What happens when safer spaces become a business’s most powerful legacy? Jennifer Erasmus explains.

Source: Supplied. Jennifer Erasmus, Trellidor’s new chief financial officer and executive director, effective 1 July 2026.

The initiative will see Trellidor donate and professionally install security units at 50 selected organisations across South Africa and the UK, supporting shelters for survivors of gender-based violence, homes for children and older people, as well as facilities for people living with disabilities. Members of the public can nominate organisations providing refuge, care and support, with the initiative designed to help strengthen the environments in which they operate.

“There are remarkable organisations across South Africa and the UK doing life-changing work, often with limited resources. If we can help make their spaces more secure, we hope it enables them to continue their important work with greater confidence,” says Damian Judge, group chief executive officer of Trellidor.

As part of Bizcommunity’s Women’s Month leadership series, Erasmus discusses how the built environment can contribute to safety and resilience, why purposeful business intervention matters, and the role women can play in shaping more secure communities.

The built environment plays a vital role in creating safe, resilient communities. From your perspective, how do secure buildings and thoughtfully designed spaces contribute to protecting vulnerable people long term?

Secure buildings provide more than a physical barrier, they create a sense of safety and stability. For vulnerable people, knowing that the place where they live, work, learn or seek support is protected, can provide significant psychological relief. Over time, thoughtfully designed and secure spaces help organisations deliver their services with greater confidence and allow communities to focus on healing, learning and rebuilding rather than living with the constant fear of intrusion or harm.

Trellidor's 50 Safe Spaces initiative is a tangible example. What inspired the campaign and why was it important for the company to mark its 50th anniversary this way?

As Trellidor celebrates 50 years, we wanted to mark the milestone by giving back to the communities that have supported and shaped our business. Many organisations doing essential work, including disability centres, children's homes, gender-based violence shelters and other community organisations do not always have the resources to secure their facilities as they would like.

We have seen first-hand the positive difference that improved security can make in these environments, so creating 50 safer spaces felt like a meaningful and authentic way to celebrate what Trellidor has stood for over the past five decades.

By inviting the public to nominate organisations, we are also able to hear directly from the communities that know where support is needed most.

Before launching the 50 Safe Spaces initiative, did Trellidor conduct any research, stakeholder engagement, or community needs assessments to determine where its support would have the greatest impact? How will those insights guide where installations are made?

The campaign was informed primarily by Trellidor's practical experience of providing security solutions to community organisations and by the local knowledge within our nationwide franchise network. That experience has shown us that the need is significant and extends across South Africa rather than being limited to one region.

By inviting the public to nominate organisations, we are also able to hear directly from the communities that know where support is needed most. The nominations will be assessed carefully, taking into account the organisation's needs, the people it serves and the practical impact that an installation can make. The response so far has been encouraging, although it will make the selection process difficult

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What led Trellidor to this approach, and could it serve as a blueprint for other companies in the built environment sector?

We chose an approach that uses what we know and do best to address a genuine community need. Rather than making a once-off financial contribution, Trellidor can provide a practical solution with a lasting benefit, supported by the reach and expertise of our franchise network.

The public nomination process also gives communities a voice in identifying organisations that may otherwise receive limited attention. I do believe this can serve as a useful model for other businesses: consider where your core skills, products and networks can solve a real problem, engage the communities affected and create an impact that can be sustained beyond a single campaign.

You recently stepped into the role of CFO and executive director. As a woman leading in the built environment sector, how do you see your role in helping create safer, more resilient buildings and communities?

My role is to help ensure that our purpose is supported by responsible, sustainable decision-making. As CFO and an executive director, I have a responsibility to balance commercial performance with the longer-term value we create for our stakeholders and communities.

As a woman, I am also conscious that safety is not experienced equally, and that women and vulnerable groups often carry a disproportionate burden when spaces are not secure. I want to use my position to support initiatives that are practical, measurable and sustainable, while ensuring that community impact remains part of how we think about Trellidor's future.

Beyond physical security, what role does the built environment play in helping women regain dignity, confidence, and hope as they rebuild their lives?

The spaces in which people live and recover can either reinforce vulnerability or help restore a sense of control. A secure, welcoming and dignified environment gives women the privacy and stability needed to access support, care for their children and begin rebuilding their lives.

Physical security alone cannot address the complex causes and effects of gender-based violence, but it can provide an important foundation: a place where women can feel protected, make choices for themselves and start looking toward the future with greater confidence.

Looking ahead, do you see 50 Safe Spaces as a one-off anniversary campaign or the beginning of a longer-term strategy to help strengthen community infrastructure?

We see 50 Safe Spaces as more than a once-off anniversary campaign. It is an opportunity to deepen the way we give back to the communities that support us and to build stronger relationships with organisations doing important work across the country.

The campaign will also give us valuable insight into the scale and nature of the need. While the 50 installations are linked to our anniversary, we would like the principle behind the initiative - using our expertise and reach to help create safer communities - to remain part of Trellidor's longer-term approach.

What's one practical step businesses can take right now to help create safer more resilient communities for women and vulnerable groups?

Start by listening to one organisation in your community and asking what it genuinely needs. Support does not always have to take the form of a large donation, a business may be able to contribute its products, professional skills, time, network or operational expertise. The most effective support is usually practical, aligned with the organisation's priorities and delivered in a way that can create a lasting benefit