The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has announced the appointment of Ntombifuthi Ntuli as CEO, who is tasked with steering the R200 billion wind industry, by drawing on her deep knowledge and talents gained during her 14 years of experience in the 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, give her the edge to drive a vision for the South African wind industry to play a significant role in the country’s future energy system.
Ntombifuthi 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 deep thought and 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 to the table 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.
Ntombifuthi 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.
Ntombifuthi 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).
Previously she worked for the Department of Trade and Industry as a Director: Green Industries, where she was 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 working as a Coordinator for the Business to Business Programme, where she facilitated business linkages between Danish and South African companies. Prior to that she 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 that represents the South African wind industry, led by a Board that is primarily concerned with issues of governance and strategy.
Mercia Grimbeek, was elected earlier in the year, as the Chair of SAWEA, leading the association with her vision to see wind power continuing to be a positive driver of transformation and growth in South Africa.
The SAWEA board comprises: Mercia Grimbeek (Compliance Manager: Mainstream Renewable Power); Boitumelo Kiepile (Head of Regulatory Affairs: Enel Green Power RSA (Pty) Ltd); Katherine Persson (General Manager: Africa for Windlab); Rafiq Ebrahiem (Finance Director: Globeleq South Africa Management Services); Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz (Director: ENERTRAG SA (Pty) Ltd.)
