Dr Ilse Aucamp is a Director of Equispectives Research and Consulting Services in South Africa. She conducts social, gender and human rights assessments, due diligence studies, public consultation, stakeholder management processes and designs and implement social impact management strategies. She has a keen interest in social development and social entrepreneurship. Ilse is an internationally published author and has a passion for research. As such, she has worked on large research projects with a focus on integrating social aspects of environmental management into the biophysical sciences. Ilse teaches Social Impact Assessment on a masters’ degree level at several universities in South Africa. She also supervises masters and doctoral students in the environmental and social fields. Her passion is working with grassroots communities. Ilse has 25 years’ experience as a social scientist and has worked all over the African continent. She also worked as a social worker in the United Kingdom and an English teacher in Taiwan. She holds a DPhil degree in Social Work from the University of Pretoria and a Masters’ degree in Environmental Management from North West University

Ellen Hagerman is currently contracted as the Senior Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) expert for a World Bank transboundary water program, the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa where she provides technical assistance to project development, develops tools and information material and has developed and delivered online training to donors and Bank staff. She has also delivered on-line participatory training for a World Bank water program in Central Asia and conducted gender assessments focused on women’s economic empowerment for the Bank’s program in West Africa. Prior to providing GESI technical expertise and inputs for World Bank programs, she worked as the GESI expert for a regional water project in Southern Africa which included providing technical expertise on gender to social impact assessments. She has provided GESI technical expertise for UNICEF, UNFPA, government entities, and NGOs. She has extensive experience developing and delivering participatory gender training programs for Global Affairs Canada, USAID, UNICEF and UK-funded programs that were conducted in English, French, and Portuguese. She has also developed a variety of tools and resources on gender equality across multiple sectors and has produced communications articles and publications.

Danielle is an independent consultant with over thirteen years’ experience in environmental and social assessment and management in southern Africa. Her experience includes specialist work in social and socio-economic impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, and environmental project management. Danielle has worked in a variety of sectors including oil and gas, renewable energy, mining, industrial, infrastructure, and waste management.

Ms Karen Shippey has a Master’s Degree in Environmental and Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town and over 20 years of work experience. Whilst her post-graduate studies focussed on Sustainable Development, her work experience took her into the world of infrastructure development, working as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner. Ms Shippey joined the Western Cape Government in 2011 and became Chief Director: Environmental Sustainability for the Western Cape in 2015. This role saw her providing oversight and leadership across the Provincial Climate Change, Green Economy, Sustainability, Biodiversity and Coastal Management portfolios. Ms Shippey added the obligations of Departmental Strategic Gender and Human Rights Focal Point to her portfolio in 2017. This enriching work has challenged her to take a fresh view of the public sector gender mandates and obligations and to engage actively in awareness raising and policy reform.