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).
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).
Dr. 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 LLD degree from the North West University and a LLB from the University of South Africa. She was 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 also 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. Since June 2024, Amanda has acted as environmental assessment practitioner in various environmental authorisation applications. She is registered with EAPASA.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
