IEM IN THE ROARING 2020's

Prof Nicholas King is an independent researcher and consultant in futures- and strategic-thinking, with over 25 years’ experience in global to local environmental change analysis, including mainstreaming environment and climate change considerations into development planning, policy and practice in numerous countries.

Nick’s experience includes contributions to IPCC and IPBES Assessment Reports, being Co-Chair of the Science Advisory Panel (SAP) for UNEP’s 6th Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) from 2015-2019, and recently being appointed to Co-Chair UNEP’s GEO-7, just started in 2023 and underway until 2026, as well as to UNEP’s new Foresight Expert Panel.

Since 1998 Nick has contributed to numerous IAIA Conferences, served a term on the Board, a term as Chair of the Biodiversity Section and was a Co-Founder of the Climate Change Section. In 2018, Nick was awarded IAIA’s Individual Award “in recognition of his ongoing contributions internationally to the fields of environmental assessment and management”.

Abulele has been working as an environmental scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) since January 2014. She holds a Master of Science in Geography from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (now Nelson Mandela University) in Port Elizabeth. Her undergraduate degree was a BSc in environmental science with Honors in Geographic Information Systems. She also completed a year of courses in the Sustainability Economics and Management Masters programmes at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany.

Abulele has worked on the South African National Strategic Infrastructure Projects including the Phase 1 and Phase 2 National Wind & Solar PV Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Electricity Grid Infrastructure SEA as well as the Square Kilometre Array SEA which were commissioned by the national Department Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment. In addition, she has worked on a municipal capacity development project which aims at collaborating with local municipalities to increase capacity in strategic planning areas including municipal Integrated Development Plans and Spatial Development Frameworks. Abulele is a past president of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) South Africa as well as the International Association for Impact Assessment Students and Young Professionals Section Co-Chair Committee. She was the chair for the IAIA Climate Change Symposium that took place in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2022. She is also the recipient of the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans list that celebrates young people who are making strides in their chosen fields, and charting the way for the many other South Africans.

Austin is a Junior Environmental Consultant at Solis Environmental Consultants (formerly Environamics) specialising in the EIA processes relating to the development of strategic renewable energy projects across South Africa with a special focus on undertaking EIA’s for Solar Power Plants.

Austin studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and holds a BSS Hons in Environmental Management and is currently waiting on the outcome of his Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Science.

Austin has been involved in research relating to cutting edge research topics in the field’s of GIS/remote sensing, UAV technology applications in Environmental Management, Integrated Environmental Management, Renewable Energy, Natural Resource and Water Management with a minor focus on Climate Change. He has published research on SPLS-DA for Mapping and Detecting Snow Induced Damage to Eucalyptus Species in the KZN Midlands was the first paper of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Austin has also previously worked as an academic tutor for undergraduates in environmental management, GIS/remote sensing, human and physical geography modules. He is passionate about education and research and has organized several local and national events on environmental education, presented at national and international conferences and has published research in international journals.