Page 34 - Energize July 2022

NEWS

New leadership at solar association

APVIA has elected a new
management committee, including a
Snew chairperson.
The Solar PV Association is stepping
forward into a new decade of solar with
its new CEO and a changing of the guard
with the election of its new Chairperson.
Together they will work to advocate,
engage and influence on behalf of its
members to harness the power of solar
and capitalise on the opportunities it offers
for individuals and all of South Africa.
The Association changes guard with
new CEO - Dr Rethabile Melamu and
chairperson - Chanda Nxumalo.
SAPVIA, which was officially launched
in 2010, held their Annual General Dr Rethabile Melamu Chanda Nxumalo
Meeting on 09 June 2022 and members
democratically elected a new Chairperson technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change in society, with a dedicated focus on
and a MANCO. This is the first time in its African sustainable development.
history that the Association has had a SAPVIA is a member-led organisation formed with the express purpose of growing the
black, female Chairperson working with a solar PV sector’s role in powering South Africa’s future. The Association advocates, engages
black, female CEO. and influences on behalf of members to harness the power of solar PV and capitalise on the
Chanda Nxumalo takes on the role opportunities it offers companies, individuals and the broader South African economy.
of chairperson for the solar association, “I am delighted to take on the role of chairperson at SAPVIA and it will be my pleasure
bringing a track record of 13 years to serve alongside our new CEO and our MANCO. The Association is only as strong as our
delivering in the renewable energy members and together we have achieved so much, but we must work harder to ensure
and power sector. She has extensive that this new decade of solar realises its full potential,” said Chanda Nxumalo, SAPVIA
experience working in technical, business Chairperson and Harmattan Renewables Director.
development and executive capacities in “Solar PV continues to demonstrate that it is the least-cost, quickest-to-build option
African, American and European markets. for power generation and we must work to ensure that it contributes even more to the
Nxumalo holds a master’s degree in economic upliftment and empowerment of individuals and communities. I am confident
engineering, economics and management that our membership base has the experience, expertise and dynamism to deliver another
from the University of Oxford. decade of solar that maximises the opportunity for our members and South Africa.”
Nxumalo has served as spokesperson The Association’s tenth Annual General Meeting saw the introduction of six
and vice-chair for SAPVIA and is currently commissioners onto SAPVIA’s management board: Frank Spencer (Bushveld Energy); Lena
Director in Harmattan Renewables, Chirwa (Enel Green Power SA); Maloba Tshehla (ED Platform); Melissa Hill (juwi Renewable
a consultancy focused on providing Energies); Adv Mtho Xulu (Nashua Group) and Phemelo Mitchell (SunElex Group). These new
technical, commercial and environmental members will serve a two-year term, ending at the AGM in 2024.
advisory services, as well as asset “The new Board has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we are grateful for
management for renewable energy their willingness to commit their time, energy and expertise to building SAPVIA and the
projects across sub-Saharan Africa. PV industry. I look forward to working with them as well as stakeholders across the energy
Alongside a new chairperson, sector and in government to deliver value to our members, the public sector and South
SAPVIA has also recently appointed Dr African citizens,” said Dr Rethabile Melamu, SAPVIA CEO.
Rethabile Melamu as CEO. A chemical These new members will serve a two-year term, ending at the AGM in 2024. The
and environmental engineer by training, following current Manco Members will remain in office for the second year of their two-year
Dr Melamu has become renowned for terms: Chanda Nxumalo, Daniel Goldstuck, DeVilliers Botha and Sunette Smith.
her international expertise in the green The AGM also marked the stepping down of a number of board members who have
economy and energy sectors. She has worked tirelessly to professionalise the Association and ensure that SAPVIA is a trusted
leveraged both the theoretical and partner to government. Dr Rainer Nowak has given ten years of service, Dr Richard Doyle
practical to harness innovative smart - three years of service, Norman Moyo - two years of service and Wido Schnabel - MANCO

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