Shehnaaz’s portfolio includes oversight of SSN’s finance, delivery, and operations hubs; she is the Director responsible for CDKN, VCA, CLEAN, ARA and GA LLA, amongst other projects. Shehnaaz is Chair of the Global Resilience Partnership Board, a Global Innovation Fund Climate Advisory Board member, on the Global Transitions Programme Committee and on the Race to Resilience Measurement Advisory Group. She has deep theoretical and practical expertise in delivering complex programmes addressing climate change within the African context. Social justice and equity are at the foundation of what informs Shehnaaz’s approach to programme design and local and global interventions. Prior to joining SSN, Shehnaaz was a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. She holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. She has the dubious honour of being the first female of colour to obtain a doctorate in Chemical Engineering in South Africa.

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

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.

Blaise is the Delivery and Operations Hub Lead at SSN, and works on a number of SSN’s projects that interface with the financing of activities taken to address climate change. He works to foster collaborative relationships with other organisations working on matters relating to climate finance and takes an interest in SSN’s overarching organisational strategy. Blaise holds a BComm Law (Hons.) and a Masters in Development Finance. His research interests focus on the use of venture capital to drive clean-technology entrepreneurship in Southern Africa. In his spare time, Blaise ponders about how to have a more purposeful impact within the climate change field given the remaining working days until 2030 and 2050 respectively.

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.

Emma is the Knowledge and Communications Lead 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.

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.

Karen is the Knowledge Management and Communications Manager on the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) Programme. The VCA programme aims to support local civil society and underrepresented groups to take on a central role as creators, facilitators and advocates of innovative climate solutions. Before joining VCA, Karen was a KM and Comms officer on the SSN KM Hub. She also was the project coordinator for the Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism project and project manager for the Hopefield Home Improvement project.

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.

Petersen is a Software Engineer at SSN. He holds a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UCT. With a background in Full-Stack Web Development and Software Test Analysis, his journey reflects a dedication to continuous learning and a results-driven mindset. At SSN, he leverages his skills to tackle complex challenges and contribute to developing cutting-edge software solutions. Beyond technology, he enjoys long-distance running and improving his photography skills.

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.

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.

Donald Barclay is the Programme Lead for the Climate, Environment and Nature (CLEAN) Helpdesk and Project Lead of the Climate Mainstreaming Technical Assistance Facility (Netherlands). He has experience as a Project Manager and Lead in SouthSouthNorth’s (SSN) Climate Services Hub and has a proven track record of managing multiple projects and programmes simultaneously. He has extensive experience in supporting, designing, and implementing UK and Netherlands-funded programmes.

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.

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.

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 is the Global Engagement and Learning lead for SSN in the Voices for Just Climate Action alliance, which aims to support local civil society to amplify their voices in climate decision-making. She has 10 years of experience working in climate and development. She has an MPhil from the African Centre for Cities and is pursuing her PhD focused on knowledge intermediaries working with local farmers and fishers. Her interests include knowledge brokering, climate justice and sustainable food systems. Previously, she worked as the Africa Country Engagement Manager for CDKN and at ICLEI Africa, managing research and engagement projects. You’ll find her swimming or free-diving along the Cape Peninsula in her spare time.

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.