Shehnaaz oversees the finance hub at SSN, and is the Director of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme. Previously, Shehnaaz was the African Regional Coordinator for CDKN (2013-2017) and the Climate Resilience Lead for the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF). Shehnaaz has overseen SSN’s Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership (SACFP) programme since 2016. She has deep theoretical and practical expertise in delivering complex programmes addressing climate change within the African context. She previously consulted on a range of projects for the South African public sector, including managing the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, and she provided technical input to the waste service delivery and capacity assessment, and municipal infrastructure investment model. Prior to joining SSN, Shehnaaz was a researcher and lecturer in the department of Chemical Engineering at University of Cape Town.
Carl’s management portfolio at SSN includes responsibility for contracts, risk and compliance. He leads SSN’s DecarbBoost programme on Mobilising Investment for NDC implementation, as well as a research grant targeting innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution. Carl previously led SSN’s work as Executing Entity of the Adaptation Fund’s Small Grants Facility in SA, and was the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) Director for the African region. Prior to joining SSN, he championed the implementation of the award-winning Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, the first CDM project in Africa (and the first Gold Standard project in the world), through which he developed an interest in thermal and energy efficiency in low-income housing. Carl started his development career working in human rights and good governance. He spent 6 years with Lawyers for Human Rights in SA, working on rural access to justice before moving to Kenya, where he designed and managed a large-scale civic education programme and did consulting work in the region. Carl holds a BA.LLB degree from the University of Cape Town and is an attorney admitted to practice in the High Court of South Africa.
Since 2013, Robi has been the Ethiopia Country Head for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Robi is an environmental management specialist, with experience in environmental and social impact assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate finance, and sustainable industrial development, having previously worked for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the World Bank in East Africa. He has been the consultant on climate finance to the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Government of Zambia. He also led Ethiopia’s climate finance access programme, supporting the Country’s Ministry of Finance with its direct access accreditation and proposals development processes to the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund. Robi, who is currently studying in the doctoral programme for professionals at the University College London’s (UCL) School of Technology, Energy and Public Policy (STEaPP) in the UK, holds a BSc. from the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, MSc. from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and a post-graduate diploma from Concordia University in Canada.
Suzanne leads the Climate Services Practice Area at SSN. She is currently the Principal Investigator for the CLARE Research for Impact Hub. Previously, Suzanne headed the coordination unit for the Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme, led on Partnerships and UNFCCC engagement for the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), and was Head of Country Engagement for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Prior to joining SSN, Suzanne worked for the British High Commission in South Africa, where she led their bilateral engagement with South Africa on climate change and energy. Prior to that, she freelanced for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, covering mostly UNFCCC climate negotiations. Suzanne holds a PhD in climatology from the University of Cape Town
Josh leads on learning and knowledge management at SSN. He has extensive experience as a communications specialist, media researcher and a journalism educator. Josh has worked for a range of international non-governmental organisations in the fields of sustainable development, gender, and environmental and social justice. Between 2010 and 2016, he taught an MPhil module in Media, Democracy and Development at the University of Stellenbosch Journalism department, and serves on the editorial board of the Global Media Journal – Africa. A Kenyan national, Josh holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and French, and a Masters degree in Communication and Development Studies. When he is not devising KM strategies or debating the Human Condition, he splits his time between his spoilt dogs and his passion for ultra-distance running.
Charlotte provides research and technical support on issues of climate finance, including work on private sector finance and international climate fund processes. She has managed an IKI funded project providing support to the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) since 2016, and is currently the project manager for the Southern African Renewable Investment and Growth (SOARING) programme. Charlotte also continues to play an integral role in the implementation of the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership (SACFP). Her previous work includes water-infrastructure related projects, e.g. the Climate Resilience Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF) assessing the climate finance readiness of water institutions. Her interests lie in sustainable development in the African context, and policy that supports the identification, design and integration of innovative, bottom-up solutions that address climate and environmental challenges. Charlotte holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Development Economics from the University of Cape Town.
Richard Sherman is the substantive lead on SSN’s climate finance programme. Richard is a member of the South African delegation to the UNFCCC and also serves as one of the African Group lead coordinators on climate finance negotiations. He served as adviser on the South African Co-Chair’s team during the formulation of the Governing Instrument of the Green Climate Fund. He also served as the lead adviser to the first developing country Co-Chair from South Africa during the time of the development of the business model framework of the Fund in 2013, and again in 2016. He has also been one of the African representatives on the Standing Committee of Finance, between 2014 and 2018, that is mandated to oversee coherence between the funds under the financial mechanism of the Convention. Outside of climate finance, Richard enjoys walking his dog.
Clare is the Contracts Office Manager at SSN. She oversees the contracting process and manages the contractual relationships for all SSN programmes. Outside of SSN, she is involved in publishing a monthly tax law journal for The Taxpayer and various other titles for Cederberg Publishers. Clare holds a BA in English; History of Art, an LLB, and an LLM in Taxation.
Andrew leads the finance hub at SSN. He is a qualified South African Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (majoring in Accounting and Information Systems) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, both from the University of Cape Town. Andrew has lived and worked extensively overseas, first in London for three years and then in Grand Cayman for six years. Andrew worked in Financial Services for a large part of his overseas sojourn. Upon returning to South Africa, Andrew worked first as a Business Consultant and then as a General Manager before realising he would like to work in an organisation that benefits the world and joined SSN. When not working, Andrew spends his time pursuing sporting activities and enjoying time with his family, dogs and friends. Andrew also acts as The Treasurer for a local tennis club.
Shanice Mohanlal is a Junior Project Manager at SouthSouthNorth. She is part of the team for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme and the Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme. She is interested in learning more about climate change adaptation and finance, in addition to ecosystem resilience. Shanice loves all things furry and enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time.
As Information Architect, Gill focuses on the efficient flow of data and information across various systems and process within SSN. Gill manages the business intelligence environment and associated data sources, ensuring that the use of project information is maximised in a consistent and trustworthy manner. Having originally studied Land Surveying, Gill spent over 30 years in corporate IT, before joining SSN.
Gill also provides systems support to the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme.
Gill enjoys sewing and spending time on her smallholding in the Overberg where she has built a small off-grid hempcrete house.
Emma is a Project Manager working on the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). She coordinates knowledge and outreach activities at the global level and within Africa. Emma holds a BA Geography degree from the University of Exeter and a Master’s in Climate Change and Development from the University of Cape Town. Prior to starting at SSN, Emma worked in the UK, Uganda and Sierra Leone on projects related to climate finance, energy, advocacy and eco-tourism. In her spare time, Emma can be found playing music or attempting to bend it like Beckham on the football pitch.
Priyanka works as a Junior Project Manager & Research Assistant for Aligning Financial Flows (AFF) and Operationalising Just Transitions in Africa (OJTA). She provides her team with project management and research support in this role. Priyanka has an academic background in international relations, philosophy and history and graduated from Stellenbosch University with a Masters’s degree (cum laude) in Political Science. Priyanka enjoys understanding how the digital landscape affects real-world policies and opportunities; thus, her thesis focused on the ‘Popular Geopolitics’ of climate change.
Lisa McNamara is a Programme Manager at SSN, with expertise in knowledge management and urban resilience. She is the Knowledge Networks Coordinator for the global Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme, where she is responsible for providing tailored and useful climate knowledge to developing countries to support action on climate change. Lisa was previously the Africa lead of CDKN’s knowledge management programme (2011-2014) and later oversaw the delivery of CDKN’s country programmes and technical assistance projects in Kenya and Rwanda (2014-2017). Previously Lisa worked at the Environmental Management Department at the City of Johannesburg, where she focussed on city-level adaptation planning as well as sustainable energy in low-income housing. She holds a BA Honours in Development Studies and a MSc in Environmental Studies.
Ncumisa is a Digital Manager in SSN’s Knowledge Management Hub. She graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology with a Journalism degree, a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Communications Management, and has a Diploma Certificate in Environmental Education. Prior to joining SSN, Ncumisa served as a Communications Manager for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and as a Communications and Social Media Coordinator for Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute (SAFCEI). Her hobbies include long journeys to the outskirts and researching environmental humanities and climate justice.
Julio is a Research Officer for Future Climate For Africa, overseeing small research projects and leading on a pilot project for Rwanda’s climate and environment fund (FONERWA) to help integrate climate considerations into fund operations. He also provides support to the WISER Transform project, contributing towards a guidance manual on co-production approaches. Julio’s past work has focused on agricultural adaptation to climate change for a range of vulnerable cropping systems in South Africa and Rwanda, with a particular interest in viticulture and coffee. Julio holds a BSc in Environmental & Geographical Science as well as a BSc Honours and MSc in Atmospheric Science from the University of Cape Town. Julio is an enthusiastic hiker, having taken on over 2000km of the pacific crest trail as well as a number of high mountain peaks in Africa and America.
Karen is part of the Knowledge Management Hub, where she leads on design, including printed and online materials. She also supports on database management, management of web resources and logistical assistance for webinars and conferences. Before specialising in Knowledge Management, Karen was the project coordinator for the Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism project, and project manager for the Hopefield Home Improvement project. Karen holds a Girl Friday diploma and a certificate in project management from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. Once upon a time, in a land far away, Karen played pool for Rhodes University’s social league team. Her current hobbies include gardening and knitting.
Lee-Ann is responsible for the financial management of several SSN projects. She has over 15 years experience in financial management in the Private Equity Investment, Property and Import and Export industries in South Africa. Lee-Ann holds a Diploma in Project Management from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Diploma in Bookkeeping and Practical Accounting including HR and Payroll.
Nic is an economist who coordinates the financial management and reporting of key SSN programmes, including a suite of projects for the German International Climate Initiative (IKI). He also manages the intern hub. Nic was raised in Cape Town, and spent his time racing sailing boats prior to joining SSN as a consultant, and eventually as full-time staff. He is a neo-prudentist who enjoys the challenge of finding efficient solutions to systemic problems.
Lorraine is a Project Manager with a background in grantmaking, operations, procurement, due diligence and systems development. I am currently a Project Manager responsible for procurement and due diligence for the SMEP Programme co-managed by SouthSouthNorth. Prior Lorraine has held various positions within SouthSouthNorth including Operations Project Manager for the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility (SGF); Knowledge Management and Events Coordinator for the MAPS Programme that facilitated collaboration between South Africa and select Latin American countries to establish the evidence base for long-term mitigation scenarios; and Project Coordinator for the Sustainable Settlements Facility project, that explored financing mechanisms for scaling up energy efficiency interventions for low-income public housing. Lorraine holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management.
Samson is the Technical Programme Manager & Lead Researcher on Aligning Financial Flows with the Paris Agreement in Africa. He also coordinates the project on Financing the Just Energy Transition in Africa. Previously, Samson managed the Mobilising Investment for NDC Implementation programme, conducted technical research for the Southern African Renewable Energy Investment and Growth (SOARING) programme and coordinated the technical implementation of the Africa LEDS Partnership. His interests lie in sustainable finance, low-carbon development, environmental social and corporate governance (ESG), just energy transitions and applied research. He holds two Master’s Degrees in Applied Economics and Energy Development Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He has received several specialised pieces of training in establishing Best Practices for reforming and regulating power sectors, including financing, contracting and mitigating risk for private power investment in Africa. Samson enjoys working out and participating in sporting activities in his spare time.
Alexa is a Project Manager working on the FCDO funded Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. The programme aims to generate cutting edge scientific evidence that can improve existing knowledge of the environmental health and socio-economic impacts of selected manufacturing sectors across target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Prior to SSN, Alexa completed her Masters of City and Regional Planning at UCT, worked in the FinTech industry, and spent a few months travelling. She also holds a BSc in Environmental and Geographical Science from UCT. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors and values time spent with family and friends.
Fatima is the HR Lead and manages all functions of Human Resources for SSN. She has a broad background within the NPO space, having worked at an organisation supporting communities to prevent and treat TB and HIV. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and has 14 years of extensive experience within human resources. She is passionate about working with people and being part of an organisation that can make a difference in the world. She enjoys long road trips and spending time with her family.
Roy is a project coordinator for the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP). Prior to this he worked with the SSN Climate Services Hub (CSH) as a research officer for the Future Climate For Africa (FCFA) programme and WISER TRANSFORM project. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Honours degree in Environmental Analysis and Management from the University of Pretoria. He has also obtained his Master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Cape Town. Before joining SSN, Roy was involved in various research projects at the University of Cape Town, most notable the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project where his work involved quantifying the local impacts of global warming on vulnerable sectors in 6 African countries
Zizipho is a project manager in the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN), where she coordinates the programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. In addition to CDKN, Zizi is the Project Coordinator for the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) and the Justice in a Changing Climate Project. Zizi holds a Masters’s in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape. Her research was on the relationship between food insecurity and climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. She also has an academic background in environmental, social justice and psychology with research focused on food security and climate change. She has been active in several global forums as a youth representative – including the Global Landscapes Forum and the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Youth Forum
Sydney is the project manager for the Adaptation Research Alliance. She has a degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from SOAS and a Masters in Social Research Methods from the University of Sussex. She has experience designing, implementing, and managing large-scale action research projects, and spent some time facilitating theatre workshops as an action research method. When not at work, she enjoys dancing (freestyle), cold water swimming and eating food with other people.
Diana is the Communications Officer for the Adaptation Research Alliance. She has a MSc in International Development from the University of Bath, UK. Her experience is in improving communications and managing content to support the work of non-profit organisations. Diana is a professional translator with more than 14 years’ experience working with the Portuguese, French and English languages and specialising in the international development sector. She’s passionate about using her knowledge of languages to contribute to sustainability and climate resilience.
Jali is SSN’s Caretaker and Maintenance Manager and has been part of the team since 2015. His responsibilities include maintenance and security. His green fingers make him perfect for caring for our plants and garden. He has a great recycling system and can repair, clean and paint just about anything.
Melaney is the Events & Logistics Coordinator for SouthSouthNorth, coordinating all virtual and in-person events for projects housed within SSN. Melaney has spent over 10 years working in the Ecotourism and Community Development sectors where she managed Poverty Alleviation Projects, coordinated Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes and developed ecotourism products for National Parks in the Southern and Eastern Cape. She has a passion for ecotourism and community development and a special interest in sustainable travel.
Brian is a Research & Project Manager on the Aligning Finance Flows with the Paris Agreement in Africa programme (AFF). He has a broad career background in corporate and development banking across Eastern and Southern Africa. He is keenly curious about pathways to the green economy that foster empowerment opportunities for the global south. Climate finance that sustainably supports a Just Transition is another area of interest. Brian has an MCom in Economic Development from the University of Cape Town as well as an MSc in Finance from the University of Strathclyde. He enjoys hiking and outdoor adventures, has pastry baking goals and has made reading about transformational global moments a staple.
Donald is a Project Manager for the Future Climate for Africa programme. He is currently researching the motivations and challenges for the uptake of climate change considerations in large-scale hydropower infrastructure in Africa, which is a research output for the FCFA programme. Donald’s work experience includes environmental consulting in Gaborone, Botswana and research consulting in Cape Town. Donald holds a BSci Economics and Environmental Science and BSci Honours from Rhodes University, and is currently completing a Master’s in Sustainable Energy Development at the University of Cape Town.
Sihle works as a Project Manager for the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) secretariat. She has a Bachelor of Technology in Operations Management from the University of Johannesburg, as well as a Project Management certificate from the University of Stellenbosch. She previously worked as an operations intern at JP Morgan (SA). She has also worked as an Operations intern, where she supported SSN’s financial and operational activities for projects.
Melanie leads the Data and Risk Management (DMRM) team, comprised of colleagues in the Contracts and Operations hubs, which addresses corporate risk and compliance management, value generation and new business development, development of systems and systems integration, and data management. She is also the Procurement lead on the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) research programme, a DFID/UNCTAD funded programme running across 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Melanie comes from a social development background, where her 30-year career spanned designing and managing programmes in early childhood development, alternative care and child protection; science and technology outreach and education; and culminated in social impact funding as a community grant maker. She is a passionate learner and generalist in a specialised world. Melanie holds degrees from the Universities of Stellenbosch, Pretoria and the Witwatersrand.
Amanda is a CDKN Country Coordinator – Africa under the Climate and Development Knowledge Network’s (CDKN) Country Engagement in Africa programme, heading up Knowledge Basis Projects (KBPs) in Namibia and Ghana while also providing project management support for CDKN’s country work in Kenya and Ethiopia. She is an experienced policy researcher and analyst, having worked in both the governmental and non-governmental space in policy and strategy, food security, gender equality, and climate-compatible development with a particular focus on rural women. Prior to joining CDKN, she worked in the Policy and Strategy Directorate in the Department of the Premier, Western Cape Government. Before that, she worked as a researcher and a Senior Writer at My Vote Counts and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group. She enjoys hiking, travelling, and trying out different restaurants in her spare time.
Ameil is interested in understanding the multi-disciplinary intersection of resilience in the governance of social-ecological systems. Ameil is currently the Thematic Finance Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). His work focuses on understanding the system transformations required across scales to build an inclusive development and finance architecture that can drive resources to the ground for local adaptation and resilience action. Prior to this, Ameil worked as the Policy Officer for the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), as the Mobilising Finance Coordinator for the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF), and as a climate finance technical advisor at SouthSouthNorth. He has worked across multiple sectors and stakeholder groups on understanding how to mobilise finance, build equitable partnerships, create enabling policy and regulatory environments, and how to collectively advance ambition on transformative and inclusive resilience action. Ameil holds an MSc in Ecological Economics from the University of Edinburgh, and a BSc (Honours) in Marine Biology and Applied Biology from the University of Cape Town. In his spare time, you will find him aquaculturing coral and nerding out on the complexities and wonders of nature.
Charlotte provides technical and project management support to the Climate and Development Knowledge Network programme. She leads Country Engagement for Africa, working with Country Engagement Leads in Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana and Namibia. Charlotte has a Master’s in Urban Infrastructure, Design and Management and provides research and technical support to resilient cities initiatives in the office and in collaboration with partners. Her interests include the co-production of nature-based solutions and accountability and equity in climate action in African cities. Previously she worked at ICLEI Africa, and prior to that managed a range of projects at SSN including the LEDS-GP Subnational Integration Working Group and the Mobilising Investment for NDC Implementation Project. In her spare time you’ll find her free-diving along the Cape Peninsula.”
Feeri-el is responsible for bookkeeping at SSN. Previously from a 16-year career as a Project Manager for end-user software, as well as doing bookkeeping on a consultancy basis, she then moved into the manufacturing industry and then moved to SSN. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, road trips and getaways.
Michelle is the Programme Manager for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, a southern-led programme that supports decision-makers to design and deliver climate compatible development. Prior to this she was the Executive Secretary of the Africa LEDS Partnership; a partnership of institutions, governments and practitioners working to advance low emission development strategies. Within SSN she co-leads the Climate, Development and Implementation Hub. Previously Michelle was the Programme Manager for the MAPS programme, a six-year partnership between four Latin American countries that spearheaded an innovative stakeholder-driven process to plan for low-carbon development. Michelle has also worked on the financing and development of sustainable energy projects in southern Africa, including the development of the Sustainable Settlements Facility. Michelle holds an Honours Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Environmental Humanities at the University of Cape Town. Her research interest is technical assistance practice between the North and Africa in Low Carbon Development.
Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge integration skills to the SSN Knowledge Management Hub, as a sustainability practitioner with a track record in the climate change space in Africa. With a professional background ranging from water resource and infrastructure planning and environmental impact assessments, to designing and implementing one of South Africa’s first socially responsible investment funds to managing several green economy entrepreneurship programmes her practical insights broaden the impact of SSN’s work. Amanda’s diverse climate change related communication experience includes communicating to groups such as executive management of listed companies and equity investment committees to rural farmers and rural cookstove manufacturers. Amanda studied economics and environmental science at the University of KwaZulu Natal, with an honours degree in EGS from UCT. Once a Duzi paddler and mountain climber, Amanda is now content to fill her spare time with rambling hikes, gardening, tending a compost heap, growing trees and the occasional tentative ocean surf ski.
Mnoneleli is a Contracts Administrator in the CCRM Hub. Before that, he was in the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme as a Project Administrator, where he discovered his flair for organisation and administration. Mnoneleli enjoys playing online games, watching sports and relaxing with family and friends in his spare time.
Tiffany is a Project Manager at SouthSouthNorth working with the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme which aims to support local civil society and underrepresented groups to take on a central role as creators, facilitators and advocates of innovative climate solutions. Tiffany is particularly interested in tackling everyday development issues, specifically in the realms of environmental justice, social cohesion and equity. She previously worked in local government with civil society organisations and public institutions to strengthen international partnerships for sustainable development. She is currently completing her MPhil Degree in Environment, Society and Sustainability through the University of Cape Town.
André assists the CFO with his day-to-day responsibilities and is also responsible for the financial management of several of SSN’s projects. He is currently completing his CIMA to obtain a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation and has 9 years work experience in finance. André enjoys entertaining friends with dinner parties, being surrounded by nature and creating art.
Claudia is the Office Manager SSN, she is responsible for keeping the office running smoothly and overseeing administrative support. Her strong organisational skills , love for order and passion for the environment make her a perfect fit for our team. Out of work Claudia enjoys walking, going to the gym and is very involved at her sons school.
Michael is a Project Manager for the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership (SACFP) backed by several years experience working in the climate governance and climate finance space on projects for organisations such as the World Bank, Climate Investment Funds, and the German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. Much of his work focusses on the use of progressive policy interventions to support transformative development pathways. Michael is a qualified attorney and holds an LLM degree in environmental and sustainable development law from the University of the Witwatersrand; his research has focussed on the intersection of international and domestic legal regimes for the collaborative management of shared natural resources. In his spare time Michael collaborates with others to create playful and engaging art installations and experiences that explore the human condition.
Kate is a Project Manager working on the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership programme. Previously, she worked as a researcher at the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Initiative, where she contributed to research on the impacts of climate change on small-scale agriculture on the continent. Her areas of interest include transformative adaptation, conservation and food security, with an emphasis on justice. She has a background in ecology and holds an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town.
Olivia is SSN’s Knowledge Management (KM) Hub Manager. She has a BSc (Eng) in Chemical Engineering (with Honours) and an MSc in Conservation Biology (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town. Her career has followed an interesting path, from working as a communications intern in the City of Cape Town’s Sustainable Energy Markets Department, to finding sustainable waste solutions as the Coastal Technical Officer at Interwaste, to exploring the design industry as a Project Manager at Aloe Creatives. She has always had a passion for effective communication and supporting sustainable development, as well as a creative flair, which has led her to this position at SSN. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active, reading, spending quality time with her friends and looking after her plant-babies.
Alex is SSN’s Operations Officer, providing support to various programmes and hubs while enthusiastically bringing a broad technical base to the Ops Team. He has a background in engineering and enjoys applying his problem-solving skills to challenges of all shapes and sizes. In the past, Alex has led R&D work for eco-tech in Vietnam, rebuilt and sailed yachts across oceans, and dabbled in various maker-space projects. He currently spends his time-solving boulder problems or making his own problems (read apps, electronic devices and jam) at home.
Nadia is the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Thematic Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). She has over 15 years of experience working at the interface between research, policy and practice. Her work seeks to identify where windows of opportunity exist for shifting systems towards more equitable and resilient development trajectories by addressing issues linked to structural inequalities and power asymmetries linked to natural resource governance.
Nadia also holds a senior researcher position at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University, where she lectures and supervises post-graduate students. Nadia is currently a coordinating lead author in the IPBES Nexus Assessment and has a Medical science Honours specialising in Environmental Toxicology, an MSc in Wild Animal Biology and a transdisciplinary PhD in Conservation Ecology. You will find her near water or trying to get better at pottery when not behind a screen.
Faith Gara works as a Junior Project Manager in the FCDO-funded Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme and is a PhD Candidate (Environmental Humanities South) at the University of Cape Town. Faith is an environmental anthropologist and holds an MPhil in Environmental Humanities (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town and a BA Honours in Development Studies from UNISA. Her PhD dissertation uses various ethnographic methods to explore avenues toward a just transition and inclusive Resource Efficient Cleaner Production interventions in Tanzania’s textile sector.
Elzette works as a Technical Project and Relations Manager for the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. As an experienced urban planner, aspiring researcher, and ocean enthusiast, Elzette recognises the relational nature of complex social systems, design and the importance of interrogating the relationship between people and nature to bring about much-needed sustainable change.
Elzette’s professional experience is varied, ranging from spatial planning, policy writing, project management, public consultation, stakeholder engagement, land use development, specialist input into environmental management processes, capacity building, and sustainability related research. A recently completed Masters degree in Sustainable Development at the Sustainability Institute (University of Stellenbosch) complements her urban work. She has since collaborated with other experts on sustainability-related projects and lectured part-time at various institutions on topics such as sustainable cities and environmental resource management.
When not at her desk, you will find her making the most of living in Cape Town, either running in the mountains or enjoying ocean watersports.
Aimee works as a Junior Project Manager & Research Assistant for Aligning Financial Flows (AFF), which seeks to enable African countries to identify pathways and strategies for the climate-appropriate alignment of financial flows. In her role, she provides project management and research support to the team. Before SSN, she worked at the African Climate and Development Initiative in the area of nature-based solutions to climate change. Here she grew an interest in distributional equity concerning co-benefits of climate change adaptation projects.
Aimee has a broad academic background with an Honours degree in Psychology and is interested in a transdisciplinary approach to the ‘wicked problems’ that climate change poses to society. Another area of interest is innovative climate financing opportunities for the Global South’s transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. Aimee is currently completing her MPhil Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Cape Town.
Tlou is a Knowledge management and communications officer. She has a BSc in Water and sanitation and a postgraduate diploma in Integrated water resource management from the University of the Western Cape. Tlou has experience in social media and project administration. Before joining SSN, she worked as a social media and project administrator at the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute (SAFCEI). When not working, she enjoys hiking, adventure, catching sunsets and exploring different restaurants.
Ammaar is the operations coordinator for CDKN and deals with finance as well as ops. He occasionally supports VCA and ARA with recons and reporting. He is an engineer with a mixture of experience stemming from Toyota Automotive Manufacturing, Web development freelancing, and other pursuits. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering and is solutions-oriented, adaptive and inquisitive. His goals are to learn, add value, and impact at SSN.” In his spare, he loves painting, playing guitar and coding.”
Lumka is the office receptionist at SSN and has been on the office management team since 2019. She supports SSN with front desk administration and assists in office event preparation. She is also responsible for maintaining the office inventory and filing. Lumka’s excellent organisational skills make her perfect for this multi-tasking job. She is always ready and willing to help with a smile and always makes a plan. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a book.
Gaopalelwe Moroane is the Communications Coordinator for Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN). She completed her BA in Journalism, and Honours in African Language Studies at Rhodes University. She has ten years of experience in Corporate Communication in the public sector in South Africa. Gaopalelwe enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, and taking part in outdoor activities such as hiking and social running. She looks forward to learning and growing in the team.
Lesego is a Project Administrator for the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA). She obtained a BSocsci in Anthropology and Environmental and Geographical Science in 2016 and an Honours degree in Anthropology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2018. She has experience as a sales assistant, as well as an undergraduate senior administrator at UCT. Lesego is passionate about the connection and relationship between nature and democracy, indigenous and pre-colonial knowledge systems, and local environmentalism(s) of the South. She hopes to contribute to work that focuses on bringing awareness to and protecting local and indigenous knowledge systems and promoting ideals and practices that encourage working with nature and climate change rather than trying to control it. In her spare time, Lesego enjoys engaging in conversations, cooking, reading, watching films and series, and learning more about the universe.
Kate is the editorial and communications officer for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). She is a qualified scientific researcher with over a decade of experience in science communication, cross-institutional engagement, content creation, training, and facilitation. She enjoys working in what she refers to as the “middle space” between core research and user application. Kate’s focus includes interpreting technical details, developing and implementing effective science communication strategies and understanding target audiences’ needs with the goal of high user impact
and application. She holds a BSc in Science and a MSc in Zoology. In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time with her family and young boys.
Lauricha is a junior project manager for Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA). She completed her BA in Arts in Sociology and Language and Communication studies and a BA Honours in Development Studies at the University of the Western Cape. She is currently doing an online course in project management and wants to study sustainability and climate adaptation in the future. In her spare time, she and her family enjoy helping boys in her community with sports and academic talents by offering tutoring services, scholarship opportunities, coaching, and taking them to all their games on weekends. She also enjoys sightseeing with friends and family and going on road trips.
Sameer is an IT Coordinator at SSN; prior to that, he was an intern. He is qualified as an IT System Support Technician, which has given him a great foundation within his field which he hopes will continue to grow. He is interested in climate change and aims to understand it broadly. Sameer is passionate about aviation and is pursuing his Drone Pilot’s Licence, seeking a Private Pilot’s License soon.
Lucia is the Learning Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network at SouthSouthNorth, leading reflection processes to gather lessons learned around knowledge brokering and locally-led adaptation. Previously, Lucia coordinated the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions project at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She also worked in the United Nations Environment Programme regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean, coordinating a project on integrated coastal management in Central America; with the Africa team at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat in Switzerland; and in Mozambique, creating awareness on the impacts of hydropower dams and promoting integrated water resources management of the Zambezi River. She has an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from UCT and a master’s in environmental planning from the University of British Columbia.
David is a data analyst working in the Operations team at SSN. He designs systems and develops web applications to optimise SSNs’ many different programmes and activities. David’s attention to detail, combined with big-picture thinking, makes him a very versatile problem-solver. David studied Electro-Mechanical Engineering at UCT and worked in the construction industry prior to joining SSN. His hobbies include kite surfing, teaching people how to kite surf, and talking about kite surfing.
Maria is a finance administrator at SSN. She has an undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Science. Being part of an entrepreneurial family, she found herself adapting her learned skills in smaller private sector business environments and pure auditing environments, making working at SSN a perfect synergy for her ideal working environment. Maria enjoys history, speaks Greek as her home language, and has two teenage boys that make up much spare time. Maria enjoys time with family and friends to the fullest.
Guy is the Africa Technical Coordinator for Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Prior to that, he supported the Operations team with financial reporting, project management and logistics. Guy qualified with a Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town in 2016, where he majored in Finance. Guy is trying to grow a cycle to work initiative, starting at SSN, with the aim of expanding it to the whole of Cape Town.
Dr Tyler has over twenty years of experience in the energy and climate space, bringing the lenses of complexity and complex systems, economics and finance to the complex challenges she encounters. Specific areas of expertise include energy and climate mitigation policymaking, carbon pricing and budgeting, power sector modelling for policy, climate finance, corporate and investor carbon strategies, and national low carbon transition planning. Whilst South Africa is Emily’s home and work focus, she has an appreciation for the international context of domestic climate and energy policymaking through her regular engagement in international partnerships, and work experience in the EU, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Finding the interplay between practice and reflection particularly rich, Emily has worked to retain both her consulting and academic presence throughout her career. Emily has worked predominantly as a consultant, to local and international civil society, the private sector, government and academia, both independently and in consulting firms, think-tanks and not-for-profit institutions.
Emily is currently working with the team at Meridian Economics, a Cape Town based think tank in the energy and climate space, and holds an Honorary Research Associate position at the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Institute. Emily is frequently engaged in transdisciplinary research initiatives relating to her field and publishes regularly in both domestic and international journals.
Yacob is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He is a Professor of Energy and Development Policy at the University College London; and held an academic post at the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, UK. He is a founding member of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he worked as Senior Climate & Energy Specialist (2010-2013).
He has 25 years of research, teaching and advisory experience specialising on the links between energy infrastructure provision and human welfare. His research is focused on three interconnected areas: energy systems and development; energy systems and climate change; and political economy of low carbon development. He served as a Coordinating Lead Author of the Energy Systems chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (Working Group III on Mitigation), lead author in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5oC, and currently lead author in the IPCC 6th Assessment Report. He recently led the chapter on Energy Transitions in UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report (2019). Yacob Mulugetta is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
Ronald is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He is a professional focusing on sustainability management and mainstreaming sustainable development in the public sector. Ron has worked on multiple innovative cutting edge programmatic interventions related to mainstreaming climate compatible development (CCD), climate change into development planning in sub-Saharan Africa, climate resilient infrastructure, energy and water infrastructure (incl. food-energy-water nexus), promoting applied research and dialogue between policy and science stakeholders, long-term adaptation planning, climate finance and decision-making. He also works on projects relating to resource efficiency and optimisation, sustainable public procurement, green jobs, green and inclusive economy. He holds a Masters in Sustainable Development, Planning and Management from the University of Stellenbosch and various IAC business management related qualifications.
Peta is an Associate of the SSN NPC. She has a degree in Sociology from the University of Essex and a Master of Science in Social Administration and Social Work Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Peta worked in the field of psychiatric social work in the United Kingdom before returning to South Africa in 1996 to work in the development sector.
Peta joined Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) in March 2008. She provides overall management and leadership to the organisation and has worked on a range of climate change and energy projects. This has included research, facilitation, capacity building, data analysis and policy development within all three spheres of government. She has written papers, contributed to publications and given talks on sustainable energy and climate change.
Zaheer Fakir is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He has more than 27 years of experience in the world of international politics, trade, finance and development issues. He currently serves as the Chief Policy Adviser on International Governance and Resource Mobilization within the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa. This portfolio includes bilateral relations and multilateral environmental agreements, international conventions, donor coordination, resource mobilization and management, liaising with foreign governments, the African Ministerial Conference of Environment, African Union, G20, World Bank, UN and other international organizations. Zaheer serves as the South African Operational Focal point for the Global Environment Facility, a Board member the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds as well as a founding member and former Co-Chair and Board member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Zaheer has served as GCF Co-Chair twice (2013 – 2014 & 2016 – 2017) and as a GCF Board member from 2013 to 2018.
Zaheer has been at the forefront of negotiations on a number of major multilateral outcomes most notably the Governing Instrument of the GCF and its operationalization, the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 and the Katowice Climate Change Conference. Prior to joining the Department of Environmental Affairs, Zaheer worked for the Department of Trade and Industry in the field of international trade and investment.