bargaining councils, which allowed me to appoint more officials and shop stewards, whom I screened and interviewed personally.
- As a senior manager, I solidified my leadership skills and provided training for management teams against the relevant legal frameworks, including soft skills and EQ training.
- Extensive employment and labour relations experiences allowed me to successfully defuse intricate, hostile, and highly emotive strikes, lockouts and wage negotiations.
Timeline
Executive Assistant
Africa Health Research Institute
11.2021 - Current
Associate
Farrell Inc. Attorneys
01.2021 - 10.2021
Senior Provincial Manager
South African Teacher Union
01.2017 - 12.2020
Legal Adviser
South African Teacher Union
01.2011 - 12.2016
Junior Attorney
Hepple Inc. Attorneys
01.2011 - 12.2011
Attorney Candidate
Strydom & Bredenkamp Inc. Attorneys
01.2010 - 12.2010
Executive Secretaries and Personal Assistants Certificate - Business and Administration
Prospen Africa
Notary Public -
High Court of SA
Labour Law Diploma (NQF7) -
NMU
Attorney & Commissioner of Oaths -
High Court
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - Law
UP
Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com Law) -
UP
Senior Certificate - Six higher grade distinctions
Overkruin