As Manager: Sustainable Energy at ICLEI Africa, I lead a team situated across Africa, working on clean cooking, e-mobility and municipal embedded generation projects. As an intermediary organisation, we centre local governments, towards a just transition and enhanced sustainability.
Previously as Programme Lead at the Economic Development Partnership, I started the Energy & Climate Programme, securing and delivering new projects while building the team capacity needed to run them. I drew together diverse partners from the Presidential Climate Commission to UK PACT to the City of Cape Town, and enabled the founding and growth of various collaborative organisations such as The Recyclers Association.
An aspiring changemaker, I am interested in enabling wellbeing economies in the face of growing inequality and climate change. From 2017 to 2021 I tested these ideas through an interdisciplinary action research PhD at Wits University funded by Canon Collins Trust where I was nominated Scholar of Scholars, the Wits School of Governance, and the National Research Foundation. I used the opportunity to start the Makers Valley Partnership where I remain Board Chairperson, co-working spaces at Victoria Yards, co-living Changemakers Residences like the Troyeville House, and various collaborative initiatives such as Changemaker Children.
My previous work experience includes my positions within the Office of the City Manager at the City of Johannesburg (Assistant Director), National Association of Social Housing Organisations (Project Coordinator), UN-Habitat in Nairobi and an independent consultant for diverse projects for the South African Cities Network and others. Previous non-paid work included my role as Chair of United World Colleges Trust South Africa and founder of Innovate Jozi, RideLink and co-living spaces in Langa and Muizenberg.
Other academic qualifications include a MSc in Development Planning (Distinction) from Wits University where I received awards including SAPI Best Student and was awarded Oppenheimer, National Research Foundation and other scholarships; a BSocSci from the University of Cape Town (Stream Distinction); and an International Baccalaureate from United World Colleges Red Cross Nordic (full scholarship).
I have been recognised as a Mail & Guardian top 200 Young South African, by SouthAfrica.info as one of 40 South Africans born since 1976 who have changed the country, 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, and was awarded full scholarship to attend the Young African Leaders Initiative programme initiated by President Obama. I am a member of Wellbeing Economy Africa.
Collaborative publications include an urban safety policy brief on public spaces and how cities can ease spatial inequalities and enhance collective wellbeing through early childhood development (SA Cities Network), and a chapter on informal innovative residential typologies in Densifying the City (Edgar Elgar). Individual publications include a chapter in Politics and Community-Based Research (Wits Press) and article on accommodation and livelihoods (Urban Forum).
To access my LinkedIn profile, click here.
To download a copy of my two-pager curriculum vitae, click here.
Selection of media
The Troyeville House: Daily Maverick DM168 article by Ufrieda Ho
Makers Valley Partnership: Daily Maverick article by Maverick Citizen Editor, Mark Heywood
MVP’s The People’s Pantry: Daily Maverick article by Michelle Banda.
Contact details:
ss “at” mayson.co.za
+27 (0)65 901-7793