Karin Ireton — Head of Sustainable Development: Markets and Economics for Anglo American
Karin Ireton has been a leader in sustainable development for many years and has played a role in developing corporate understanding and practice, as well as the formulation of national and international policy. Her focus at Anglo American is on embedding good practice and sustainable development thinking into all aspects of the business.
Professor Mary Metcalfe — Head of Education, University of the Witwatersrand
Mary Metcalfe was Gauteng minister of education from 1994 to 1999, minister of agriculture, conservation and environment from 1999 to 2004 and deputy speaker in the Gauteng legislature from 2004 to January 2005. In February 2005 she returned to Wits to take up the position of head of education. In her portfolios as minister in the country’s economic powerhouse, Metcalfe gained invaluable insight into the workings of business and sustainable development.
Arend Hoogervorst — Industrial Environmental and Sustainability Adviser
Arend Hoogervorst is a consulting environmental scientist, environmental auditor and director of Eagle Environmental, a South African-based environmental consultancy. He also edits and publishes the environmental and sustainability newsletter, Eagle Bulletin, and has been professionally involved in environmental matters for more than 25 years in local and central government, industry and the private sector.
Paul Kapelus — CEO African Institute of Corporate Citizens and stakeholder council member of the Global Reporting Initiative
Paul Kapelus is a founder and CEO of the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship. He has an MA in social anthropology from Sussex University, United Kingdom. He is a stakeholder council member of the Global Reporting Initiative, a council member of Account Ability and was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Kapelus has experience in various sectors addressing the impact of business on society and developing measures to promote a positive interaction between core business and social challenges.
Rosemary Noge — Sustainable Development Manager at Gold Fields
Rosemary Noge joined the Gold Fields Foundation in 2000. Noge gained experience in business operations and, specifically, in the administration of the Bakubung Initiative, which has developed the African Junior Mining Fund. In 2002 Noge was selected to participate in Gold Fields leadership development programme.
Wanda Mkutshulwa — Head of Communications at South African National Parks (SANParks)
Wanda Mkutshulwa has an educational background in journalism and international relations. Mkutshulwa worked briefly for the media before joining the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights in 1999, initially as head of communications and then as national communications coordinator in the office of the Chief Land Claims Commissioner, before moving on to her current position at SANParks.
Justin Smith — Senior Manager, Governance and Sustainability at the Nedbank Group
Justin Smith has a background in law and finance and a passion for environmental law and sustainable development. He is involved in the management of corporate governance and business ethics issues. He is responsible also for the sustainability management and reporting process and for providing internal advisory services to Nedbank. Smith is a member of the NBI’s Sustainable Future’s Advisory Committee and co-chairperson of the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative for Africa.
Fiona Macleod — Editor of Lowveld Living and Highveld Living
Fiona Macleod is an award-winning journalist and editor. She is an environmental consultant for the Mail & Guardian, and the editor of two glossy lifestyle magazines, Lowveld Living and Highveld Living. Macleod was environmental editor at the M&G for 10 years, during which time she was awarded the illustrious Nick Steele Award for environmental journalism. She held various positions within M&G Media, including assistant editor of the M&G and editor of Earthyear, which focused on environmental sustainability in Southern Africa. Macleod is the founding member of the Greening the Future Awards and was editor of both Greening the Future and Investing in the Future supplements.
Donald Kau — Director and Shareholder at Meropa Communications
Donald Kau has qualifications in public relations from the University of Johannesburg, graphic design from the AAA School of Advertising and project management. He recently completed his Management Advancement Programme through the University of Pretoria and the Gordon Institute of Business. At Meropa he is responsible for strategic counsel to clients in government and the emerging entrepreneur business arena.
Yolandi Groenewald — M&G environmental reporter and editor of Greening the Future
Yolandi Groenewald is a respected environmental journalist who is passionate about the environment and protecting it from unscrupulous individuals and corporations. Groenewald joined the M&G team five years ago, after completing her honours in communication at Northwest University. In 2004 she won a merit award for her work as an environmental reporter at the South African Breweries environmental journalism awards. She is a former editorial assistant for Earthyear magazine and is the editor of the Greening the Future and Investing in the Future supplements.
Saliem Fakir – senior lecturer at the Department of Public Administration and Planning at the University of Stellenbosch
Saliem Fakir teaches a course on renewable energy policy and financing of renewable energy projects at the University of Stellenbosch. He is associate director of the university’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies. Fakir worked previously for Lereko Energy, an investment company focusing on project development and financial arrangements for renewable energy, biofuels, waste and water sectors. He also served as director of the World Conservation Union South Africa office and is currently applying to be a PhD candidate on the question of the hydrogen economy.