Meet Elize Hattingh

I am committed to decarbonize the economy and to build a skilled workforce that is ready to meet the demands of a just and low  carbon economy in Africa. #LeaveNoOneBehind is a shared SDG commitment. My work is aimed to support previously marginalized groups such as youth, females and black-owned enterprises to actively participate in new green industries to #buildbackbettergreener.

The Green Economy Academy is a depositary of all my knowledge gained throughout my 15 plus years working in Sustainability.

This is a story of how my own sustainability career unfolded:

My Sustainability Career Journey started in my early twenties when I studies at Stellenbosch University. In 2002 I was exposed to the first World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. I completed my undergrad degree in Consumer Sciences in 2005 ready to take on the work place, but I knew that there was more to be discovered and that my career needed to be aligned to  creating positive impact in Africa. Since a child I was drawn to issues of equality, female empowerment and protecting children`s rights. My father was an organic subsistence farmer and my mother a social worker. Together, these two role models  inspired me to follow a career where I can offer a meaningful contribution to #buildinbackbettergreener.

In 2006 I registered as a student at the Sustainability Institute, to start by BPhil degree in Sustainable Development on a part time basis. I continued to complete my Masters Degree in this field and I was very fortunate to have Professor Mark Swilling as my study leader.  My research followed career paths of the first 200 graduates that studied at the Sustainability Institute from 2003 to 2013. The findings let me to understand the need to offer career guidance in sustainability related fields. This is how Green Talent was born in 2010, a boutique sustainability career consultancy.  At this point there was limited green job opportunities for sustainability professionals in South Africa. Thus I started in 2014 to coach entrepreneurs to start green business to respond to pressing SDG challenges in South Africa.  I coached green entrepreneurs at The Innovation Hub, Sarebi, Future Females Business School and Youth Bridge Trust. 

www.thegreeneconomyacademy.com