Meet The Team
Board Members
Liziwe McDaid (Board Member)
"...is a qualified scientist, teacher, and adult educator, with a Master’s..."
Penny Hlakula (Board Member)
"...is passionate about youth development and the empowerment of women and girls ..."
Yachika Reddy (Board Member - Chair)
"...employed at Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) as .."
Abdul-Basier Dramat (Financial Director)
"...work with The Green Connection involves multiple facets, from.."
Gus Pickard (Secretary)
"...has worked as a community facilitator and trainer since 1994. He is experienced in research..."
Jaclyn Smith (Board Member)
"..has worked in the green sector for 15 years focusing particularly in conservation of urban..."
Management Team
Lwando Mtsulwana
Lwando Mtsulwana has been specialising in supply chain management and project management within the environmental sector. Focusing on ensuring efficient resource flow, financial sustainability while providing overall team leadership, support and direction.
Neville Van Rooy
Quote that motivates his work: “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.” Kwame Nkrumah
Neville van Rooy has worked with a variety of environmental justice platforms with the purpose to protect communities and the environment.
Nandipha Masango
Quote that motivates her work: “Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for someone else.” Maya Angelou
Nandipha Masango has a background in environmental management, environmental education and digital marketing.
Lisa Makaula
Quote that motivates her work: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Lisa Makaula has worked within the ecojustice space, from a media and advocacy perspective. She prides herself in working towards good governance and sustainable development.
Core Team
Priyanka Naidoo
Quote that motivates her work: “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” Quote from Arundhati Roy’s book “Capitalism: A Ghost Story.” Priyanka Naidoo is a human rights Lawyer who has worked on Affirming and Securing Rights in resources and land of local communities.
Vuyiseka Mani
Quote that motivates her work: “A mentor must always guide, never push. It was my job to listen to them, offer my perspective, and encourage them to pursue the ideals they believed to be true.” John Wooden
Vuyiseka Mani has been working in advocating for environmental justice. Along with efforts to stop gender based violence & femicide.
Natalie Van Wyk
Quote that motivates her work: “We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it because they do.” Sylvia Earle
Natalie Van Wyk has a background in environmental activism and community engagement. Advocating for the rights of fishing communities to contribute to sustainable livelihoods.
Maria Raedani
Quote that motivates her work: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou
Maria Raedani has a strong foundation in organizational management and event coordination. Contributing to the organisation's operations from an admin and logistics perspective.
Christopher Scholtz
Christopher Scholtz has a decade of in-depth knowledge of the institution of parliament. He has worked on analysing policy documents and legislation, covering parliamentary monitoring and participation. Along with engagement with Members of Parliament.
Feziwe Mapete
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Feziwe Mapete has a background in internal auditing and bookkeeping within the financial sector.
Warren Blouw
Warren Blouw has a background in environmental activism and community engagement. Advocating against fracking and offshore oil and gas, through emphasising the need to invest in renewable energy sources.
Supporting Team
Gillian Hamilton
Quote that motivates her work: “The climate movement made an enormous mistake. We focused all our attention on fossil fuels, when we should have been pointing to something much deeper: the basic logic of our economic operating system.” Jason Hickel
Gillian Hamilton is a Researcher who is passionately committed to the principles of sustainable development, with a specific interest in alternative economic models, the Just Transition and climate finance.
Sean Brown
Sean Brown has a background in economics development studies and philosophy in critical issues in the study of HIV & AIDS and Society. His practical work experience includes youth empowerment work in West and Southern Africa, HIV and AIDS information and education, and programme support for women living with HIV. More recently, Sean has worked as the Acting Executive Director and Operations Director of Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI).
Natasha Adonis
Quote that motivates her work: “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” – William Ernest Henley
Natasha Adonis is a Communications & Public Relations Specialist & Events Manager. Who has more than a decade of experience, gained in the public & corporate sectors. She has produced various types of written materials, such as; proposals, internal communications and many strategically-considered press releases, media/event invites & alerts.
Adrian Pole
Adrian Pole is an Attorney assisting The Green Connection in various matters relating to ocean economies and the extractive fossil fuel industry. His previous work has included providing legal support, assistance and representation to NGOs and CBOs in various environmental decision-making and appeal processes. He was also the Attorney of record in the ‘nuclear case’ that successfully set aside former President Zuma’s plan to build a fleet of nuclear reactors.
Linda Arkert
Quote that motivates her work: “We are fighting for soil, land, food, trees, water, birds. We are fighting for life.” Gregoris Mirabal
Linda Arkert has a background in psychology & social work within the eco-justice space. Her community, group & case work at a community care centre assisted people living with & affected by HIV & AIDS. Her work is driven by her growing awareness of the issues of environmental degradation & climate change, & the impact in particular on the poor and marginalized.