AFRICAN RENEWABLE ENERGY REGIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE 2016 – DELEGATES
Mr. Michael Sudarkasa, CEO, Africa Business Group Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 513 4117 Mr. Sudarkasa is the CEO of Africa Business Group (ABG), an Cell: +27 82 414 8671 African economic development company founded in 2005 and based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also the Managing Director of the company’s recently established subsidiary, Africa Business Energy, which focuses on renewable energy project development - with a core focus on providing solar technologies and developing small/ mini hydro projects for commercial and industrial enterprises, and academic and government institutions. Michael has served as Project Manager of the South Africa Solar Energy Technology Roadmap, which was chaired by the SA Department of Energy and Department of Science and Technology, and ABG is currently the lead consultant of the African Forum of Utility Regulators. Michael is also currently the Advisor - Economic Affairs of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union. Fluent in French, Michael holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a BA degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Page | 1
Dr. Karen Surridge-Talbot, Centre Manager, Renewable Energy Email: [email protected] Centre of Research & Development Clean Energy, South Africa Tel: +27 11 038 4322 National Energy Development Institute Cell: +27 83 293 0734
Dr. Karen is the Centre Manager of the Renewable Energy Centre of Research and Development (RECORD) at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). RECORD aims to facilitate renewable energy research coordination, collaboration and dissemination of national and international renewable energy knowledge contributing towards a sustainable low carbon energy future. Additionally, Dr Surridge-Talbot still serves as an extra- ordinary lecturer at the University of Pretoria in the Department of Plant Production and Soil Science in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Her career encompasses a variety of research and study topics, particularly over the last 10 years working in the energy sector. Karen holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Pretoria.
Page | 2
Ms. Nomawethu Qase, Director, Renewable Energy, Department Email: [email protected] of Energy Tel: +27 12 4067686/7
Ms. Qase is currently sits as Director: New &Renewable Energy, she acts as regional coordinator amongst others, for the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) which is a Programme which promotes renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency (EE), and clean technology investments. In 2001 Nomawethu as Senior Consultant at Raps consulting and went on to serve as Senior Policy Analyst at National Treasury from 2003 and 2007, with works to ensure that government and corporate policies achieve desired effects and meet minimum levels of efficiency. She holds a
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Energy Studies.
Mr. Vuyani Lingela, Project Executive: Atlantis GreenTech Email: [email protected] Vuyani Lingela is the Project Executive for the Atlantis GreenTech Tel: +27 21 811 0250 Special Economic Zone. He has been the Project Manager for the Wild Coast Agro-Industrial Special Economic Zone; Chief Director for International Research at the Department of Science and Technology; Executive Director of the National Advisory Council on Innovation; Science and Technology Representative at the Embassy of South Africa in Japan; and Lectured at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He studied Desert Agro-Biology at Ben- Gurion University of the Negev in Israel; Environmental Toxicology at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in Japan; and Masters of Agriculture at the University of Pretoria.
Page | 3
Mr. Johan van den Berg, CEO, South African Wind Energy Email: [email protected] Association Tel: +27 11 214 0664 Cell: 082 925 5680 Mr. Johan van den Berg is the CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, the Chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council and the African Private Sector Focal Point for the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. A barrister, he has spent eighteen years in dispute resolution; environmental mediation; climate change avoidance/emissions trading; and efforts to deploy renewable energy in Southern Africa. As the Chief Executive Officer at SAWEA in his role he has engaged with government ministries (Environment, Agriculture and Energy) and has also liaised with the National Treasury regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT), and the Power Conservation Plan (PCP). In addition to wind energy, he also has ‘hands-on’ experience and understanding of the various technologies, their costs, likely load factors, strengths and weaknesses and inherent risks in the waste gas to energy, waste heat to energy, biomass and biogas to energy sectors. He holds a BCom LLM.
Page | 4
Mr. Dominic Milazi, Research Group Leader for Energy Market Email: [email protected] Design and Policy Analysis, Energy Division, Council for Scientific Tel: 012 842 7247 and Industrial Research Cell: 071 618 9357
Mr. Milazi joined the Energy Division at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) where he is the Research Group Leader for Energy Market Design and Policy Analysis. Prior to joining the CSIR, he served as Project Manager (Renewable Energy Initiatives) at the National Department of Energy. In this post, he was responsible for the South African Wind Energy Program working in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Dominic holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, a postgraduate degree from Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) focusing on renewable energy, a Masters in Environmental Management and a Masters in Business Administration from Duke University, where he was awarded the Fulbright Scholar scholarship and a scholarship facilitated by the Black Management Forum (BMF).
Page | 5
Ms. Chiboni Evans, CEO, South Africa Electrotechnical Export Email: [email protected] Council Tel: +27 11 315 0209
Ms. Evans is the CEO of South Africa Electrotechnical Export Council and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Certified Accountants who studied and trained in Zambia and the United Kingdom before returning to South Africa from exile in 1995. She has worked as a commercial and financial accountant for various multinational start-up operations in Africa including Cargill in Zambia, the Mars Corporation and SAB Miller in South Africa. Chiboni has pioneered and designed a number of innovative business and technological solutions. Most notable has been the development of a novel technological solution internationally branded as MARITRAQ™, which is aimed at assisting the global artisanal fishing sector to operate in a safer and environmentally sustainable manner. South Africa Electrotechnical Export Council is a non-profit organization, which is a public private partnership with the South Africa Department of Trade and Industry and represents over 90 South African registered companies engaged in exports.
Page | 6
Dr. Karen Breytenbach, Head, Independent Power Production Email: [email protected] Office, Department of Energy Tel: +27 11 038 4322 Cell: +27 83 293 0734 Ms. Breytenbach was previously with the National Treasury, Public Private Partnership Unit and is currently Head of the Department of Energy, IPP Office. Karen has extensive experience in the procurement of large scale infrastructure projects. As Head of the IPP Office, Karén has been instrumental in the procurement of the internationally recognised Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme and is also heading the team procuring the new coal baseload and co-generation IPP Programmes. The IPP office is currently also procuring a gas to power IPP programme, which will include, inter alia, natural gas, syngas and LNG. Previously Karen was at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, involved in the private financing of infrastructure projects such as the earlier toll roads, water projects and the Mozambique gas pipeline.
Page | 7
Mr. Jaco Botha, Managing Director, Solareff Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 675 1114 Mr. Botha is the managing director at Solareff and a professional Cell: +2782 937 7659 Electrical engineer with many years’ experience in renewable energy projects. In 2011 he was Project Engineer at DRA Mining, a multi-disciplinary, multi-national enterprise, specializes in a total solutions offering covering virtually every aspect of mine design, infrastructure and mineral process plant design and construction. Jaco has consulted extensively in the renewable energy sector and was appointed in a technical advisory role in a large Independent Power Producer project. He has experience in multi-disciplinary engineering design (including electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, civil and structural) and has commissioned solar PV systems of various sizes across a number of sectors, including commercial and industrial rooftop and mining. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree, with majors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) qualification as well as a Government Certificate of Competency (GCC).
Page | 8
Mr Frank Major, Managing Director, Reach Renewable Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 (0) 11 312 2430 Mr. Major currently sits as Director at Eco Platform and REACH Renewable which offers renewable solution to help create comfortable environments, whilst reducing the impact it has on our Earth's environment. Prior to this, Frank was a Business Development Manage at Voltas Technologies Pty Ltd South Africa where he spent 4 years Committed to providing the most effective and efficient renewable energies solutions, Whilst also spending a year as Technical Director At Solartech. Frank was groomed as Trainee to Branch manager at Sun Tank, which is South Africa’s leading solar heating and solar geysers manufacturing and installation company. He holds a Bachelors of Business administration from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Industrial Engineering from Technische Universität Berlin.
Mr. Natie Odendaal, Operations Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Email: [email protected] Lead EPC Tel: +27 16 933 3925 Cell: + 27 83 648 4518 Mr. Odendaal is an Operations Director Sub-Sahara Africa at Lead EPC which he takes responsibility for all elements of project engineering, procurement, logistics, construction, and commissioning. He started at the company in January 2013 as Senior Project Manager. He spent 7 years Project Manager at Kentz, coming from serving 7 year tenure as Project Engineer at AGE Technologies. Natie served Master Technician at ArcelorMittal from 1993 – 1998. He currently holds a Nasional Diploma, Electrical High Current from HTS Oudtshoorn.
Page | 9
Mr. Theuns van Aardt, Director, Solar Water Heating Email: [email protected] Manufacture GAP Holdings Tel: +27 11 392 3059 Cell: +27 82 783 0571 Mr van Aardt is the director of Gap Geysers. Gap specializes in geyser innovation and new technologies in the industry. Their mission is to design, develop and manufacture products that will increase the efficiency and affordability of water heating. Theuns is also a managing director of Powerz-on Solar Systems. He has extensive skills in renewable energy, solar thermal, solar energy and solar PV. Theuns has extensive skills in renewable energy, solar thermal, solar energy and solar PV.
Dr. Johnny Naude, Mananging Director, Ilog Systems Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 913 3418 Dr Naude obtained a degree in electronics in 1980. He obtained a franchise from Robert Bosch Germany for the distribution of Automotive Test Equipment for Southern Africa in 1992. iLog Systems was founded during the 21 year time period with Bosch , the company became the leader in automotive technology, obtaining a 68% market share in RSA. Johnny was educated in numerous countries in Europe and Australia in the Autotronics (vehicle electronics) technology where he obtained various diplomas and certifications. He also obtained a Dip. Ing. (Engineering Degree) from the Robert Bosch Institute. After a short “retirement” the opportunity arose within the renewable energy sector. His interest in Solar PV energy stems from the later 1980’s. He decided to use this knowledge and consequently did his PhD thesis (technical) to be a true specialist in the field. This thesis, on a technical level, concentrates on design etc. It is with
Page | 10
this valuable knowledge that he designed the Smart Box Solar light system.
Mr. Larry Khuvutla, Managing Director, PV Enterprises Email: [email protected] Mr. Khuvutlu is the founder of PV Enterprises and he is currently Tel: 021 839 3269 the Managing Director. His career highlights in the Solar PV Cell: 082 845 5082 industry in South Africa includes: developing a solar photovoltaic systems design training course aimed at electrical engineering professionals, PV Enterprises trained over 700 engineers on the design of solar photovoltaic systems, Construction supervision of the installation of 30MW solar PV system for Astro Group SRL at the Solar Capital De Aar 1 project. Larry’s vision is to make solar energy scalable and cause large-scale adoption of solar PV technology in Africa. His grand career goal is to own and run a solar PV manufacturing company. Larry completed his BSc in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town.
Page | 11
Mr. Jonathan de Magalhaes, Director, Ubuntu Energy Email: [email protected] Mr. Jonathan de Magalhaes is the Managing Director of Ubuntu Energy Solutions. Ubuntu Energy Solutions provides energy consulting and auditing services, reduce energy costs through efficiency, and provide renewable energy generation and power availability solutions. Jonathan was previously a managing director at Pre-Plan Energy and a software manager at Faritec. He is a member at the Association of Energy Engineers. He holds a National Diploma in IT from the Witwatersrand Technikon, he also holds various certificates from Green Building Council South Africa and The Association of Energy Engineers.
Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, 4th Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament
Dr. Bernadette Lahai, is a Sierra Leonean politician and the current Minority Leader of Parliament of Sierra Leone. She is the leader of the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) in the Sierra Leone House of Parliament. She currently represents Constituency 13 from Kenema District in the Sierra Leone House of Parliament. She is also Vice President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the Parliament that plays an indispensable role in the future of food in the African continent. In the 2002 general elections, Madam Lahai was elected to the Sierra Leone House of Parliament. She was re-elected in the 2007 Parliamentary elections. She further went on to win another re-election in the 2012 Parliamentary elections. Dr. Lahai has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Sociology from Fourah Bay College, and a Master's
Page | 12
Degree in Agricultural extension and Rural development from Njala University, both in Sierra Leone. She also has a PhD in Agricultural extension and Rural development from the University of Reading in Berkshire, England.
Page | 13