FABI field extension officer Sandisiwe Jali is profiled in an article “Role models for the future of forestry” in Forestry South Africa’s (FSA) October newsletter. This is the first of a series of interviews with inspirational men and women in the early stages of their careers which span the forestry sector and its value chain and whose passion, determination, drive and enthusiasm is contagious making them the perfect role models for anyone looking into a career in forestry. Sandisiwe joined FABI in November 2016, having worked as a silviculture contractor under the MTO Group in the Eastern Cape after graduating from Nelson Mandela University (Saasveld). The article describes Sadisiwe’s career path; how in her childhood being surrounded by plantation trees ignited a lasting passion for forestry that has driven her as she progressed from forestry student to silvicultural contractor and now as a research scientist determined to make a lasting impact on the industry she loves. The biggest part of Sandisiwe’s work at FABI is the national monitoring of Eucalyptus pests and their biological control agents while also providing field support for other biocontrol centre projects, managing the CPHB/TPCP vehicles and all the Institute’s numerous field trips.