Forge Academy & Labs has announced leadership changes to bolster its growing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) training centre in Gauteng with the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Tariq Shurmah has taken up the position of COO and joined Forge’s dynamic team of 4IR specialists.
Co-Founders of Forge Academy & Labs, Craig Clutty and Arthur Wade Anderson have laid a strong foundation for Gauteng’s first fully inclusive 4IR training laboratory since it opened in November 2020, and are strengthening their leadership team as they pursue growth.
“Forge Academy’s commitment to education impact in Africa can only be realised with a strong leadership team. With the addition of Tariq, we are looking forward to our next growth phase with an intensified focus on recruiting graduates, upskilling our team and educating more youth throughout Southern Africa. With Tariq as my wingman, we are confident of growing our impact,” said Clutty.
Tariq Shurmah is an innovative business strategist and B-BBEE solutions architect with more than 20 years’ experience across various private sector businesses. Shurmah has a wealth of management, technical and analytical skills with organisations such as EOH, BPO, SAGE, Training Force, MTN, The Coca-Cola Dome and others. He is passionate about skills development, entrepreneurship, business development, implementing best practice and quality control, curriculum development and people management.
“I am thrilled to join the Forge Academy & Labs team as COO. I look forward to working in the education and training space, offering the most innovative solutions to youth hungry for opportunities in the evolving 4IR landscape. I believe my broad management expertise and technical and analytical background will stand me in good stead as I support Craig and his team in steering Forge to the next level,” said Shurmah.
Forge Academy & Labs unveiled a new 4IR laboratory in North Riding, Johannesburg that boasts the latest 5G, VR, robotic, and learning technology. The new laboratory was opened on the 13 July and is one of the only facilities in the country that allows for complete immersion in 4IR education.
