Climate change, energy and resilience

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.

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.

Emma is a gender, policy and adaptation specialist with an MSc in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics. She has more than seven years’ experience providing technical assistance and developing, implementing and assessing policy and projects for UN agencies, multilateral development banks, local and international NGOs, and country governments. At ICLEI, Emma is providing technical support to cities on participatory adaptation action planning and gender mainstreaming.

A Capetonian and UCT student, Sadie is interning at ICLEI while completing her Chemical Engineering degree. Her interests fall broadly in the cross-road between engineering and sustainability, with specific experience in the topics of Industrial Ecology, Life Cycle Assessments and Bioprocessing Engineering. Sadie is currently exploring and helping out in various projects at ICLEI. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and being in nature.