Corporate Experience

Corporate Project Management

08.2023 — 08.2024 C4 Ecosolutions (Pty) Ltd.

I was employed for one year as Project Manager for C4EcoSolutions (Pty) Ltd., an environmental consultancy in Tokai, Cape Town, South Africa. The work was a profound learning experience. I transitioned out of this role because I was eager to work more locally. I am intrigued by international development and fund mobilisation, but my focus is on local implementation.

The company has between 50 and 100 employees, and works in the fields of climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and some scientific research. The pillar of the company that I was most involved in develops Feasibility Studies, Project Proposals, Environmental and Social Safeguards, and Environmental Site Assessments on behalf of the United Nations. These documents, developed by teams of GIS specialists, implementations specialists and consultants, were submitted by the UN to the Green Climate Fund or the Global Environment Facility to mobilise development funds for developing nations. C4EcoSolutions has had consultants in 111 countries running over 300 projects to completion, to describe of the scale of the work.

See the following website for context:

https://c4es.co.za/ 

I was employed to develop a project management system to ensure productivity and profitability were balanced, training consultants in managing their time and ensuring a strong business flow. I played a role in a number of key organisational areas, including:

1. web hosting and development, 

2. assisting with job specifications and interviews, 

3. client engagement and conflict negotiations, 

4. bid development, project contracting, project inceptions and transfers, and 

5. managing some projects, including

4.1 An EbA Protocol for Mozambique Coastal Development. Client: UNEP. Title: Building resilience in the coastal zone through ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (EbA) in the Greater Maputo Area.

4.2 An ESMP for Mekong. Client: UNEP. Title: Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Greater Mekong sub-region. 

4.3 Bid development, contracting and launching a project developing an African climate resilient water investment programme. Client: GWP. Title: Climate resilient hydrological systems and observation for the SADC regional climate resilient water investment programme.

01.2026 — Current Agrifusion (Pty) Ltd.

I am currently project manager on the Water Use Licensing branch of Agrifusion (Pty) Ltd. This involves preparing eWULAAS applications and facilitating audits for farmers, managing compliance in the field of water licencing. I am managing a team of two junior consultants, with support from one senior consultant.

Business Development

08.2024 — Current

I have spent the last 6 months developing a Non-Profit Company, called Return on Ecology, an Institute for Urban and Agro-Ecology, with a local farming consultant, Bennie Diedericks, as well as the director of LabServe, a local soil and water quality laboratory, Pieter Raath.

This has involved web development, coordinating collaborations, investigating business structures, registering as an NPC via the CIPC, as well as a PBO via the DSD, for Section 9 and Section 18A benefits with SARS, as an incentive to motivate farmers and business owners to buy into the development activities.

I would like to keep building this organisation as part of my research footprint, but it will take a year or two to become financially sustainable, and I am exploring salaried options under which this work could continue. Please see the website for further details.