Meet our Speakers

Deborah is an accomplished sustainability professional with over two decades of international experience in Sustainability, Climate Change, and Environmental Management. Her leadership and deep understanding of the evolving sustainability landscape enable her to deliver consultancy services that align with both client objectives and broader sustainability goals.

Her sustainability expertise spans sustainability strategy development, materiality assessments, ESG framework development and performance management, sustainability reporting (GRI, TCFD, ISSB), IFRS S1 sustainability and climate gap analysis assessments, as well as climate risk and decarbonisation strategies. She has successfully led cross-functional teams to design and implement initiatives that meet compliance standards, deliver best practice, and achieve measurable improvements in performance.

Deborah’s experience extends across diverse sectors, including real estate, higher education, healthcare, integrated water and energy, waste management and manufacturing, where she has developed ESG strategies, net zero pathways, governance frameworks, and risk management systems that support long-term value creation and regulatory alignment. She has also spearheaded the development of Sustainability Strategies and ESG Frameworks for both South African and international organisations, covering KPIs, data requirements, implementation initiatives, reporting processes and double materiality assessments.

She has played a central role in advancing renewable energy and decarbonisation, including developing shared value strategies, establishing Environmental & Social (E&S) Management Systems, advising on impact assessments aligned with the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards, and leading stakeholder engagement processes to design socio-economic development plans.

Beyond sustainability, Deborah is an internationally experienced Environmental Specialist with a strong track record in environmental planning, environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), compliance auditing, environmental management systems, and stakeholder consultation. She is a professionally registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA).

Her career includes extensive sectoral experience in the power industry, where she has managed more than fifteen environmental applications across coal, gas, integrated water (desalination) and power, wind farms, and solar PV projects in South Africa and across the MENA region. Her portfolio further spans EIAs for solid waste management, water and wastewater treatment, rare earth mining, industrial developments, residential and mixed-use projects, aquaculture, and e-waste facilities.

Deborah has led multidisciplinary teams in assessing and mitigating project impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities. Her strong analytical skills and deep knowledge of environmental regulations and sustainability frameworks enable her to identify risks, design effective mitigation measures, and oversee compliance management throughout construction and operational phases.

Her international experience includes a pivotal tenure in Dubai, where she advanced her expertise in sustainable design, corporate sustainability, and environmental planning. Throughout her career, Deborah has remained committed to driving impactful and sustainable change across industries.