Our team

Tashi is finalising a post-graduate Diploma in Sustainable Development at the Sustainability Institute, University of Stellenbosch. She has more than five years of experience in urban agriculture and environmental education initiatives. She is dedicated to building human-centred, just, and resilient systems in an increasingly urban world.

Laura is interested in nature conservation, food production, social responsibility, International politics and maps. She has a Master of Science in Geography with 10 years of experience in project management and coordination, fundraising and sales, brand building, communications and marketing.

Fru is passionate about food and nutrition security, resource management, economic development, and labour market dynamics. She has over five years of work experience on issues relating to food and nutrition security. Fru holds a Masters in Economics from the University of the Western Cape and is pursuing a PhD degree in Development Studies at the same university. Fru is a member of the Economic Society of South Africa (ESSA).

Carina has over 12 years’ experience in the writing and editing industry, with about 5 years in the non-profit space. She is passionate about contributing her skillset to the sustainable growth of the African cities that ICLEI’s projects support. Carina has a degree in Communications and recently submitted her Masters dissertation in Media Studies to Wits University. She has always been interested in the intersection of media and communication with environmental issues, and the impact that the right message can have in making lasting positive change.

Nick is a Professional Officer at ICLEI Africa, focusing on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction. His areas of expertise include public policy, climate finance, and the blue economy. He is interested in channeling climate adaptation efforts in urban areas, emphasizing the special needs and circumstances on the African continent. He has two years of experience, having worked at a think-tank and at an international development cooperation entity. Nick holds a Master’s degree in public policy and international relations, and studied at a Liberal arts college. He speaks English, French and Portuguese.

Luke spent the past 14 years actively immersed in civil society organisations and fledgling research institutes, working at the forefront of transdisciplinary research and transformative learning, and specialising in urban food security programmes, food systems governance and social-learning processes. He has worked extensively with global leaders across the spectrum of system change – from grant-makers and policy think-tanks, to universities and social movements. Luke holds a BA in Applied Design, a Masters in Sustainable Development Planning, and a PhD that focussed on the role of informal learning networks and youth in food system transformation. Luke also has a small flock of chickens and some young fruit trees that are teaching him a lot about patience and collaboration!

Kabelo obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy from the same institution. Her undergraduate degree from the University of Cape Town includes a double major in Environmental and Geographical Science, and Applied Biology. She has over 3 years of experience in communications and social media marketing, having worked as an Environmental Communication Assistant at the City of Cape Town from 2020 to 2022. She strives to use her versatile work experience and academic background to fulfil her passion of addressing urban sustainability challenges.

Ntombi has recently read a Master of Science in Climate Change and Development from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Her study focused on adaptation methods, climate change, urban governance, water insecurity, and water scarcity in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. She also holds a Master of Philosophy (Law) from the University of the Western Cape which focused on children’s rights. She has eight and a half years of experience in policy research, supporting members of parliament at the Parliament of South Africa. She won an award in the Civil Society category in the 2022 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans. She is also a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship awarded by the UK government to outstanding individuals with leadership potential from around the world to read a master’s degree in the UK.

Hayley has extensive experience working at the interface of climate change and development issues, with a specific focus on climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and resilience. She has worked on diverse large research programmes in varied contexts, predominantly in urban centres across Southern African focused on issues such as disaster risk reduction and building climate change resilience. She has worked in academia, consultancy and research organisations entailing interdisciplinary engagement with local and national governments, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. She holds a PhD in Geography from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Ivana has a Double Bachelor Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). She has four years of experience in sustainable development policy, project management and environmental advocacy at the local level. She actively participates in research and innovation for the analysis of public policies that contributes to social change. She has a passion for work related to nature-based solutions, climate change, multilevel governance, activism and gender mainstreaming.

Julie holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and an MESc from Yale University’s School of the Environment, as well as a dual BA. She has over a decade of experience in the environmental science and urban biodiversity, with application to management and governance for sustainability. She has a passion for exploring how actions at the local city-scale can help people to live healthier, happier lives connected to landscapes of ecological integrity. In her other work, she has served as a project manager, editor, and author of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook, and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Cape Town, where she investigated urban biodiversity management policy, implementation, and best practices.

Tara Caetano is an energy economist with over a decade of experience in the field of climate change and development. Tara holds a Masters in Engineering in Energy Studies, from the University of Cape Town. Her experience includes leading a diverse set of projects across Africa in areas such as long-term emission development strategies, energy transitions, sustainable finance, development economics, and the circular economy. Over the span of her career, she has worked in academia, with the private sector, and with local and national governments. She has a curious mind that drives her passion for research, complex problems and writing.