Interim CEO at SANEDI (state-funded applied energy research, development and deployment organisation)
Dr. Thembakazi Mali
Chair of the Board
CURRENT POSITION: Senior Vice President for Research and Technology (Sasol)
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
SERVICES & BOARDS
South African representative and executive committee member to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programmes on Ocean Energy Systems, Bioenergy and Solar Cooling and Heating.
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency.
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD Chemistry and Graduate Diploma in Engineering in Environmental Engineering (University of the Witwatersrand).
Dr. Bongiwe Mcata
Board Member
CURRENT POSITION: Agricultural Economics Lecturer (University of Mpumalanga in the school of Agricultural Sciences).
RESEARCH FOCUS
Food systems (Food security), Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and socio-economic development, rural development and livelihood improvement (smallholder farmers and IKS based livelihood), community engagement (data extraction, dissemination of information and skills development via teaching/training).
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Research Specialist: Science and Technology Programme (The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Pretoria office).
Inclusive Economic Development (IED) (HSR, in the Sustainable Livelihood Programme, Durban office).
Senior Researcher (University of South Africa in the Department of Institute of Corporate Citizenship).
Authored and co-authored journal articles, recognised project reports and conference presentations.
Post-Doctoral fellow (University of Fort Hare).
Awarded the 2016/17 Agricultural Professional Fellowship Program – South Africa.
SERVICES & BOARDS
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency.
Project coordinator at Melani Village on a Biogas production project.
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics); MSc Agriculture (Agricultural Economics); BSc Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) honours; BSc Agriculture (Agricultural Economics/ Economics) (University of Fort Hare – Alice campus).
Mr. Nathaniel Sebitso
Board Member
CURRENT POSITION: Programme Manager: Economic Planning (DEDT – Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism).
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Senior Economist in the public sector. Acting head of department (Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism).
SERVICES & BOARDS
Mpumalanga Green Economy Cluster Agency.
QUALIFICATIONS
BA Economics (University of Botswana), MA Economics (University of Colorado, Boulder), MCOM Financial Markets (Rhodes University)
Dr. Rethabile Melamu
Board Member
CURRENT POSITION: Chief Executive Officer (SAPVIA – South African Photovoltaic Industry Association)
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
General Manager of the Green Economy Unit at the Innovation Hub Management Company.
Acting Chief Director of the Sector & Industry Development Unit and Director of the Green Economy at the Gauteng Department of Economic Development
SERVICES & BOARDS
Member of the Steering Committee for the South African Chapter of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs.
Non-Executive Director at the South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator, Green Matter, Mpumalanga Green Economy Cluster and Inani Startwel.
QUALIFICATIONS
BSc, MSc & PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Lauren Hermanus
Board Member
CURRENT POSITION: Founding Director (How We Adapt).
PREVIOUS POSITITIONS
Research Associate at African Centre for Cities.
Deputy Director at Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
Co-Founded The Change Collective and Massive Small Collective.
SERVICES & BOARDS
Mpumalanga Green Economy Cluster Agency.
QUALIFICATIONS
Master of Art in Philosophy (Stellenbosch University).
Master of Philosophy in Development Policy and Practice (University of Cape Town).
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