Our team

The C4 Ethos

We undertake our work with a great sense of responsibility to the communities receiving funding, the biodiversity being conserved, and the global taxpayers and/or private investors funding the interventions. Our philosophy is to always go the extra mile to provide excellent service to our clients.

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Management

Anthony Mills

CEO

PhD Soil Science
MPhil Environment and Development
MSc Environmental Geochemistry
BSc Zoology

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Anthony is the founder and CEO of C4 EcoSolutions and AfriCarbon . The focus of his career has been to catalyse investments in ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture within the public and private sectors so hundreds of millions of hectares can be restored. He has worked on GCF and GEF projects and designed the strategy on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. He is working with a wide range of private sector investors to realise the vision of restoring one million hectares of degraded thicket landscapes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa . Anthony is also an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University where he undertakes primary research on soil chemistry and ecology.

Barbara Ikin

General Manager

MBA Executive Leadership
BA Applied Psychology
BCom
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Barbara Ikin is a leadership consultant who specialises in Conscious Leadership. She has over 17 years’ management experience in diverse settings, including healthcare, banking, the non-profit sector, and hygiene and sanitation, as well as international experience. Her role at C4 is to support the leadership team in developing the right skills and processes for managing in uncertainty and complexity. She works closely with the team to develop relationship intelligence in teams, building resilience and emotional intelligence, and ensuring the organisation is on track to being a leader in the industry, in terms of employee well-being and engagement, as well as one of excellence and innovation.

Project Leadership

Robbert Duker

Head Scientist

PhD Plant Environmental Physiology
BSc (Honours) Botany
BSc Botany and Geology
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Project countries: Namibia, South Africa
Skills: team management; budgeting; planning and implementation of restoration projects

Robbert joined the C4 team in 2021 as a spekboom project analyst and now leads our implementation arm. He has a background in spekboom ecophysiology and ecology, having studied this in detail from honours through to PhD. During his time at C4, he has coupled his academic background with his experience in commercial-scale horticulture to implement the Kuzuko Thicket Restoration Project — a massive project with a diverse team of >350 people, who planted >30 million spekboom in a Big Five game reserve. Robbert and the implementation arm are now in the preparatory phases of the Spekboom Thicket Restoration Project, which aims to restore >100,000 hectares of degraded thicket landscapes across the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He and the implementation arm are also starting to apply their lessons from the Kuzuko project in other restoration projects around the world, with the vision of pushing back degraded lands and deserts across the globe.

Jaun van Loggerenberg

Head Scientist

PhD Environmental Sciences
MSc Environmental Sciences
BScA (Honours) Town and Regional Planning

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Jaun joined our team in 2022 and works as a remote sensing specialist. For his MSc, he investigated the spatial and temporal variability of rainfall in South Africa. He is pursuing a PhD in Environmental Sciences which focuses on using remote sensing to characterise maize crops in South Africa. He has >8 years’ experience in using GIS and remote sensing in numerous conservation, climate, agriculture and ecosystem projects. Prior to joining C4, he worked on developing bespoke remote sensing solutions for farmers in South Africa to monitor crops, implementing climate change adaptation programs in the Sahel, West Africa and developing GIS solutions for complex environmental challenges.

Nicholas Tye

Head Scientist

MSc Ecology, Environment and Conservation
BSc (Honours) Ecology, Environment and Conservation
BSc Zoology and Ecology, Environment and Conservation
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Nick joined the C4 EcoSolutions team in 2012 as a Climate Change and Environmental Consultant. Through his work with C4, Nick has developed wide-ranging experience in designing, monitoring and implementing climate change adaptation projects, with a focus on EbA, in developing countries. His work at C4 EcoSolutions has included: leading the development of more than 10 adaptation project concept notes (including GEF PIFs) for GEF, Adaptation Fund and GCF; leading and coordinating the development of more than 10 full adaptation project proposals for GEF, Adaptation Fund and GCF; undertaking baseline assessments and mid-term reviews of adaptation and environmental projects; and developing the National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPA) for South Sudan. Nick is the Chief Technical Advisor for an Adaptation Fund project in Cambodia, a GEF-SCCF project in Albania and a GEF-LDCF project in Angola. Before joining C4, Nick worked as a Biodiversity Specialist – focusing on birds – for the North West Provincial Government in South Africa. This work linked to his MSc research which focused on biodiversity in riverine ecosystems in the Kruger National Park.

Reinhardt Hauptfleisch

Principal Consultant

MSc Geography and Environmental Management
BSc (Honours) Environmental and Biological Sciences
BSc Environmental and Biological Sciences
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Project countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: agricultural and precision farming; geospatial assessment of agriculture value chains; micro and mesoscale meteorology; climatology; database design; development and management

Reinhardt is an environmental specialist who addresses climate and environmental challenges through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing carbon sequestration projects, climate adaptation strategies, and geospatial analysis. He employs recognised methodologies from standards such as Verra, Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Gold Standard (GS) to design and implement carbon projects in agriculture, forestry and land use.

Keith Steunenberg

Principal Consultant

BSc (Honours) Botany
BSc Botany and Environmental Science

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Skills: data management; scientific methodology; people management and logistical coordination
Keith’s experience is in the environmental and conservation sector. Initially he worked on a project that investigated the impact of rangeland and game farming on animal conservation. His involvement in the ecosystem restoration project was primarily centred around innovation and scientific experimentation. As the project has grown, his responsibilities increased to focus on managing teams of workers and supervisors to execute the company’s vision.

Consultants

LEAH ARMSTRONG

Senior Consultant

MPhil Environment, Society and Sustainability
BA (Honours) Landscape Architecture
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Skills: sustainable agriculture; land rehabilitation; water resource management; ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions; climate change adaptation and mitigation; research and development; people and project management; presentations and training

Leah has a multi-disciplinary background, with >15 years’ experience in rural development, agriculture, and landscape architecture. Her areas of expertise are fostering ecosystem restoration through nature-based solutions (NbS) and increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities, with a particular interest in sustainable agricultural practices. She has a passion for community engagement and finding innovative solutions to balance human activities with ecosystem sustainability.

Nicole Martin

Lead Consultant

PhD Zoology, specialising in climate change and invasion biology
BSc (Honours) Biodiversity and Ecology, specialising in invasion biology
BSc Biodiversity and Ecology
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Project countries: Djibouti, Lebanon, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania
Skills: research and analytic skills; project development and management; climate change adaptation and NbS; biological invasions and conservation

Nicole transitioned from academia to the practical field of climate change adaptation at C4. As an assistant lecturer and researcher, she gained her extensive background in ecology, invasion biology and conservation biology. She is part of the team at C4 leading and developing Funding Proposals, Feasibility Studies and Monitoring Evaluation Plans.

Tinovonga Chimuka

Lead Consultant

LLM Environmental Law
BA (Honours) Environmental and Geographical Studies
BSocSci Environmental and Geographical Science and Gender Studies
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Project countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Djibouti, Eritrea, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, The Gambia, The Maldives, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Skills: gender mainstreaming; strategic planning; project management; climate action planning; sustainable development; budget management; stakeholder engagement

Tinovonga has 3 years’ experience designing and managing several climate change adaptation projects in multiple countries, having joined C4 in 2021. In her Honour’s thesis, she drew on a gender lens to assess the livelihoods of Zimbabwean female migrants living in Cape Town, South Africa. She is particularly interested in the relationship between climate change impacts and genders — specifically how a gendered response can improve the implementation of climate change adaptation projects.

Emily McConville

Lead Consultant

MPhil Disaster Risk Science and Development
BA (Honours) Geography and Environmental Studies
BA Humanities
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Project countries: Djibouti, Lebanon, Mauritania, Somalia, Tanzania, The Philippines
Skills: disaster risk reduction; management; hazard risk assessments; NbS; systems thinking and social-ecological systems; research-based analysis; critical thinking and analytical skills

Emily has been involved in the development of innovative climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. She has also been involved in the development of a Climate Information Services (CIS ) study for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) . She has recently expanded her role to reviewing and editing documents to enhance quality of deliverables.

Gerhard Olivier

Lead Consultant

MSc Geography
BSc (Honours) Geography
BA Environmental Management
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Project countries: Mauritania, Zimbabwe
Skills: carbon project knowledge; environmental science; precision agriculture; remote sensing; Google Earth Engine; R; geospatial assessment (GIS); species distribution modelling

Gerhard has led a carbon Feasibility Study in Zimbabwe focused on improved agricultural land management and forest conservation. Prior to this, he worked on projects in South Africa where he developed tools to analyse crop health using satellite images and created an online portal for farmers to monitor their crops remotely.

Daniël Düring

Lead Consultant

PhD Environmental Science (ongoing)
LLM Environmental Law and Governance
LLB
BCom Economics and Law
BSc Geology and Geography
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Project countries: Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Eritrea, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: environmental law; legal registers; opinions and compliance auditing; environmental management systems development and auditing; GIS analyses; remote sensing; integrated assessment modelling; advanced data analysis

Daniël has 10 years’ experience in the fields of environmental law, management and science. He has worked as an environmental law specialist, environmental management specialist, researcher in air quality science and meteorologist. He is involved in the development of Feasibility Studies of carbon projects. He leads the review and development of proposals and project documents on climate change adaptation and mitigation. He also assists with the design and execution of environmental analyses through GIS, remote sensing and modelling applications.

Matthew Collins

Lead Consultant

MSc Physical and Chemical Oceanography
BSc (Honours) Ocean and Atmosphere Science
BSc Ocean and Atmosphere Science and Geology
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Project countries: China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, The Philippines, Togo, Zimbabwe
Skills: research; scientific writing; QGIS; extensive carbon standard methodology knowledge; remote sensing software; carbon modelling software

Matthew has practical field experience collecting data and using scientific equipment, which has given him good context for much of the data we use day-to-day. Out of the field, he has experience with collecting and using remote sensing data, conducting research for desktop reviews and writing reports. Other points, such as carbon standard knowledge, help to add more details and context for practical solutions and targeted methodologies.

Ruben Cruywagen

Lead Consultant

MA Creative Writing
BSc (Honours) Zoology
BSc Zoology
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Project countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, multiple countries in Asia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, The Philippines, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: Python; JavaScript; C#; R; SQL; HTML/CSS; modelling; machine learning; statistical analysis; mapping; GIS/remote sensing; data visualisation; automation; prompt engineering; cloud server management; writing; research

Ruben joined the C4 team in 2023 as a consultant. He holds a BSc Honours in Zoology and a Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing, both from the University of Pretoria. For his Honours project, he analysed the climate change-induced shift in the foraging range of southern elephant seals. His MA in Creative Writing comprised a fiction novel and a mini-dissertation, both focusing on identity crisis in South Africans. Ruben has >4 years’ experience working as a software developer and data scientist. He is proficient in Python, SQL, JavaScript/TypeScript, R, C#, HTML and CSS. Ruben has a passion for creating software products, automating processes and extracting value out of data, especially in the field of conservation.

Nikki Hughes

Lead Consultant

PhD Chemical Engineering
MEng Chemical Engineering
BEng Chemical Engineering, specialising in mineral processing
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Project countries: Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Congo , Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, The Philippines, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: investigative research; problem solving; statistical analysis; writing and reviewing

Nikki has worked in literature and investigative research into methods for beneficiating coal without the need for water. She has designed, commissioned and optimised three laboratory-scale apparatus. She has done multiple fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB) and corporate carbon footprint studies at C4.

EHLKE HEPWORTH

Lead Consultant

PhD Physical Oceanography
MSc Physical Oceanography
BSc (Honours) Ocean and Atmosphere Science
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Ehlke has a background in scientific research and product development, including experience in remote sensing for polar research with a focus on the Antarctic atmosphere and sea-ice environment. Before joining C4, she developed analysis and visualisation tools for organisations to better understand and conceptualise their impacts on the environment and communities.

Katherine Southwood

Consultant

BSocSci (Honours) Environmental and Geographical Science
BSocSci Environmental and Geographical Science and Psychology
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Project countries: Eswatini, Lebanon, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, South Africa, Somalia, Tuvalu
Skills: research and analysis of diverse contexts; report writing and documentation; legal and regulatory framework development; geographical and demographic analysis

Katherine has contributed to multiple climate adaptation projects including a GEF-approved project on EbA to enhance livelihoods in Tuvalu. She has also been part of the team assessing the potential for generating carbon credits through various ecosystem restoration activities in South Africa and selecting the most appropriate Verra methodology.

Jordan Siebert

Consultant

PhD Environmental Management (ongoing)
MSc Environmental Ecology
BSc (Honours) Zoology
BSc Environmental Sciences
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Project countries: Eswatini, Mongolia, Namibia, the SADC region
Skills: GIS and remote sensing; report writing; data management

Jordan has been actively involved in four distinct climate adaptation projects contributing to baseline research and engaging in more specialised technical tasks. Her experience extends to working on ecosystem restoration initiatives, with a focus on NbS and disaster risk preparedness.

Chris Tonkin

Consultant

MSc Botany
BSc Conservation Ecology
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Project countries: Eswatini, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: research project development and implementation; statistical analysis (Excel, R, XLSTAT, QGIS analysis), SQL, Google Colab

Chris has contributed to the evaluation and advancement of Scoping and Feasibility Studies for carbon credit projects, with a specific focus on Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use initiatives, encompassing REDD+ and Improved Agriculture Land Management projects. His involvement extends to ecosystem modelling activities within the SADC region.

Mari van Niekerk

Consultant

BSc (Honours) Biodiversity and Ecology
BSc Biodiversity and Ecology
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Project countries: Kenya, South Africa, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: design and implementation of carbon credit-generating projects, research skills and experience in multi-disciplinary environmental sciences

Mari’s academic work involved developing a tissue culture protocol for Crocosmia aurea with the aim of commercialising the antidiabetic compound Montbretin A (MbA). She has contributed to the research and development of Scoping and Feasibility studies for carbon credit projects, particularly in the Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Use sectors, encompassing REDD+, ARR, and Improved Agricultural Land Management projects. She has expertise in Verra methodologies and a nuanced understanding of relevant legislation for carbon credits, carbon ownership, land tenure, and associated intricacies of the process. Prior to joining C4, Mari has also been an Environmental Consultant at Biosylx (Pty) Ltd.

Nicola Vermonti

Consultant

MSc Conservation and Ecology
BSc Conservation and Ecology
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Project countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Skills: technical understanding of Verra’s REDD+ and sustainable agriculture carbon credit projects; development of Feasibility and Scoping studies; statistical analysis (Excel, R, PRIMER); QGIS analysis and mapping

Nicola’s work focuses on assessing the feasibility of carbon offset projects, particularly within the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use sector. Her work centres on REDD+ initiatives and Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry.

Abdul-Lateef Ismail

Consultant

MSc Botany
BSc Biological Sciences
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Abdul-Lateef joined the C4 team in 2023, working for the AfriCarbon Thicket restoration project. His post-graduate experience involved the vegetation ecology and classification of subtropical thicket, the biome that AfriCarbon is actively restoring. Abdul-Lateef’s role on the project focuses on the monitoring of biodiversity and the investigating intricacies of site-selection.

William Gummow

Consultant

MSc Botany
BSc (Honours) Botany
BSc Environmental Science
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Project countries: South Africa
Skills: Data management and analysis; Carbon accounting; Project management and coordination.

William started his career as an intern for the Rhodes Restoration Research Group. He has mainly worked with Portulacaria afra research and its potential in restoration ecology. He has continued his career working in the AfriCarbon thicket restoration project. He has also gained experience in the voluntary carbon market and the requirements of Verra methodologies, modules and tools required to implement an AFOLU ARR project.

William Liversage

Consultant

MSc Water Resource Science
BA (Honours) Environmental Water Management
BA Geography and Environmental Science
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William obtained his MSc in Water Resource Science from Rhodes University, where he analysed the vegetation use of livestock in the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. After completing his studies, William went on to work as a research assistant at Rhodes, collaborating with SANBI to assess the population distribution of Aloe ferox in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. He is now employed as a project coordinator for C4’s Spekboom Restoration Project, where his main responsibilities involve assisting with the management and roll-out of project implementation.

MTHOKOZISI MOYO

Consultant

PhD Ecology
MSc Ecology
BSc (Honours) Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences
BSc Chemistry, Applied Chemistry and Ecology
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Mthokozisi joined the team in 2024, bringing his experience working on various aspects of climate change. His PhD focused on how rainfall seasonality drives ecosystem processes in Africa and his MSc revolved around how phenology changes in response to changes in the climate in the Enkangala grasslands in South Africa. Mthokozisi has experience as a research assistant on many projects, using GIS and working with long-term data and large datasets. He also has extensive experience in science engagement, working with high school learners, teachers and local communities.

SHAIDAN GONLAG

Consultant

MSc Conservation Biology
BSc (Honours) Biodiversity and Ecology
BSc Environmental Science
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Since finishing his master’s at the University of Cape Town, Shaidan has worked as a data analyst at a carbon development company, focusing on soil organic carbon modelling. Having joined our team in 2024, he strives to understand the complexities of ecosystems to help create unique, effective strategies that drive real and tangible change. He is particularly passionate and interested in agroecology and restoration ecology and has expertise in remote sensing, GIS and landscape ecology.

Steven Mc Gregor

Consultant

PhD Zoology (submitted for examination)
MSc Zoology
BSc (Honours) Zoology
BSc Environmental Sciences
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During his Honours and MSc degrees at Nelson Mandela University, he focused on aquatic ecology, examining habitat use, feeding ecology and microplastic ingestion in fishes. He then transitioned to terrestrial systems for his PhD, also at Nelson Mandela University. This research explored the associations between wild, free-roaming ungulates and climate drivers (including carbon storage and surface albedo) through their impacts on grassland vegetation and soils. Recently, he contributed to an ongoing international project with C4 in a part-time capacity, where he assisted in estimating carbon stocks in plants and soils. He has now joined C4 full-time, bringing his diverse ecological expertise to the team.

Scientists and Researchers

Ruan van Mazijk

Ecologist, Editorial and Training Specialist

MSc Biological Sciences
BSc (Honours) Biological Sciences
BSc Ecology and Evolution and Applied Biology
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Project countries: South Africa, United States of America, Zambia
Skills: writing; editing; science communication; data visualisation; R; statistical analysis; botany

Ruan joined C4 EcoSolutions in early 2023 as a research and publishing intern, carrying out primary scientific research at the company, with a background in plant ecology and evolutionary biology. Ruan has published work on various aspects of the Cape flora’s biodiversity, including phylogenetics, biogeography and macroecological patterns in relation to soil characteristics. Passionate and skilled in data wrangling, visualisation and statistical analysis, Ruan contributes to ongoing research projects on savanna, grassland, and spekboom thicket soil ecology, working with the AfriCarbon team. He also develops in-house training material on a variety of topics at C4, leveraging his teaching experience as a postgraduate at UCT, and provides editorial support across projects.

Tauriq Jamalie

Junior Geospatial Data Scientist

MSc Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
BSc (Honours) Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
BSc Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

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Countries: Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Eswatini, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Skills: remote sensing; GIS, geospatial analysis, biodiversity information management, biostatistics, data analysis

Tauriq has gained practical experience as an intern in Animal Production at the Agricultural Research Council. He has contributed to projects in C4 including climate modelling; REDD+ Feasibility Studies, Carbon Scoping Studie and restoration projects.

ROBEL BERHANU

Junior Geospatial Data Scientist

MSc Geophysics
BSc (Honours) Geophysics
BSc Computer Science and Computer Applications
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Robel has a background in computer science and geophysics, focusing on advanced data analysis and solutions for environmental applications. His expertise in data processing and visualisation significantly enhances monitoring and decision-making. He has previously worked on innovative projects that automated and visualised data, using technologies such as Python, SQL, JavaScript and Azure Cloud Services. His work includes engineering for large datasets and creating portals for real-time data access to deliver impactful insights.

Jade Harris

Research Analyst

MSc Nature Conservation
BSc (Honours) Medical Bioscience
BSc Medical Bioscience

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Jade is part of the C4 AfriCarbon scientific team, with 3 years’ experience as an Environmental Monitor in game reserves. Jade completed her Master’s degree in Nature Conservation in 2023, with her thesis titled “The effects of pulse-driven resource availability on mammalian communities in the Kalahari, South Africa”. Jade’s research has identified changes in the Kalahari landscape during below and above-average rainfall years and how this affected the mammal communities in the area. The research provided insight as to how the unpredictable landscape may be affected with the increased threat of climate change, and how large antelope would be the first to be affected.

CORAL MAFOLE

Research Analyst

PhD Ecology (ongoing)
MSc Botany
BSc (Honours) Biological Sciences
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Coral has a broad interest in understanding the challenges and opportunities related to climate change. Her Master’s research explored the role of melanisation in lichens in response to increased ultraviolet light. Currently, she is a doctoral researcher investigating the impacts of altered rainfall seasonality on grass dominance in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Coral has experience in conducting and collecting field vegetation surveys and analysis, using big data for species distribution models with MaxEnt and data-processing in R.

BIANCA SILBERBAUER

Research Analyst

MSc Animal Science
BSc Animal Science
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Bianca has a keen interest in conservation, with an academic background in Animal Science. For her Master’s she conducted a novel study on giraffe meat, aiming to aid in their conservation and has published several papers on her findings. She has further experience in the conservation sector, specialising in elephant behaviour and leopard population distributions across Southern Africa. She has also worked in education, hotel and business management, museum curation and customer service. Bianca has experience in conducting field work, data analysis and report writing.

EMILY SCHNEIDER

Research Analyst

MSc Conservation and Biodiversity
BSc (Honours) Psychology
BSc Psychology
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Emily joined the company in 2024 and has provided support on a range of international projects, in countries including Tanzania, Eswatini, Somalia, Mauritania and Jordan. Emily has an interdisciplinary background in Psychology, Biodiversity Conservation and French, with a specialisation in Evolutionary Psychology and Animal Behaviour and Cognition. Through her studies, Emily has gained extensive experience in conducting independent research and writing discursive essays, as well as scientific reports. Emily brings to the team ecological knowledge of the principles underlying EbA and restoration, as well as an understanding of how to bring about change in human behaviour.

KEZIA REDDY

Research Analyst

BSc (Honours) Sustainability and Environmental Sciences
BSc Biological and Environmental Sciences
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Kezia joined the C4ES team in 2024 and has since assisted in developing climate change adaptation projects for international clients (UNEP and UNDP) and funds (GCF and GEF). Her work has included the development of simple future narratives, climate rationales, and conceptual diagrams such as problem trees, solutions matrices and Theory of Change diagrams. Her studies encompassed global change, climate projections, sustainable development, ethnoecology, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management and biocontrol. She draws on this knowledge and associated skills in the workplace, incorporating her understanding of rural livelihoods and sustainability into project development. Kezia is a stickler for detail and loves grappling with the complexity and uncertainty of socio-ecological systems.

MATTHEW ARENS

Research Analyst

MSc Ecophysiology (ongoing)
BSc (Honours) Biological Sciences
BCom Politics, Philosophy and Economics
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Matthew joined the C4 team in 2024 and has since contributed to developing GCF Funding and NAP Readiness Proposals. His academic background encompasses international politics, business law, economics, global change ecology and conservation biology. He is currently pursuing an MSc in plant ecophysiology at the University of Cape Town, focusing on the plasticity of functional and hydraulic traits in key species across a climate gradient in the Cape Floristic Region. Matthew is particularly interested in the potential for communities and their surrounding ecosystems to benefit each other.

TRISTAN PITCHER

Research Analyst

MSc Entomology (ongoing)
BSc (Honours) Entomology
BSc Entomology and Microbiology
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Tristan became part of our team in 2024 as a technical writer on climate adaptation projects. He earned his BSc (Honours) degree with distinction, where he took a climate change module while specialising in entomology. Tristan is pursuing an MSc in entomology, a field increasingly connected to climate change. His academic career has developed his skills in scientific writing, field sampling, public speaking, community engagement and data analysis. He also developed a keen interest in graphic design through his studies.

Shréyan Maharaj

Research Analyst

BSc (Honours) Animal, Plant and Environmental Science
BSc Biological Sciences
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Shréyan joined the team in 2024 following the completion of her BSc (Honours) in invasion biology at the University of the Witwatersrand, having gained valuable writing, data analysis, research and GIS skills. Her interest in ecology, water management and invasive species’ ability to constrain the availability of natural resources has positioned her to contribute to several climate change adaptation projects at C4, including a Feasibility Study in the SADC region and a programme framework for land restoration across nine countries in the Sahel. Her affection towards science, research and teaching has led to her involvement in assisting the research and training operations at the company, with ongoing projects on savanna, grassland, and spekboom thicket soil ecology. She is currently pursuing an MSc focused on remote sensing and plant ecophysiology of invasive and expansive reed populations in South Africa.

Kristen Davis

Research Analyst

MSc Zoology
BSc (Honours) Zoology
BSc Environmental Sciences

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Kristen joined the C4 team in early 2024. She holds a MSc in Zoology from Nelson Mandela University. For her MSc, she modelled medium- and large-sized mammal populations across the envisaged Camdeboo-Mountain Zebra (C-MZ) mega-reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Her research showed that the C-MZ mega-reserve — if established — would effectively conserve viable populations of the endemic Cape mountain zebra, blesbok and black wildebeest, as well as many smaller co-existing species. However, her research showed that an area of that size (784,000 ha) is not large enough to support viable populations of large herbivores (such as the African elephant) and large carnivores (such as the African wild dog). Consequently, larger and more connected protected areas are needed to effectively conserve species and ensure their long-term persistence.

Anke Botha

Research Analyst

MSc Zoology
BSc (Honours) Biodiversity and Ecology
BSc Biodiversity and Ecology
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Anke joined the company in 2024 and is currently working on projects across multiple areas of Zambia. Her MSc studies focused on predicting the effects of climate change on the mussel aquaculture industry in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. She has experience in multi-disciplinary environmental sciences, research and writing.

MUCHELENE PEPLOUW

Research Analyst

MSc GIS and Remote Sensing
BA (Honours) Geography
BA Geography, Psychology and Linguistics
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Muchelene joined the C4 team in 2024 and contributes to the research and development of Scoping Studies and Feasibility Studies for carbon credit projects. She completed her MSc at the University of the Witwatersrand, during which she analysed the spatiotemporal characteristics of surface water in a saline environment using machine learning and Google Earth Engine. Muchelene also has previous work experience mapping in the research health sector.

JILLIAN WELKOM

Research Analyst

BSc (Honours) Geography and Environmental Science
BSc Geography
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Jillian holds a BSc (Honours) in Geography and Environmental Science from the University of Pretoria. For her Honours project, she investigated the use of an air quality index in the Highveld Priority Area in South Africa. She joined the C4 team in 2024 and has contributed to the research and development of literature reviews, analysing several carbon registries, standards and project methodologies. She has also assisted with feasibility studies, specifically contributing to agroforestry modelling and denitrification and decomposition data processing.

AYESHA FRANCIS

Research Analyst

BSc (Honours) Environmental Geographical Science
BSocSci Environmental Geographical Science, Journalism and Psychology
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Ayesha joined C4 in 2024 and has a background in environmental science, data analysis and business intelligence development. Her technical expertise includes advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, data visualisation, SQL and data management. Ayesha has contributed to GIS mapping and feasibility studies in Zambia and SADC. She has created detailed stakeholder matrices and consultation questions for a recent project. Prior to working for C4, she led multiple projects and coordinated with stakeholders to achieve client deliverables for a data analytics company in Cape Town. Her focus was on the fleet and solid waste department. Her responsibilities included creating business intelligence reports to manage vehicles within the fleet department and to aid with monitoring CO₂ emissions related to vehicles.

Niclas Baur

Research Analyst

MSc Marine Biology
BSc (Honours) Marine Biology
BSc Applied Biology, Ecology & Evolution and Marine Biology
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Niclas joined the company in 2024 and has a background in Marine Biology. He is completing his Master’s on the life history, diet and reproduction of three local species of grenadier fishes. Niclas is experienced in scientific planning, analysis and report writing, as well as having coding experience. He takes a keen interest in observing and documenting different wildlife in his spare time, taking a particular interest in reptiles and scorpions.

Tara de Jongh

Research Analyst

Research Analyst
MSc Environmental Geochemistry
BSc (Honours) Earth Science

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Tara has conducted research on measuring trace aluminium in seawater expeditions to the Southern Ocean, contributing to the trace metal field. Tara holds an undergraduate degree in geology and is passionate about understanding how the atmosphere, ocean, and land interact and influence the global climate. Tara has experience in using various analytical techniques such as flow injection analysis and fluorescence, while also possessing skills in GIS, data analysis, and data visualisation.

Migcobo (Mira) Peter

Research Analyst

Research Analyst
BSc (Honours) Conservation Ecology
BSc Conservation Ecology

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Mira holds a conservation ecology degree and brings field experience in environmental monitoring, biodiversity sampling and soil analysis to our climate and carbon projects. Their expertise includes developing environmental management plans and conducting ecological modelling.

Proficient in geographic information systems and data management, they combine environmental knowledge with technical skills to develop evidence-based solutions. Their passion for understanding ecosystem interactions and their impact on the global climate drives their commitment to creating effective strategies for environmental conservation and climate action.

Claire Mundell

Research Analyst

BSc Plant and Soil Science

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Claire holds a BSc degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Stellenbosch, majoring in Horticulture and Entomology. With a background in auditing and agriculture, Claire brings attention to detail and a fresh innovative approach to the Spekboom planting operation. Her final year project was on measuring absorbance as an indicator of maturity in dark skinned avocado cultivars which was published in the Journal for Subtropical Crops.

Administration

Debbie Buckley

Office Manager (Finance Accounts)

N3 Certification Commerce
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Debbie joined C4 in 2014. She has performed various functions as C4 has grown and is currently the Administrative Office Manager. She is versatile, reliable and efficient and has extensive experience in supporting managers and executives in a fast-paced environment.

TAMMY MCDONNELL

Human Resource Manager

BSS (Honours) Psychology
BSS Psychology and Social Development
Diploma Applied Psychology and Communication
Certificate Human Resource Management
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Tammy is a Human Resource Manager with experience in various industries, including healthcare, hospitality, property development and construction. Tammy is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace by building strong teams and developing professional growth. Her excellent communication skills and approachable demeanour make her a trusted resource for employees seeking support and guidance. She has a strong background in talent acquisition, employee relations, promoting a positive work culture and driving organisational success.

Chantel Loubser

Project Administration Manager

Diploma Project Management, Business Administration & Leadership
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Chantel joined our team in 2022. She has more than 20 years of experience managing the operations and project divisions at different companies. This included engaging professional stakeholders on large projects such as a 400-unit residential development and most recently a 10ha light industrial development.

Shawn Els

Financial Controller

National Diploma Financial Management

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Shawn joined C4 In 2024 as the financial controller. He has over 20 years’ experience in finance systems and operations, in variance settings, including hospitality, retail, advertising and export. His role is to merge the project and finance teams and streamline process to ensure efficient collaboration and cost-effective project execution.

GISELLE GINSBURG

Executive Assistant

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Giselle brings over 18 years of administrative expertise to her role at C4. She has served as a trusted Executive Assistant to high-level executives, demonstrating her exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail. Giselle has experience coordinating national events, managing travel arrangements and maintaining financial records with precision. Her adept multitasking abilities ensure seamless operations in dynamic environments. With a diploma in Secretarial Computing and a wealth of experience in office management, Giselle is a valuable asset to the team, embodying qualities of self-motivation, problem-solving and strong communication.

Jethro Strauss

Operations Data Analyst

Business and Data Management Experience
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Jethro is involved in analysing and interpreting data to support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation. This role involves collecting data, creating reports, and providing insights that help drive business decisions and optimise processes. Jethro is also involved in managing payroll data of staff for on-the-ground operations. Jethro has approximately 12 years of experience in business with five years in management positions.

Associates

Anneke Lincoln Schoeman

Associate

PhD Environmental Sciences
BSc (Honours) Entomology
BSc Entomology

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Countries: Brazil, Colombia, Comoros, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mauritania, Peru, Philippines, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Zambia.
Skills: technical advice to donor-funded adaptation and mitigation projects, specialising in climate change adaptation and gender mainstreaming; project and team leadership

Anneke’s academic background encompasses environmental sciences, English, French, German and African language studies and philosophy. She has been involved in research that investigated the ecology and evolution of various animals on a planet in crisis. She has also gained recognition as a multilingual science communicator. She has lead the review and development of proposals and project documents for projects on climate change adaptation and mitigation for a wide range of clients in multiple countries. She has also done multiple Scoping and Feasibility Studies for carbon sequestration projects.

maintenance

ESTER MUSIPA

Groundskeeper and Property Maintenance

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Ester, originally from the Eastern Cape, relocated to Cape Town in 2001 and comes with previous Guest House experience and child minder knowledge. She has managed C4 EcoSolutions’ internal property maintenance for over 10 years and has 21 years of experience in this field.