It is with deep regret and great sadness that we bid farewell to the long-serving managing director of Tridonic South Africa – Trevor Milne, who passed away last year. Henk Rotman of Tridonic wrote a few words in memory of Trevor…
After almost 40 years with the company, Trevor leaves an irreplaceable gap. He was not only a mentor but also a trailblazer who, with his vision and passion for lighting solutions, built Tridonic South Africa and led it into a new era as a leading provider of lighting technologies.
Trevor joined the ZumTobel group almost four decades ago – a journey characterised not only by professional success but also by personal commitment and deep respect for his colleagues. In all the years he led the South African team, he demonstrated not only professional excellence but, above all, humanity and integrity. His ability to inspire and motivate people was outstanding and characterised and encouraged many of us.
As managing director of Tridonic South Africa, Trevor played a key role in the strategic direction and growth of this important market. Through his visionary leadership and tireless commitment to the team's success, he developed markets and created a culture of collaboration, respect and trust.
In the Tridonic office, he showed his team what it truly meant to lead with empathy and integrity. Whether through a thoughtful piece of advice, a shared smile, or support in difficult moments, Trevor had a way of making each team member feel valued and encouraged to grow. Het trusted the team to do their best in their own way without micro-management but offered support when needed.
Apart from his Tridonic role, Trevor was very involved in the lighting industry at large and contributed greatly to establishing the Illuminating Engineering Society of South Africa (IESSA) as the representation of the lighting industry in the country. He was IESSA president from 2010 to 2012.
The mark Trevor has left on the South-African market will be lasting. His legacy will live on in the hearts and actions of all those who had the privilege of working with and learning from him.
