Caroline Beer, Managing Director. Caroline holds a BSc with majors in Environmental Science (distinction) and Zoology, as well as a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science (distinction) both from Rhodes University. Her undergraduate degree included both commerce and natural sciences. Caroline's honours dissertation evaluated the economic impacts of degradation of the xeric subtropical thicket through farming practices, focusing on the rehabilitation potential of the affected areas in terms of carbon tax. She has a broad academic background including statistics, economics, management, climate change, wetland ecology, GIS, rehabilitation ecology, ecological modelling and zoology. Caroline has a strong focus on renewable energy and South African policy and legislation related to development.
Dr Alan Carter has extensive training and experience in both financial accounting and environmental science disciplines with CES over the past 20 plus years and prior to that for 8 years with international accounting firms in South Africa and the USA. He holds a PhD in marine ecology and BCom Honours degree in financial accounting and auditing and completed his articles with the South African Institute of Chartered Accounts (SAICA). He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (licensed in Texas) and is a certified ISO14001 EMS auditor with Exemplar Global (formerly the American National Standards Institute). Alan has been responsible for leading and managing numerous and varied environmental and financial consulting projects over the past 33 years.
Dr Chantel Johnson holds MSc and PhD degrees in Botany (estuarine ecology) and a BSc degree in Botany and Geography from NMMU. Chantel has been an Environmental Consultant for approximately 17 years and as such has been focused on environmental management and impact assessment. Chantel is well versed in environmental legislation and has managed a number of environmental impact assessments and management plans for heavy mineral mining in South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar, as well as a number of EIAs for open cast mines (copper, nickel, graphite) in Zambia and Mozambique. These projects have been completed to international standards (IFC and World Bank) and have been granted authorisation by their host countries. Chantel is also well versed in stakeholder engagement and stakeholder processes, all EIAs that has been managed by Chantel has included community consultations and as such Chantel has been used for various forms of community engagement in rural African settings. Chantel has also been extensively involved in the data collection and report writing for land and natural resource use assessments in both Madagascar and Mozambique. The data gathering component involves expensive community meetings in order to establish land use (including agriculture) and natural resource use within the communities and wider regions. Chantel has completed extensive land surveys as part of a Resettlement processes for a heavy minerals mines in Mozambique as well as in-kind compensation surveys in Tanzania. She is currently a principal consultant and Branch Manager of the Port Elizabeth Office as well as the Mozambique Office of CES.
Dr Ted Avis, Business Development Executive, is a leading expert in the field of Environmental Impact Assessments, having project-managed numerous large-scale ESIAs to international standards, especially those of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). From 1997 to 2005 Ted acted as principle environmental consultant to Corridor Sands Limitada, managing all environment aspects of the US$1,2billion Corridor Sands Project, including five ESIA’s, associated ESMPs, and the RAP. He has managed ESIA studies and related environmental assessments of similar scope in Kenya, Madagascar, Egypt, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. Ted also has experience in large scale Strategic Environmental Assessments in southern Africa and has been engaged by the IFC on several projects. Between 1994 and 1996 Ted was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Science Department at Rhodes University, whilst a Senior lecturer in Botany at that time. This resulted from his experience running honours modules in EIA practice and environmental management, as well as the applied research he undertook in these disciplines. He was an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rhodes between 1998 and 2003. He was one of the first certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner in South Africa, gaining certification in April 2002. He has delivered papers and published in the field of EIA, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and has been a principal of CES since its inception in 1990 and Managing Director from 1998 to 2023. Most of the ESIA work Ted has been involved in has included the preparation of various Environmental & Social Management Plans, Resettlement Action Plans and Monitoring Plans. These ESIA’s cover a range of sectors including infrastructure, mining (heavy minerals, graphite, tin, copper, iron), agri-industrial, forestry, resorts and housing development, energy, ports and coastal developments. Ted holds a PhD in Botany and was awarded a bronze medal by the South African Association of Botanists for the best PhD adjudicated in that year, entitled “Coastal Dune Ecology and Management in the Eastern Cape”. Ted is a Certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner (since 2002) and a professional member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals (since 1993).
Bernadette Emslie, holds a B.Comm (Accounting) degree (Rhodes). Worked for over 7 years for Bethlehem Export cc, who at the time was one of the top exporters in South Africa of fresh asparagus. Was involved in running all aspects of the operations. At the same time she was made a member of the Close Corporation that owned lands with fresh asparagus that was picked, packed or canned for local or export. After starting her family in 2002 & no longer wanting to travel, she started her own accounting business in Grahamstown which managed large payrolls, accounting & tax consulting. In August 2005 she joined CES as the Financial Manager and in August 2010 was promoted to Financial Director.
Dr Ted Avis, Business Development Executive, is a leading expert in the field of Environmental Impact Assessments, having project-managed numerous large-scale ESIAs to international standards, especially those of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). From 1997 to 2005 Ted acted as principle environmental consultant to Corridor Sands Limitada, managing all environment aspects of the US$1,2billion Corridor Sands Project, including five ESIA’s, associated ESMPs, and the RAP. He has managed ESIA studies and related environmental assessments of similar scope in Kenya, Madagascar, Egypt, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. Ted also has experience in large scale Strategic Environmental Assessments in southern Africa and has been engaged by the IFC on several projects. Between 1994 and 1996 Ted was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Science Department at Rhodes University, whilst a Senior lecturer in Botany at that time. This resulted from his experience running honours modules in EIA practice and environmental management, as well as the applied research he undertook in these disciplines. He was an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rhodes between 1998 and 2003. He was one of the first certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner in South Africa, gaining certification in April 2002. He has delivered papers and published in the field of EIA, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and has been a principal of CES since its inception in 1990 and Managing Director from 1998 to 2023. Most of the ESIA work Ted has been involved in has included the preparation of various Environmental & Social Management Plans, Resettlement Action Plans and Monitoring Plans. These ESIA’s cover a range of sectors including infrastructure, mining (heavy minerals, graphite, tin, copper, iron), agri-industrial, forestry, resorts and housing development, energy, ports and coastal developments. Ted holds a PhD in Botany and was awarded a bronze medal by the South African Association of Botanists for the best PhD adjudicated in that year, entitled “Coastal Dune Ecology and Management in the Eastern Cape”. Ted is a Certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner (since 2002) and a professional member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals (since 1993).
Amanda van Reenen has more than 20 years’ experience in providing legal and legislative support and advisory services based on South African environmental legislation. She holds a LLB degree from the University of South Africa and is regarded as a self-motivated worker who pays meticulous attention to detail. She has been responsible for the drafting of the 2006 and 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and amendments thereto as well as amendments to the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA). Amanda has been intimately involved in the preparation for the implementation of the One Environmental System with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and has legally vetted strategic environmental assessments such as the Renewable Energy Development SEA, resulting in the identification of renewable energy developments zones (REDZs). Amanda has also legally vetted the exclusion norms issued in terms of NEMA for electricity grid infrastructure, solar PV and battery storages facilities and has interacted with authorities on matters of interpretation and implementation relating to integrated environmental management.
Peter is an experienced GIS and Social Specialist who has worked as a consultant at CES since May 2021. He holds an Honours degree in Geography from Rhodes University. Since joining CES, he has contributed to a wide range of mapping projects at various scales, as well as comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Basic Assessments (BAs), Social Impact Assessments (SIAs), Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs), and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs). His technical expertise includes spatial analysis, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis, drone surveying, and imagery processing. He has also served as an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) on multiple projects for clients such as SANRAL, Eskom, and various local municipalities. As a Social Specialist, Peter has conducted numerous Public Participation Processes (PPPs) and contributed to a variety of Social Impact Assessments. He is an experienced interviewer, having led focus group discussions and key informant interviews for multiple reports and large-scale surveys. He served as a full-time Field Manager for a large socio-economic and epidemiological survey in the Lesotho Highlands for three months, and has led field teams conducting land surveys and household interviews in Northern Mozambique. Peter is currently based in the Cape Town office of CES, where he works as a Senior Environmental Consultant.
Mr Justin Green holds a B.Sc. in Zoology and Entomology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Enterprise Management, he specialises in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESHIA) projects for infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and mining across Africa, he oversees projects, manages teams, and monitors budgets up to R2 Million. His extensive experience includes conducting studies in mining, renewable energy, agro-industry, forestry, biofuel, and oil sectors in East and West Africa, as well as southern African countries. With a recognized specialty in Water Resources Management and expertise in GIS using ArcGIS 10, Justin is known for his Wetland Delineation Assessments, Surface Water and Aquatic Invertebrate Assessments. Having worked in multiple African countries, he has a profound understanding of environmental legislation and policy requirements. He has over 11 years of expertise in Environmental Consulting, adept in project management, GIS, and environmental assessments, making him a valuable asset in diverse industries.
Kayla Schoenknecht is a PhD candidate in Environmental and Water Science at the University of the Western Cape, specialising in catchment-scale geomorphological modelling and landscape responses to land cover change and extreme rainfall. She holds an MSc (Cum Laude) and BSc (Hons) in Geography, as well as a BSc in Geoscience. Kayla has experience in scientific writing, handling large datasets, data analysis and interpretation, producing clear technical documentation, and has working proficiency in GIS and geomorphological modelling.
Vicky Louw is a Principal Environmental Consultant with over 18 years’ experience delivering complex marine and coastal projects across Africa and internationally. She specialises in offshore oil and gas, seismic surveys, subsea cable installations and decommissioning, with deep expertise in ESIAs aligned with IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles and local regulatory frameworks. Holding an MSc in Physical Oceanography and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Geographical Science (UCT), she is a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) and active IAIA South Africa member. Vicky provides strategic sustainability advice, leads multidisciplinary teams and excels in stakeholder engagement, regulatory negotiations and client liaison. Her technical strengths include marine ecology, oceanographic studies, environmental permitting, modelling and coastal discharge assessments.
Kate Steyn is a Principal Consultant, with over 17 years of experience delivering Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (EIA/ESIA) and sustainability-focused advisory services across Africa and South America. Her work spans the renewable energy, mining, industrial and infrastructure sectors, where she has led or advised on complex, multi?stakeholder projects requiring deep technical knowledge, strategic planning and regulatory insight. Kate’s expertise includes the development of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Action Plans (ESAPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs), annual monitoring reviews, fatal flaw studies, and environmental and social due diligence assessments aligned with IFC Performance Standards and international best practice. She has managed multidisciplinary teams and worked extensively in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Angola, Namibia and Suriname, developing a strong understanding of regional environmental challenges and governance frameworks. With an MSc (with honours) in Botany and a strong foundation in biodiversity assessment, Kate previously served with the Botanical Society of South Africa at Kirstenbosch and has published peer?reviewed botanical research. She is a registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAPASA Reg. No. 2023/6339) and is recognised for her ability to integrate science-based assessment, practical environmental management and effective stakeholder engagement to guide sustainable development outcomes.
Aidan obtained his MSc in Environmental Science (Cum laude) from Rhodes University, having conducted research on the spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia dealbata invasions and broader land-use and cover changes in the northern Eastern Cape, funded through a study bursary awarded by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Prior to this, he obtained his BSc Honours in Geographical and Environmental Sciences (Cum laude) from the University of Pretoria, studying plant ecology and EIA methodology amongst others. Since joining CES in 2018, he has been involved in several projects, including Basic Assessments (BA), Full Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessments (S&EIA), Environmental Amendment Applications, Environmental Audits and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Audits. He works as a Principal Ecologist and Branch Manager of the Gauteng Team. His interests include the general Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, terrestrial and wetland ecology, and database management. Aidan is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) as an Environmental and Ecological Scientist (Pri.Sci.Nat. 121901) and with the International Association for Impact Assessments (IAIA).
Charl Kruger obtained his BSc Environmental and Earth Sciences from UKZN in 2013 and BSc (Honours), Environmental Management from UNISA in 2018. Charl is an environmental scientist with over twelve (12) years of environmental experience in the environmental management field. His key expertise includes environmental monitoring programmes, including groundwater and surface water quality monitoring as well as marine and port monitoring. Charl is also a skilled field technician with experience in using a wide variety of field instrumentation. He also has experience in Environmental Impact Assessments, Basic Assessment, Coal Dispersion Monitoring, Waste Management Licences, Water Use Licence Applications and Section 24G Applications. He has worked extensively in Mozambique and South Africa, particularly within the KwaZulu-Natal Province
Alex Ndlovu obtained his BSc Honours degree in Geography from University of South Africa, having conducted research proposal on solid waste in the Mamelodi Township. Funded by Gauteng Campus Regional Academy (GCRA) throughout his studies as being the top achiever in high school. Prior to this, he obtained his BA in Environmental Management majoring in Geography from University of South Africa and obtained a Wetland Certificate with GroundTruth for the introduction to wetland assessments. Did an internship at LeapEnviro Consulting where he managed to write Basic Assessments and Water Use Licence Applications. Alex joined CES in 2021 and has been since involved in several projects, including Basic Assessment, General Authorisation, Full Water Use License, Environmental Compliance Audit and Wetland Assessment studies. He is registered with International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIAsa) and in the process of registering with SACNASP and EAPASA. He works from the Gauteng office and his interests include the general Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) process, Environmental Compliance Audits (ECO), Water Use License Applications (WULA) and Wetland Assessment studies.
Andile Nxumalo, is a Senior Environmental Consultant has expertise and experience to professionally manage a broad range of projects in the environmental management field. Project experience includes environmental services for the industrial sector, wind farms, private housing estates, petrol stations, human settlements, tourism, public works and municipal planning, infrastructure projects including road and water infrastructures and pipelines as well as the mining and agricultural sectors. Andile also has on site construction experience which has given him a unique insight into the challenges faced when balancing the needs of the environment versus those of development.
Brian Green is an Environmental Monitoring Field Technician that has a background in the construction industry and is now focuses on water and ambient dust fall monitoring. His duties include general project management to execute each monitoring run, office administration (capturing and filing of field forms, photos and relevant information) and providing feedback to clients in terms of on-site monitoring locations and conditions.
Mario Lourens is an Environmental Monitoring Field Technician that has a background in various fields, including the printing industry, warehouse management, general maintenance and management of buildings and gardens, debt collecting, construction quality control and housing complex management. He now focuses on water and ambient dustfall monitoring. His duties include general project management to execute each monitoring run, office administration (capturing and filing of field forms, photos and relevant information) and providing feedback to clients in terms of on-site monitoring locations and conditions.
Emily Jackson obtained her MSc in Zoology from Rhodes University. Her academic background includes thermal physiology, behavioral ecology, natural history and reproductive biology research. She has additional experience in the areas of herpetofauna surveys and tours, environmental education and biological outreach programs. She has broad interests across taxa, with a keen interest in herpetofauna, small mammals and general wildlife photography. Her knowledge of species in the field is applied in her specialist survey work and scientific publications, where she aims to contribute novel information to scientific literature.
Mr Neels Kruger is an archaeologist and ASAPA (Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologist) accredited Culture Resources Management (CRM) Practitioner with over 18 years’ experience in the field of heritage resources assessment, conservation and management. He holds a BHCS Hons Archaeology (Cum Laude) degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, specializing in the Iron Age Farmer and Colonial Periods of South Africa. He has worked extensively on archaeological and heritage sites representative of the prehistoric and historical time periods and cultural contexts in Southern Africa, both in the commercial and academics spheres. In addition, Neels has worked on archaeological research, heritage management and social consultation projects in a number of African countries including Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Cong and Israel. Neels’ expertise includes integrated heritage resources management applications including Heritage and Archaeological Impact Assessment and Management Plans (Phase 1, 2 & 3), Heritage and Social Spatial Development Frameworks & Strategic Development Area Frameworks, heritage-related social consultation and focus group facilitation, heritage legislation as well as geospacing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applications in archaeology and CRM.
Dr Chantel Johnson holds MSc and PhD degrees in Botany (estuarine ecology) and a BSc degree in Botany and Geography from NMMU. Chantel has been an Environmental Consultant for approximately 17 years and as such has been focused on environmental management and impact assessment. Chantel is well versed in environmental legislation and has managed a number of environmental impact assessments and management plans for heavy mineral mining in South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar, as well as a number of EIAs for open cast mines (copper, nickel, graphite) in Zambia and Mozambique. These projects have been completed to international standards (IFC and World Bank) and have been granted authorisation by their host countries. Chantel is also well versed in stakeholder engagement and stakeholder processes, all EIAs that has been managed by Chantel has included community consultations and as such Chantel has been used for various forms of community engagement in rural African settings. Chantel has also been extensively involved in the data collection and report writing for land and natural resource use assessments in both Madagascar and Mozambique. The data gathering component involves expensive community meetings in order to establish land use (including agriculture) and natural resource use within the communities and wider regions. Chantel has completed extensive land surveys as part of a Resettlement processes for a heavy minerals mines in Mozambique as well as in-kind compensation surveys in Tanzania. She is currently a principal consultant and Branch Manager of the Port Elizabeth Office as well as the Mozambique Office of CES.
Dr Aldi Nel obtained her PhD in Fisheries Science (Aquaculture) from Rhodes University and her MSc in Zoology (Cum laude) from Stellenbosch University. Her background includes aquaculture research and development for ecological restoration and environmental sustainability, data science, and ecological monitoring. She applies biological and statistical theory to assess the impacts of various environmental and anthropogenic drivers on ecosystems. Her interests include animal physiology and habitat use, climate change effects on ecosystems and agriculture, climate change mitigation strategy, and stakeholder engagement in agricultural land use.
Ms Marina van Zyl, qualified in HR Management (TUT). She has extensive working experience in travel liaison and coordination as well as training coordination and development. Marina is also qualified as an ETDP (Education Training and Development Practitioner) (UJ).
Clayton has been involved in environmental assessment and management for the past 9 years and botanical and ecological specialist work for the past 16. Clayton has auditing and closure experience, and his environmental management experience includes Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Basic Assessments, Waste Management Licence (WML) and Environmental Management Programmes (EMPrs). As a terrestrial biodiversity specialist, Clayton has done botanical, vegetation, ecological and faunal specialist assessments, and in particular impact assessments, for a wide variety of projects in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. Starting his career in Subtropical Thicket and Fynbos of the Eastern Cape, he has expanded into the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, Grassland, Savanna and Forest biomes. He has developed into a project manager and team leader when multiple specialists are required for a biodiversity (including aquatic) survey. Besides specialist assessments, Clayton has done biodiversity permitting and licencing (NFA, NEMBA), stewardship and biodiversity offset study, and has compiled a number of management plans for rehabilitation and erosion, vegetation and alien plant management, as well as biodiversity management plan for Bonsucro accreditation. As both a registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner and Ecological Specialist, he is able to deliver reports which contain the information required for an EIA, and includes readily implementable mitigation measures.
Dr Alan Carter has extensive training and experience in both financial accounting and environmental science disciplines with CES over the past 20 plus years and prior to that for 8 years with international accounting firms in South Africa and the USA. He holds a PhD in marine ecology and BCom Honours degree in financial accounting and auditing and completed his articles with the South African Institute of Chartered Accounts (SAICA). He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (licensed in Texas) and is a certified ISO14001 EMS auditor with Exemplar Global (formerly the American National Standards Institute). Alan has been responsible for leading and managing numerous and varied environmental and financial consulting projects over the past 33 years.
Ms Lynn Smit, Tender Manager to all branches of CES & PA to the Director of East London has more than 33 years of Administrative, Secretarial, Personal Assistant and Reception experience. She has especially extensive experience in bid/tender management within the public sector and SOEs and has broaden her skills to the private sector as well as international bid submissions over the years at CES.
Ziyanda obtained her BSc Honours in Geology from the University of the Free State. She is an experienced environmental consultant with over eight years’ consulting experience, having worked across a broad range of environmental disciplines. Her expertise includes the compilation of technical reports in support of Environmental Authorisations and environmental licences, preparation of Water Use Licence Applications (WULAs), environmental screening reports, waste feasibility assessments, and the development of Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) and Waste Master Plans. She has also undertaken feasibility assessments for infrastructure projects, conducted environmental and waste compliance audits, and provided Environmental Control Officer (ECO) services during project implementation. Ziyanda is also trained in GIS mapping, which supports spatial analysis and informed environmental decision-making. Throughout her career, she has successfully contributed as a member of multidisciplinary project teams and has independently managed and delivered projects from inception to completion. Her professional interests lie primarily in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Waste Planning Services.
Tamera Pillay completed her undergraduate degree in 2020 at the University of KwaZulu Natal with a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) and her Honours degree in 2021 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Environmental Science. Her academic background includes forest degradation research and development of conservation measures to prevent forest fragmentation, ecology and environmental management. She has been involved in various environmental projects such as Basic Assessments, Water Use License Applications, ECO functions, external and internal audits, water monitoring and public participation processes. She is a registered Candidate EAP with EAPASA.
Sinazo Nyudwana is a Senior Environmental Consultant with experience in experience in Basic Assessments (BA), Full Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessments (S&EIA), Environmental Amendment Applications, Water Use Licence Applications, Climate Change Impact Risk Assessment and Public Participation. Her professional interests include environmental impact assessment, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.
She is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP (Reg. No. 139719) and is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA). Sinazo holds an MSc in Environmental and Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town and a BSc Honours degree in Environmental and Water Science from the University of the Western Cape.
Caroline Beer, Managing Director. Caroline holds a BSc with majors in Environmental Science (distinction) and Zoology, as well as a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science (distinction) both from Rhodes University. Her undergraduate degree included both commerce and natural sciences. Caroline's honours dissertation evaluated the economic impacts of degradation of the xeric subtropical thicket through farming practices, focusing on the rehabilitation potential of the affected areas in terms of carbon tax. She has a broad academic background including statistics, economics, management, climate change, wetland ecology, GIS, rehabilitation ecology, ecological modelling and zoology. Caroline has a strong focus on renewable energy and South African policy and legislation related to development.
Bernadette Emslie, holds a B.Comm (Accounting) degree (Rhodes). Worked for over 7 years for Bethlehem Export cc, who at the time was one of the top exporters in South Africa of fresh asparagus. Was involved in running all aspects of the operations. At the same time she was made a member of the Close Corporation that owned lands with fresh asparagus that was picked, packed or canned for local or export. After starting her family in 2002 & no longer wanting to travel, she started her own accounting business in Grahamstown which managed large payrolls, accounting & tax consulting. In August 2005 she joined CES as the Financial Manager and in August 2010 was promoted to Financial Director.
Jonathan Balmer has recently completed a Master’s degree in ornithology and phylogenetics through Rhodes University in Grahamstown, which he obtained with distinction. His M.Sc followed straight on from his B.Sc(Hons) in Zoology, and B.Sc in Entomology and Ichthyology from the same institution. Jo is an old-school naturalist with a passion for birding, herping and list-keeping, and he has over 10 years of guiding experience around Southern Africa. His other work experience includes contractual EIA surveys (3 years), birding app development (5 years), and junior school sports coaching (3 years). Although his professional focus has usually been ornithological in nature, he is comfortable working with most other animal classes as well, and has published research works and photographic material of mammals, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. He joined CES shortly after completing his Master’s degree in early 2023, and is based in the Grahamstown office.
Marinda van Achterbergh, started her career in banking, then moved to conveyancing and Barlow Rand Properties thereafter where she gained extensive administration and secretarial experience. Marinda holds an Estate Agents Certificate. She has extensive Management and Hospitality experience having been a Restaurant business owner (De Wijn Huijs & Die Taphuis) as well as managing a family business, Dismantled Motors.
Louise van Aardt, has more than 20 years of administrative experience which covers a broad range of areas, including Receptionist, Secretary, Personal assistant; and she has extensive experience in the travel industry as a supervisor for foreign exchange as well as tour consulting.
Lina Buque is a skilled and experienced public facilitator and socio-economic and environmental consultant with over 10 years of experience working in Mozambique. . She has a Master of Environmental Science from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. Her research area was in Socio-environmental Conservation and Development, focused on environmental policies, including environmental education, analyse rural and urban environments from the point of view of socio-environmental planning and development, environmental impacts and their effects on health as well as environmental management and control. Lina has experience in both environmental and social best practice performance and management. Her expertise includes project management, environmental impact assessments including public engagement and social facilitation, environmental compliance monitoring, ESIA reporting, social impact assessment and resettlement planning. As a senior environmental consultant, she worked on a number of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) projects related to mines, conservation, forestry hydrocarbons and dams, facilitated stakeholder engagement processes for various EIA and SEA projects; qualitative and quantitative socio-economic surveys and monitoring; Social Impact Assessments (SIA), Resettlement Action Plans (as per IFC guidelines) and Economic Impact Assessments. She completed a practical training course in Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Social Sustainability that was presented by the word Bank. She has also gained notable experience in social performance management for mining industry.
Lina Buque é consultora ambiental com mais de 10 anos de experiencia em Estudos de Impacto ambiental (EIA) e na conduçåo de processos de facilitacao de consultas publicas e envolvimento das partes interessadas. Ela também ganhou experiência notável em gestáo de performance social para o setor de mineração. Esses EIAs cobriram diferentes regioes do país com as suas diferentes características permitindo adquirir um conhecimento privilegiado do ambiente biofísico do território, das populações e sua cultura. Possui um mestrado em ciências ambientais pela Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Sua área de pesquisa foi em Conservação e Desenvolvimento Socioambiental, com foco em políticas ambientais, incluindo educação ambiental, análise de ambientes rurais e urbanos do ponto de vista do planejamento e desenvolvimento socioambiental, impactos ambientais e seus efeitos na saúde e no meio ambiente, gestão e controle ambiental. Lina tem experiência em desempenho e gerenciamento de melhores práticas ambientais e sociais. Sua especialidade inclui gerenciamento de projetos, avaliações de impacto ambiental, incluindo engajamento público e facilitação social, monitoramento de conformidade ambiental, relatórios de AIAS, avaliação de impacto social e planejamento de reassentamento. Como consultora ambiental sênior, ela trabalhou em vários projetos de Due diligence e monitoramento de conformidade, Gestão de resíduos e infraestruturas, Agricultura comercial, plantações e biocombustíveis; Mineração e Recursos, planos de Ação de Reassentamento e Estudos Socioeconômicos de Base. Completou um curso prático de formação em Aquisição de terras, Reassentamento e Sustentabilidade, que promove a compreensão e o desenvolvimento de habilidades na gestão dos riscos e impactos sociais associados ao desenvolvimento de projetos de investimento público e privado e particularmente questões relacionadas à aquisição de terras e reassentamento. Curso administradoo pelo Banco Mundial. Lina tem.
Mr Bill Rowlston, After working for more than 35 years in the English and South African water sectors, during which he worked extensively on the development of national policies, legislation and implementation strategies for managing water resources, Bill joined CES in 2007. He worked as project manager and water specialist on a number of large environmental and social impact assessments in several southern African countries, mainly for industrial, mining, and hydroelectric power developments, most of which were carried out to international performance standards. Bill undertook environmental and social compliance reviews, due diligence studies and audits for international lenders for a wide range of new and existing projects in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In South Africa he worked on the technical aspects of appeals against decisions by the environmental authorities, mainly for renewable energy projects. Bill retired from EOH CES in December 2016, but remains active as an Associate.
Marc Hardy holds a M. Phil (Environmental Management) degree from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Management and Planning. He received his undergraduate (Development Studies) and Honours (Environmental & Geographical Science) degrees from the University of Cape Town. He also holds an Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment Auditor certification for the ISO 14001 management system standard. He is the Director of Environmental and Social Risk Advisory (ESRA), a Cape Town based consultancy specialising in risk management and advisory services. To date, Marc has been responsible for the management of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and resettlement planning processes for large infrastructure, thermal and renewable energy, agroindustry and mining projects throughout Africa (most of these in adherence to the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards and the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard requirements). He has gained extensive socio-economic baseline study and impact assessment experience through the various projects he has been involved with to date that have had physical resettlement implications, alternatively, those that impact on large numbers of people. In addition, he has undertaken numerous Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) assignments across a variety of industries and sectors, having also provided technical assistance or performance monitoring support to project developers, lenders and their partner financial institutions throughout the project development and financing lifecycle. As part of this technical assistance capacity, Marc has been actively involved in the development and implementation of bespoke Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS) for various companies and projects to date. In 2018, he completed the Environmental and Social Risk Management training programme presented by the IFC in Johannesburg. During the course of his career, Marc has worked on projects in Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Greer Hawley-McMaster completed her BSc degree in Botany and Zoology and a BSc Honours in Botany from the University of Cape Town in 1998 and 1999, respectively. She completed her PhD (Microbiology) at Rhodes University in 2007. Greer’s core academic focus has been in the field of taxonomy both in the plant and fungal kingdom although her research experience is diverse, ranging from fresh water and marine algae, estuarine diatoms, plant species classification and fungal species identification and ecology. Greer was employed at Coastal and Environmental Services (CES) for over 13 years where she was involved with, and managed, a wide range of projects ranging from Environmental Impact assessments, Biodiversity impact assessments and biodiversity management projects in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Eswatini and Malawi, Environmental Management Frameworks, Environmental Management Systems, Strategic Environmental Assessments to Feasibility studies for the tourism and aquaculture sectors. Since 2021, Greer has shifted her focus to specialist biodiversity assessment and planning. Greer is currently self-employed, but continues to work with CES as an Associate. In addition, Greer is a Research Associate of Rhodes University where she supervises Hons, Masters and PhD students. Greer has experience in co-ordinating and managing multi-faceted projects with large teams, meeting deadlines and ensuring the production of high-quality deliverables.
Prof Roy Lubke, retired as an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany, Rhodes University, and Director of CES. He contributed to the preparation of the SA Association of Botanists vegetation map by mapping the vegetation in a large part of the Eastern Cape. Professor Lubke has been involved in numerous EIAs and has extensive experience in ecological and vegetation studies and the identification of indicators for SoERs.
