City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Katherine is a renewable energy enthusiast with a track record of over 20 years of professional experience. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of creating and expanding renewable energy businesses and teams, predominantly in Southern and East Africa. Her expertise spans various crucial areas, including project development, project finance, project management, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, and asset management. Graduating with degrees (BSc Hons and MSc) in 2003 and 2004, Katherine later complemented her specialist skills with valuable business acumen. In 2016, she graduated with distinction, earning an MBA from the prestigious University of Stellenbosch. This comprehensive knowledge has proven instrumental in her success as a leader in the renewable energy sector. Katherine has enjoyed exposure to executive responsibilities in her corporate roles and has demonstrated her commitment to the industry by serving on the boards of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC). She is a qualified director under the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA), further underscoring her commitment to professional excellence and governance. Currently, Katherine holds the position of Managing Director: Assets at SOLA Group. In her role, she leads SOLA's Project Development, Project Finance and Asset Management teams, as well as overseeing the Group HR and Legal functions. She is also a Director on number project companies. SOLA Group is renowned as South Africa's leading provider of Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) under Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), with a particular expertise in large wheeling transactions. Prior to her time at SOLA, Katherine spent a decade working for the international wind energy developer, Windlab. Katherine actively champions diversity and inclusion in the energy sector. She is a mentor to women in the industry, and an advocate for increased representation of women in executive positions. Outside her busy professional life, Katherine finds joy as a mother of two and is a renowned endurance open water swimmer.
SOLA's Project Development, Project Finance, Financial Close and Asset Management teams report to Katherine in her role as Head of SOLA Assets (Pty) Ltd. The focus of this team is on utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects, with particular expertise in wheeling projects and corporate PPAs.
In early 2021 Katherine took up the exciting role of Project Development Director at The SOLA Group. This role involves the development, finance and implementation of utility-scale solar PV projects for both government and private offtake, primarily within South Africa and other key Sub Saharan countries. The SOLA Group is a vertically integrated renewable energy company, aiming to transform Africa through clean energy. SOLA Build has built over 30 MW of embedded-generation solar PV projects, mostly for the private sector, and has developed over 305 MW solar PV projects in Africa, making it one of the largest solar companies in South Africa. The SOLA Group offers all stages of solar PV implementation: from project development and financing, design, procurement and construction, to the operations and maintenance of solar PV facilities.
Managing Director of Windlab East Africa. Windlab is a global company specialising in the development, implementation and operation of utility-scale renewable energy facilities. Katherine leads the East African division of the business which includes over 1.5GW of renewable energy projects under development, overseeing a multi-cultural and geographically diverse team located in offices across South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. In early 2019 Katherine was instrumental in securing a large capital injection into the business (from Eurus Energy of Japan), this investment has been used to expand Windlab East Africa’s activities across the region. This included setting up new corporate, financial and governance structures and processes across multiple jurisdictions and growing the team significantly. Flagship projects under Katherine’s responsibility include Miombo Hewani Wind Farm (100MW) - the most advanced wind farm development in Tanzania - and Africa’s first utility scale wind-solar PV-battery hybrid project, Meru County Energy Park (80MW, in Kenya).
General Manager of projects and operations across South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya (and prospecting for opportunities in new territories). Reporting directly to the Managing Director and Windlab Board, Katherine was responsible for company strategy, the management of the African team, value creation and revenue generation in Africa. Successes in this role include establishing a local presence for Windlab in Kenya and negotiating and securing influential Joint Development partnerships in both Kenya and Mozambique.
Project Portfolio Manager overseeing 20 renewable energy projects across Sub-Saharan Africa (from prospecting through to Financial Close). Intimately involved with raising project debt and equity finance, securing offtake agreements, negotiating various contracts including equipment supply agreements, managing stakeholder relationships, and ensuring bankability. Responsible for the portfolio development strategy, business planning and representing the organisation’s African operations on the Executive Committee.
2-year term completed as external member and renewable energy industry representative on the SARETEC Governance Board
Project Manager, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Practitioner and Independent Environmental Auditor. Provided environmental consulting services on large and complex projects in the oil and gas, power, mining and infrastructure sectors in 10 sub-Saharan African countries and across the UK. Developed an in-depth understanding of environmental permitting requirements and key skills in project management, stakeholder consultation, client relations and sales. Worked as an Independent Advisor to leading global financial institutions.