National Executive Committee

Stephen has been involved in the field of GIS analysis and impact assessments since 1995.  In 2004 he became director of VRM Africa, a GIS and Visual Resource Management consultancy.  The focus of the organisation is on the visualisation and assessment of major landscape modifications often associated with mines and other major infrastructure projects throughout Southern Africa.  He has been involved in IAIAsa since 2007, was the Southern Cape chair in 2008, was elected onto the NEC in 2009 and co-ordinated the IAIAsa Conference in 2010.  His particular emphasis in joining IAIAsa was to ensure that best practice in specialist studies is implemented and that the integrity of specialist information brought into the assessment is maintained throughout the process and into implementation.

Email: info@vrma.co.za

Mark holds a BA (Hons) degree in Geography from Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and a MSc in Transportation Engineering form the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

He has over 23 years of experience in both the research and consulting fields, having worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), for Stewart Scott and now for Bohlweki Environmental Pty Ltd. For the last 12 years, he has focused exclusively on the growing environmental field, combining his geography and engineering experience in the fields of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Water Quality Studies and Solid Waste Management. He has led, or been involved in, some of the largest EIAs carried out in South Africa.

Appointed as an Associate Director of Bohlweki Environmental in January 1988 and Director in October 1998, he is a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pri Sci Nat:400079/98), as well as a member of both the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and IAIAsa. He has authored or co-authored over 40 technical research reports and conference papers in the fields of both Environmental Management and Transportation.

Mark has served on the Gauteng Branch Committee in various portfolios since 2001, including assisting with the organization of the national IAIA conference hosted by the Gauteng Branch, as well as handling the IAIA’s contributions towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.

Email: markf@bohlweki.co.za

Terry Baker is a Certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner with a Masters degree in Environmental Management and 20 years of working experience.  She is currently employed by ILISO Consulting (Pty) Ltd where she is involved in all phases of Integrated Environmental Management including screening, impact assessment, compiling Environmental Management Programmes and project implementation aspects.  Terry has worked throughout the SADC region and in Uganda and focuses on dams, waste water treatment works, linear projects and water resource development studies.  Terry also has an interest in teaching and has been involved in quest lecturing and the moderation of courses at the University of Pretoria and Tshwane University of Technology for a number of years.

Email: terry@iliso.com

Email: ia.jameson@eskom.co.za

Email: diane.erasmus@shands.co.za

Gerrie is a Senior Environmental Advisor for Eskom's Distribution Division. He is based in Bloemfontein and mostly involved with the regional Environmental Management System and advises Eskom Distribution mainly on EIAs for new projects.

Gerrie holds a B.Sc. degree and a M.Sc. in Environmental Management and is certified as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner with the interim Certification Board for Environmental Assessment Practitioners of South Africa, and registered as a professional Natural Scientist.

Email: gerrie.vanschalkwyk@eskom.co.za

Rod’s consultancy, Phelamanga Projects, specialises in policy issues and public participation processes (often simultaneously).  His qualifications include an M SocSci in Policy and Development. 

Recent, more interesting projects include the public scoping for bulk water pipelines, a desalination plant, the relocation of a chlorine depot and the A1 Grand Prix.  He is a Trustee of a national NGO that focuses on development for the rural poor. 

Rod is married with two daughters and a cat.  He has an interest in sustainable livelihoods as a theoretical framework, coastal issues, Johnny Clegg’s music and red wine.  When asked for a quote he says, “Phelamanga powered people are potent players”.

Email: rod@phelamanga.co.za

Sue George runs her own environmental consultancy based in Durban. She has a BA Environmental Management (UNISA 2005), and is presently undertaking her Masters in Environmental Management part time at the University of Free State. Her experience has been primarily statutory planning based, having worked for Ndebele Kirby Planners, for 13 years. Since 2005 she has been consulting as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental Management Plans, and assisting larger consulting firms with Strategic Environmental Projects. Her specific interest is in Strategic Environmental Planning and Integrated Environmental Management, promoting best practice and skills development in the environmental sector, and broadening her experience toward the promotion of Sustainable Development objectives.

Email: balancedenviro@xsinet.co.za

Email: thornhillm@thorn-ex.co.za

Marius heads the Potchefstroom based environmental consultancy, Aardlink, which focuses on the rehabilitation and restoration of disturbed habitats, especially mine wastes and degraded riparian and riverine ecosystems. With his undergraduate training in Geography, Economics and Real Estate, Marius has pursued a career spanning from a stint with the Weather Bureau, to development planning, property development, construction project management and landscape contracting, and in more recent years to environmental assessment.

He holds a M Env Man degree from North-West University, Potchefstroom, which included research into the quality of Environmental Management Frameworks in South Africa and is pursuing further studies in aquatic science. His environmental experience includes rehabilitation assessment, planning and monitoring; mine closure planning and costing; river and wetland health assessments; water quality monitoring and turnkey ecological restoration projects. Marius has a keen interest in water resource management and catchment scale strategic assessments, including EMFs, while BAs, EIAs and EMPs are also part of his repertoire

Email: aardlink@telkomsa.net

Justin began his work in the natural sciences as Head Ranger of a game lodge in the Sabi-Sands Private Game Reserve. This work included the compilation and implementation of an ecological management plan, incorporating aspects such as fire regime, erosion control, road maintenance, game population control, game capture and alien invasive & bush encroachment control.

Work in mainstream ecological research began in the Kruger National Park under the Scientific Services Division, assisting various SANParks and visiting scientists in the field on a wide variety of research topics. A large percentage of time was also spent within the Game Capture unit, assisting in the capture of various large game for research & translocation purposes.

Justin spent 6 years with the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria as a Senior Research Assistant studying the longitudinal effects of Bovine Tuberculosis on the demographics of African Buffalo within the Kruger National Park. This was a collaborative project, funded by the University of California, Berkeley.

Justin began Ecoleges as founding member in 2006, applying a suite of practical skills in combination with the necessary academic background, to developing sound environmental management services. Ecoleges is now well-grounded in the Mpumalanga region as an environmental consultancy offering a range of services including; Environmental Impact Assessments, Basic Assessments, Environmental Management Programmes, Rehabilitation Plans, Ecological Management Plans, Social Impact Assessments & Terrestrial Ecological Assessments. Core specialities include Environmental Control Officer & External Environmental Auditing.

Justin currently holds a Masters Degree in Nature Conservation, and is registered with the Council for Natural Scientific Professions as an Ecologist. He is also registered with the Grassland Society of Southern Africa and the International Association of Impact Assessment.

Email: justin@ecoleges.co.za

Fabio Venturi practices as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) and a Sustainability Consultant, which are his areas of passion and expertise. Fabio has considerable experience in both strategic environmental assessment and environmental management, which has been acquired across both the government and private sectors, stretching over a decade within the industry.
 
The first six years of his professional career involved working at a number of strategic biodiversity organisations which provided a wide range of training, exposure and experience in the environmental management field, from implementation through to strategic policy and planning. This included work at CapeNature, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in Cape Town. Fabio moved to a prominent environmental firm in 2007 where he held the position of Associate, responsible for managing the EIA/Green Building division of the company. In March 2011, Fabio launched his own environmental firm, Terramanzi Environmental Consulting, which focuses on EAP and Sustainability / Green Building Services. In his spare time he enjoys mountain biking, trail running, surf ski and general adventure in the wilds. Fabio also has a passion for landscaping and green building design.
 
Fabio is a certified Environmental Scientist registered with the Southern African Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Scientists (SAIEES), Chairs the Western Cape Committee Branch of the South African Affiliate of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIAsa), is a founding member of the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA), is a member of the Zoological Society of South Africa (ZSSA), is a Certified Carbon Footprint Assessor and Energy Efficiency Auditor and is qualified as an accredited professional (AP) with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), as well as being a member of the Carbon Protocol of South Africa and the Southern African Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA).

Email: fabio@terramanzi.co.za

Philippa is a Senior Environmental Scientist with SRK Consulting and holds a BSc. Honours degree in Environmental Science from Rhodes University. She also has an international qualification in Environmental Auditing and a Diploma in Project Management. Philippa is a Registered Professional Natural Scientist  in the field of Environmental Science and has 8 years experience in a broad range of environmental tools including Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Management Frameworks, Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001)  and Environmental Impact Assessment. She has applied these tools in a broad range of sectors including industry, public sector, including local government and in event greening. Her goals for the future are to secure a better understanding of sustainability assessment and to obtain international environmental auditor certification. 

Email: pemanuel@srk.co.za

Patrick holds a BSc degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry and a Masters degree in Environmental Law and Management. He is currently working on his PhD focussing on Climate Change and Human Health.
 
Patrick has been involved with environmental management issues while still working in industry as he was coordinating the documentation and implementation of Quality Management Systems (ISO9001) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001). Over the years, as the Technical Director for Limpopo Water Initiative (Pty) Ltd (LWI), he has been involved in projects that range from Environmental Impact Assessments, Waste Management Plans (General and Hazardous), Air Quality Management Plans to Water Quality Management. He has also worked on land rehabilitation projects, vegetation control and the construction of Waste Water Treatment Plants.
 
Patrick is a registered Professional Natural Scientist in the areas of Environmental Sciences and Chemical Sciences (Pr. Sci. Nat; 400264/07). His main focus within his company (LWI) and IAIAsa at the moment is to develop the area of Climate Change & Energy Management Policies and Strategies as a way of contributing towards the survival of the human race.

Email: sitholetp@lwi.co.za

Lené obtained a BA degree majoring in Geography and Public and Development Management from the University of Stellenbosch (US) in 1998. In 1999, she received her Honours degree in Public and Development Management from the US. She has been working in the environmental management field for the past 9 years. She started her career at an environmental consulting firm before joining the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2003. She then joined the National Department of Environmental Affairs in 2007 where she dealt with all EIA applications received from Parastatals and National Departments. She is currently working at Eskom as a Senior Environmental Advisor in the Power Delivery Projects Division.

Email: Lene.Grobbelaar@eskom.co.za

Elbi Bredenkamp obtained her BSc Masters in Botany (Cum Laude) from the University of the Free State in 1994. In addition to her work experience, Elbi has obtained additional qualifications through the attendance of several short courses. Notable courses include Mineral Laws Administration and Environmental Management (University of Pretoria), Principles of the Rehabilitation of Disturbed Areas (University of the North-West), Environmental Policy and Management in Mining and Minerals (University of Johannesburg), The Measurement of Biodiversity (University of the Free State), and Environmental Law (Aldo Leypoldt Institute, Pretoria).
 
Elbi is a trained ISO 14064 professional following her completion of the International Standards ISO14064 courses for Carbon (GHG) Quantification and Verification, as well as a Certified Carbon Footprint Assessor (CPSA). In addition she is a Certified Professional Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat. 400328/11) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
 
Elbi has considerable expertise in mine-related rehabilitation and various other environmental management, through her years with the Free State Department of Minerals and Energy and later the Free State Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs
 
Her leadership and entrepreneurship skills led her to establish Enviroworks in 2002 which has expanded to operate throughout Africa providing services in Climate Change; Renewable Energy; Environmental Impact Assessments; Water- Waste- Soil- and Mining Impact Management; Reclamation Ecology; Game and Veld Management and Wine Farm Environmental Support.

Email: elbi@enviroworks.co.za

Andre Oosthuizen graduated with a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree from the University of the Western Cape in 2004. Following a brief stint as a research assistant, student lecturer, environmental educator and departmental lackey he joined the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in 2005, as an Environmental Officer.  He has since been involved in, and exposed to different scales of EIA processes, Environmental Law Enforcement, Environmental Monitoring and Liaison and general interdisciplinary and governmental cooperation. Andre is particularly interested in improving the way IEM is practiced within SA. He loves to spend time in the forest, grow plants, meet new faces and see new places.

Email: Aoosthuiz@pgwc.gov.za