In order to maintain independent and unbiased judging of the Eco-Logic Awards, The Enviropaedia appoints a panel of 12 independent, highly respected, environmentally conscious executives from a diverse range of occupations and professions to judge the Eco-Logic Award entries using 7 criteria that are the ‘V.I.R.T.U.E.S’ of Eco-Logic.
In 2019, the Judging panel consisted of:
Justin Fox
Justin Fox is the current editor of Getaway magazine. He is also a photographer and the author of 20 books. Justin was a Rhodes Scholar and received a doctorate in English from Oxford University after which he became a research fellow at the University of Cape Town, where he has been teaching part-time for two decades. His articles and photographs have appeared internationally in a number of publications and on a wide range of topics, while his short stories and poems have appeared in various anthologies. He is a two-time Mondi journalism award winner (1999 and 2004). Recent books include The Marginal Safari (2010), Whoever Fears the Sea (2014), The Impossible Five (2015) and The 30-Year Safari (2019).
Yolan Friedmann
Yolan is the CEO of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, one of the largest conservation NGOs in southern Africa. Yolan’s academic qualifications include an MSc in Environmental Governance, a BA in Communications and English and a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Yolan was the first female recipient of the SAB Nick Steele environmentalist of the Year Award, the winner of the CEO Most Influential Woman in Business and Environment Award in the Environmental Category, recipient of the 2012 Green Globe Award, a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, a Board member of the Tourism Conservation Fund, and was a Regional Councillor on the IUCN Council for 4 years.
Jannette Horn
Jannette was born and educated in Gauteng. After graduating from the University of Johannesburg (RAU) she joined Anglo American as an environmental consultant and continued her consulting career at various internationally recognized engineering firms for a further 16 years. Whilst specializing in environmental management systems, compliance, training and EIA’s, she was fortunate to work in countries such as Canada, the UK, Namibia, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2010 Jannette moved out of consulting to join the Altron Group as Head of Sustainability. Her role at Altron required her to adopt a holistic approach to the environment and sustainability at a group level. Altron won various sustainability report awards under her guidance. In 2014 Jannette continued her studies at the University of Pretoria to further her knowledge in Integrated Reporting and Sustainability. After returning to consulting for a brief period in 2015, Jannette joined Sun International as their Group Sustainability Manager in 2017. Her role has expanded to also include environmental, health and safety, socio-economic development, community engagement, risk management and B-BBEE. She is also responsible for compiling and managing the group’s Integrated Annual Report (IAR) as required by the JSE.
Kevin James
Kevin is an eco-entrepreneur focused 100% on unlocking green economy opportunities. He is also a sustainability professional with deep experience in strategic corporate sustainability as well as in the development of green, low carbon projects. In 2006 he founded his most current entrepreneurial venture - Global Carbon Exchange (GCX) with two goals in mind: to create commercial value and to make a positive impact at the same time. Kevin is currently the CEO of GCX, a strategic environmental sustainability and project development company that supports the transformation of large, complex organisation across SA into more responsible and valuable entities through the design and implementation of sustainable business programs. Besides his role at GCX and The Green Building Council South Africa, Kevin is also a Director of OptimusBio a leading, homegrown biotech company developing biological solutions across various fields.
Albi Modise
Albi Modise serves as Chief Director/Head of Communications at the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Modise graduated with an Honours degree Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University School Journalism. He has worked as a Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology, also at Government Communications and Information System, State IT Agency and Spokesperson for the national Ministry of Communications.
His responsibilities include overall management of the communications portfolio in the department while also entrusted with spokesperson roles for the department. He has served as the Country Spokesperson during international conferences like international climate change talks, CoP 17 and other similar international conferences. In addition he also Certificate in Telecommunications Policy from Wits University and General Management Programme from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Dorah Modise
Ms. Modise is a sustainability specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the field and currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council of South Africa.
Until January 2017, she was the Strategic Executive Director: City Sustainability at the City of Tshwane where she was responsible for leading the sustainability programmes and ensuring that the City becomes the greenest most sustainable city in the African Region. Ms Modise also served as Chief Policy Advisor for Sustainable Development at the South African Government Department of Environmental Affairs where she spearheaded the development and implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, South Africa’s engagements in global sustainable Development negotiations, the environment sector green economy response including the establishment and management of the national green fund. Ms Modise holds an MBA from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), A Master’s Degree in Environment and Development from the University of Sussex; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Diplomacy from the University of Geneva among other qualifications.
She has served on numerous boards and advisory panels and is currently the chairperson of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Africa focal point advisory panel.
Charles Moore
Charles Moore is an award-winning environmental filmmaker producing documentaries and television inserts for local and international TV networks. He has been the Series Producer on the SABC2 environmental programme 50|50, the producer of a series on the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development as well the COPPUCINO series of interviews at COP17 for the Cambridge University of Sustainability Leadership.
Ndivhuho Raphulu
Ndivhuho Raphulu heads up the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA), the resource efficiency and cleaner production programme of the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI), hosted by the CSIR, with offices in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. He oversees the NCPC-SA’s efforts to promote the implementation of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) methodologies to assist industry to lower costs through reduced energy, water and materials usage, and waste management. Ndivhuho holds degrees in Environmental Science, Environmental Management and Developmental Studies. Prior to joining NCPC-SA he was Senior Sustainability Advisor at national power utility, Eskom. He plays a leading role in various national forums as well as on the continent and internationally, and is currently President of the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARSCP), and Chairman of the EU and African Union Partnership on Sustainable Consumption and Production. He also co-chairs the Steering Committee of the African Regional Eco-labelling Project, and serves on the Executive Committee of RECPnet, the worldwide UNIDO and UNEP resource efficiency and cleaner production forum. He is non-executive director of various social and sporting organisations, a trustee of Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust and founder and member of the board of trustees of the Proclaiming Life Church in Centurion.
Nancy Richards
Nancy Richards is an independent journalist with many years’ experience in radio and print. As a radio presenter, areas of specialisation included literature, the environment and ‘women’s issues’. In print amongst others, she covers environment, arts, lifestyle, travel and décor. She is the founder of NPO: Woman Zone and a Women’s Library. She’s author and co-author of Beautiful Homes - featured in Fairlady; Woman Today - 50 years of South African women on radio and Being a Woman in Cape Town. She is a speaker, media trainer and proud to be Board member of Soil for Life. Born in London, based in Cape Town.
Vincent Shacks
Vince is a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. He has worked throughout Southern Africa with national governments, private sector and community based organisations in the management and planning of nature based tourism. Vince worked as a researcher and independent consultant in the Okavango Delta for over a decade and has also carried out biodiversity survey work in Mozambique, Madagascar and Angola to assist governments with the setup and planning of new protected areas. He is currently the General Manager of the Ecotourism unit at the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) which oversees the Blue Flag, Green Coast and Green Key eco-labels, as well as the management of national youth development projects.
Anthony Stroebel
Anthony Stroebel has been the Group Marketing Director for Pam Golding Properties (Pty) Ltd since 2000 but his role has now evolved to Head of Strategy. He is currently responsible for integrating a ‘green agenda’ into the future of Residential property in South Africa, this as a brand dimension of the Pam Golding brand. His vision is to drive green consciousness in the domestic environment, thereby facilitating the inclusion of green credentials in the valuation of residential property. He schooled at Woodridge College in Port Elizabeth and currently holds a degree in Bachelor of Commerce (UCT), as well as Diplomas in Public Relations and Marketing (Damelin College).
Joanne Yawitch
Joanne Yawitch has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Business Initiative (NBI) since March 2011, having previously been Deputy Director General for Climate Change in the Department of Environmental Affairs with responsibility for Environmental Quality and Protection, as well as for the Department’s Climate Change work. She worked for the Gauteng Department of Environment from 1997 to 2004 and prior to that was Special Adviser to the then Minister of Land Affairs. Joanne is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of South African National Parks and is a Director of the National Research Foundation. Joanne's expertise lies within business and sustainability, business and government collaboration, climate change and climate change negotiations.