Dr Oliver Cowan is conservation scientist working in the Conservation Science Unit of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). His work includes mapping the distribution of species of conservation concern and, as such, is involved in producing and refining the animal sensitivity of layer of the Environmental Screening Tool. Dr Cowan also coordinates the response of the EWT to proposed developments and has a keen interest in the EIA process.

Gavin works for the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, responsible for strategic environmental support in the province.

Nontethelelo Dlamini has worked in the environmental and social consultancy sector for approximately two years, and she holds a BSS degree in Geography and Environmental Management as well as a BA Hons in Economic She has undertaken various projects in the mining industry ranging over several aspects of environmental management and social research including stakeholder engagement, renewable energy, environmental authorizations, resettlement planning and implementation.

Robyn is the Director: Environmental Impact Management in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) in Mpumalanga Province.

Sean O’Beirne is an environmental consultant and has worked in the field for some 27 years. Sean began his career at the CSIR, where he did a masters in radar rainfall measurement before a sea change in his career saw him move into the emerging field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Sean also benefitted from early exposure to post EIA implementation when he was seconded to the Hillside Smelter project as today’s equivalent of an environmental control officer. Sean started his own consulting company in 2000 and that is where he has been ever since. In 2003 he started working in Russia in combination with two Moscow based consultancies and has been lucky enough to travel to and work in many of the regions in that remarkable country with his most recent trip being to Chukotka where is completing an ESIA for a proposed copper mine. Sean has played a role in many of South Africa’s large scale infrastructure projects including Gautrain, Medupi, Kusile and Ingula, Nuclear 1, the AMD project, several bulk water projects, a number of production increases at Sasol Secunda and others. He has also worked on a number of aluminium smelter projects in the Middle East in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. For the last 5 years Sean has been a short-term consultant (STC) to the IFC and works in that capacity on public private partnership projects as well as a range of other direct investment projects across Africa.

Duduzile (Dudu) Sibiya is the Provincial Climate Change Coordinator at Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs. She is responsible for coordinating and spearheading climate change and just transition Initiatives and interventions. She promotes their mainstreaming and alignment across all plans. She facilitates capacity building to local municipalities to assist them in their climate change and just transition roles.

Barry is a Green Star SA Accredited Professional in South Africa with extensive site experience working as an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) at major construction sites and has experience in compiling Environmental Audits, EIAs, BARs and EMPrs.