The South African Wind Energy
Association (SAWEA) has announced the appointment of Ntombifuthi Ntuli as CEO.
She will steer the R200 billion wind industry by drawing on her extensive
knowledge and experience drawn from 14 years in energy and related sectors.
The SAWEA board believe that her active
participation in policy and research environments of promoting the development of
the local renewable energy industry, enable her to drive a vision for the South
African wind industry to play a significant role in the country’s future energy
system.
Ntuli takes the lead at a pivotal time
in the country’s energy dialogue, where policy and leadership will drive
changes that will impact South Africa’s future economic growth. The energy transition requires an aptitude
for working across a number of government sectors as well as labour groups and
civil society.
“We are proud to welcome Ntombifuthi,
who brings over a decade of energy knowledge and experience in policy and
research together with an understanding of the local manufacturing, development
and the broad economic impact of the renewable energy industry,” said Mercia
Grimbeek, Chair of SAWEA.
Ntuli most recently worked for the CSIR
as a Research Group Leader: Energy Industry, where she focused on assessing the
economic impacts of the energy sector transition including, jobs, SMME
development, industrialisation as well as socio-economic development.
She holds an MPhil Degree in Energy
Studies (University of Johannesburg) and a Certificate in Economic and
Development Policy (University of Witwatersrand). She is an Alumna of the
United States International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) as well as the
African Programme on Rethinking Development Economics (APORDE).
She has worked at DTI as a Director:
Green Industries responsible for facilitating the development of the local
renewable energy manufacturing industry. Before joining the DTI, she spent 3
years at the Embassy of Denmark as a Coordinator for the Business to Business
Programme, facilitating business linkages between Danish and South African
companies. She also spent 7 years in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
working on Energy and Climate Change programmes.
SAWEA operates as a common law,
voluntary not-for-profit association representing the South African wind
industry, led by a Board that is primarily concerned with issues of governance
and strategy.
Mercia Grimbeek, elected Chair of SAWEA
earlier in the year, is leading the association with her vision to see wind
power as a positive driver of transformation and growth in South Africa.
More information at www.sawea.org.za
