IAP2 SA BOARD

Mike’s experience in engaging with communities and municipalities spans more than 20 years. He is currently employed as a senior programme coordinator at Planact, a non-governmental organisation based in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.

Mike has conducted several training programmes for communities and municipal officials on the following concepts: integrated development planning, municipal budgets, key performance area/indicators, leadership, conflict management, project management, housing policy, and local government legislations. He recently completed an Advanced Diploma Public Administration through the University of the Western Cape (2019).

In 2012, Mike made a written contribution in the publication of Good Governance Learning Network: “A case of participatory budgeting in South Africa” (pg.82) in: Putting participation at the heart of development//Putting development at the heart of participation. A civil society perspective on local governance in South Africa. (GGLN, 2012).

Lydia is a seasoned development practitioner with over two decades of experience, specialising in stakeholder engagement, socio-economic development and transformation management within the mining and metals industries. Holding a BA in Development Studies, complemented by certifications in Programme Business Project Management and Management Development, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her consultancy practice. As a member of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2), she adheres to a strict code of ethics and principles in her professional engagements.

Noeleen Greyling is the social development and communications manager at The Impact Catalyst. She has extensive experience in social research, community development, stakeholder engagement, impact assessment and resettlement planning. She focuses on strategic thinking and planning, community and people, innovative thinking, complex facilitation, mentoring, effective problem-solving, industry collaboration, and effective communication. Noeleen has been involved in various programmes and projects across the African continent. She is passionate and committed to advancing rural and regional socio-economic development and drives collective impact by providing a platform through The Impact Catalyst where diverse partners, sharing a common interest, can collaborate and address complex social issues.

Reg. EAP (EAPASA) Pr. Sci. Nat.

Lorato is the founder of NSVT Consultants in 2011 and has over two decades of experience in environmental and social consulting. She has successfully handled a range of tasks related to infrastructure development across different provinces in South Africa as a lead environmental assessment practitioner. Her accomplishments include conducting applications for environmental authorisations (basic assessment process and the scoping/environmental impact assessment), waste management and water use licenses, and mining permits and rights for various infrastructure developments ranging from residential developments to solar and linear projects.

Additionally, Lorato’s experience in the field of environmental consulting has given her a deep understanding of the importance of engaging the public. She has a proven track record of facilitating effective communication between project developers, project sponsors, project teams, and impacted communities. Lorato is an active member of the International Association for Public Participation Southern Africa and holds memberships with other professional associations, i.e., South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa, and the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa. Lorato is dedicated to nurturing talent in her field, through mentoring undergraduates and providing experiential training.

Conrad is the director of public participation and community development at the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). He holds a master's degree in public management from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a passionate practitioner of asset-based community development (ABCD).

At CoGTA, Conrad has introduced the ABCD approach as a way to stimulate greater public participation and citizen engagement. With over 30 years of experience working with civil society, local communities, and international development organisations, he has deep expertise in social facilitation, community development, and citizen engagement.

Conrad is committed to bridging the accountability gap between local governments and citizens through inclusive governance and citizen-led development initiatives. His work focuses on mobilising diverse community assets and empowering citizens to play an active role in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.

Refilwe’s experience and skills span stakeholder management and engagement, skills development (coaching and training), human resource management, change management, organisational design, ISO 9001 quality management and branding. She is a film school graduate and has a Bachelor of Technology in Human Resource Management.

Refilwe has over 10 years of extensive and tangible experience as a lead social facilitator/public participation practitioner in the built environment sector. She has worked and gained valuable experience from government departments, municipalities, and state Agencies such as HDA, SITA, TCTA as well as Nedbank and other private companies, some of which exposed her to handling blue chip client portfolios such as MTN, Samsung and Nissan.

Dr Patrick Sithole is a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (Reg. EAP) with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) and also a Registered Professional Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) in the fields of environmental sciences and chemical sciences. Patrick is an environmental, social, resettlement, climate change and sustainability expert with over 22 years of experience on various types of infrastructural projects across Africa.

Patrick previously participated on the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA South African Affiliate) in various capacities. He has been involved with various technical forums within the private and public sectors. He currently manages a number of entities and sits on different boards, socio-economic panels and continues to be a technical adviser for several companies.

Amelia is the expertise lead for stakeholder engagement and responsible for the growth and eminence of the management and sustainability unit at Zutari. Recently promoted to associate design director, she collaborates to create impactful infrastructure solutions. With over 35 years of experience in government and the private sector, Amelia has consulted globally and spearheaded social engagement programs in developing regions such as Nigeria, Namibia, DRC, and South Africa. Her initiatives have catalysed sustainable community projects across Africa.

Amelia has extensive experience in stakeholder management, enterprise and skills development, sustainable community development, skills audits, new venture creation, training, facilitation, needs analysis, curriculum development, change management, and social investment funding opportunities. Her goal is to ensure these initiatives are interactive, co-creative, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable for clients, partners, funders, stakeholders, and local communities.

She is accredited as an assessor and facilitator with a national qualification in adventure-related experiential learning (AEL), and also serves as a public participation and stakeholder management facilitator, professional coach, design thinker, appreciative inquiry facilitator, community development expert, and neurolinguistic practitioner. Amelia holds a position on the African board of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2SA) and is a member of the International Association for Community Development (IACD), focusing on asset-based community development (ABCD). She is registered with the International Association for Impact Assessment in South Africa (IAIAsa).

Snowy Makhudu is a practising environmental assessment practitioner with over 20 years of experience and is the managing director of Tholoana Environmental Consulting. She is a qualified meteorologist/climatologist, holding a National Higher Diploma in Meteorology. Her experience in environmental management includes integrated waste management and sustainable development. She has worked with the SALGA climate change mitigation strategy, Eskom distribution and generation environmental impact assessments and on municipal mining permits and licensing, among others.

Snowy is currently the national president for Women In Environment, which was launched by the National Department of Environmental Affairs’ Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi on 22 August 2010. She is also the chairperson of the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa and Hand-in-Hand South Africa.

David N Morema is an urban development and human settlement practitioner who, for the past 25 years, has served and pioneered initiatives in various institutions and human settlement programmes. Currently, he is a founding member and partner in Kuhle Solutions and Development Services, a company specialising in human settlement processes. Previously, he held senior executive positions as managing director in various social housing companies, senior politician in Germiston and Ekurhuleni municipal councils, chief executive officer for the National Association for Social Housing Organisations, and lastly executive director for human settlements at the City of Ekurhuleni.

In the realm of human settlements, David’s areas of specialisation include social and rental housing, inner city housing projects, in-situ upgrade projects, private sector affordable rental initiatives, public housing initiatives, housing construction programme/project management. His development expertise lies in urban renewal conceptualisation and implementation, and funding and institutional considerations. David has also accumulated a wealth of experience and exposure in the organisational or institutional development arena, strategy and policy development, and implementation. He is skilled in facilitation, negotiation, mediation, planning, monitoring, critical thinking and problem solving.

David has had extensive exposure to international best practice and study tours in human settlement and urban renewal in addressing spatial, economic and social dysfunctionalities. These include informal settlement and inner city upgrading in Brazil, new town developments in China, community self-help schemes and housing in Kenya, and social and rental housing in the Netherlands and Canada. He has presented and was a panel member for the 9th and 10th World Urban Forum sessions.