Current Positions

Ms Barbara Thomson is the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa; a position she was appointed to on 26 May 2014.

Prior to this position she was the Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa from 1 November 2010 until May 2014.

She has been a Member of Parliament since 1995 and she is a Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women Children and People with Disabilities as well as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and a member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC Women?s League (ANCWL).

Academic Qualifications

Ms Thomson holds a Certificate in Leadership Communication as well as Certificate in Government and Business Policy from Rhodes University.

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

Ms Thomson has been involved in political activities in the Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal from an early age.

During her political career she has served in various positions such as: Regional Secretary of the ANCWL in KwaZulu-Natal; member of the National Assembly; member of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Energy; member of the Portfolio Committee on Transport; member of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works; member of the Portfolio Committee on Land and Agriculture and member of the Joint Monitoring Committee on the Improvement of the Quality of Life and Status of Women.

She has dedicated a great deal of time and strength in the areas of skills development for women and rural development.