- The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has announced its new Board of Governance, including three new members.
- At a time in South Africa’s energy transition, the men and women who hold positions on this board will be charged with steering the wind energy sector and advocating for a clean and affordable energy mix, of which wind energy is a big part.
Additionally, this new Board will usher SAWEA into the new procurement rounds in line with the recently approved IRP 2019 as well as to operationalise the industry commitment statement which has a strong focus on transformation and economic development.
SAWEA believes that the gender balance reflected in the new Board, as it is 50% female, will add diversity and help expand perspectives. The Chair of SAWEA, Mercia Grimbeek, told Financial Mail earlier this year that “women add a different perspective and innovative thinking to the boardroom, which leads to more optimal solutions to challenges, adding that women’s strength in the top structures of organisations is their holistic view and emotional intelligence”.
“It is great that the newly elected Board members hold strategic leadership roles in their respective organisations, and therefore they bring immense experience in the wind energy sector and particularly the REIPPPP, ensuring that the organisation is well positioned to provide leadership to the broader industry. The Board represents a blend of developers (30%), IPPs (60%) and OEMs (10%), the critical role players in the wind energy value chain,” explained Ntombifuthi Ntuli, CEO of SAWEA.
The three new Board Members include Mark Tanton, Dhesen Moodley and Toni Beukes who join existing Board Members, Tobias Bischoff Niemz, Katherine Persson, Ntombifuthi Ntuli (ex-officio) and Mercia Grimbeek, who returns to the Board after re-election and was also re-elected the Chairperson of SAWEA.
Mark Tanton was instrumental in the establishment of SAWEA and he brings a lot of governance and industry experience having been one of the first developers to pave the path of wind energy in SA. He is committed to ensure that SAWEA continues to grow in its standing as a formidable industry body, adequately representing the maturity of the industry.
Toni Beukes is an admitted attorney and brings 12yrs of experience in the energy sector across oil, gas and renewable energy. Her renewable energy experience stems from her work in South Africa under the Renewable Energy Programme (REIP4), where her responsibilities included inter alia contract management, B-BBEE strategy and implementation, as well as trust and board administration.
Dhesen Moodley has over 20 years of investment industry experience, including 13 years managing infrastructure funds investing in Africa. His experience in SA renewables started with a 2008 wind farm development before REI4P commenced, and he’s been involved in all four bid windows since. He has developed, bid, financed and managed IPPs in South Africa and Mozambique across coal, gas, wind, solar and hydro technologies. Dhesen has chaired the boards, audit and risk, and remuneration committees of several IPPs during development, construction and operations stages.
“The new Board Members add a diversity to the leadership of the organisation as they bring new sets of skills and experience critical for the successful operation of the association,” concluded Ntuli.
SAWEA operates as a common law, voluntary not-for-profit association that represents the South African wind industry and is headed up by CEO, Ntombifuthi Ntuli. The Board is primarily concerned with issues of governance and strategy.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
Source: SAWEA
