African Chapter Lead and Director of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN); Co-Founder of the ACEN
Foundation; Director of ImagineIF, NPC and Director of GreenWasteX and GreenAgriX in Mauritius.
Since 1992, Chris has been involved in environmental and sustainable project developments across Africa and channelled his focus into waste from 1999. He founded and headed USE-IT the Waste Materials Recovery Industry Development Programme in Durban, South Africa from 2009 to 2020 facilitating more than 2600 jobs in the waste and recycling sector in that time, leveraging 4.5 times their funding in land􀀂ll savings to municipality and an additional 10 times that funding in commercial project development. This created a model for green economic development and innovation in South Africa that worked. Chris deals in every aspect of the waste stream to explore, invent and create sustainable opportunities in waste beneficiation that touch on waste management, water management, infrastructure, energy, social upliftment, environmental beneficiation, economic development, low-carbon development, enterprise development and skills development – all key aspects of sustainability and drivers of the Circular Economy. Chris is recognised locally, nationally and internationally through many awards and nominations:
2013 Chairman’s Award from Institute of Waste Management SA (IWMSA) for Exceptional Service to the Waste Management Industry
2014 Innovation Trophy for Innovation in Waste from the IWMSA
2014 Structural Home Category Award winner for Better Living Challenge
2015 PETCO Award for Best Waste Management Initiative of the Year
2015 Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Award for Green Technology Innovations
2015 Mail & Guardian Editor’s Choice Award as best overall environmental project in South Africa
2015/2016 Gold Award – winner of EcoLogic Award for Recycling and Waste Management
2016 semi-􀀂nalist in Global Greentech Innovation Programme
2016 semi-􀀂nalist in World Habitat Awards
2016 SXSW Eco Award Winners for Social Impact (Tycycler project) in Austin Texas.
2016 KZN Waste Management Awards – Individual Merit Certi􀀂cate
2017 􀀂nalist in the World Economic Forum The Circulars 2017, an initiative of The Forum of Young Global Leaders
in the ‘AB InBev Award for Circular Economy Governments, Cities and Regions’ category. The Circulars 2017 Finalists
2017 Finalist: Chris was one of 7 􀀂nalists in the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Sustainability and Resource Awards 2017 for ‘Waste and Resources Leader of the Year’
2018 Ecologic Awards – Bronze in Recycling and Waste Management, Silver in Eco-Warrior Award
2018 Winner: AfriSam – SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation for Sustainable Product/Technology: RamBrick
2019 World Sustainability Award – The Energy Globe. National prize for low-carbon construction from waste materials
2019 Build Magazine. Recycling & Waste Management Awards: Best Waste Beneficiation Technology Developer, 2019
2020: HSBC Future Skills Innovation Challenge in partnership with Ashoka, a global network for social entrepreneurs.
In June 2020, Chris moved on from USE-IT to focus on the commercial development of his other business interests in the waste sector and to expand his vision for a Circular Economy to the rest of Africa and to global opportunities. His passion and vision are to transition corporate and countries to a Circular Economy where waste is a resource.