A competent Safety Health Environment Quality (SHEQ) specialist with excellent leadership, management, communication, and co-ordination skills with over 15yrs in the electricity sector. Professionally registered Environmentalist with SACNASP, Lead IRCA Auditor in ISO 9001:2015, Lead 14001: 2015 and OHSAS18001. Her qualifications include a PhD and MSc in Environmental Science from the University of South Africa, Mini MBA from Stellenbosch University, lead audit certificates in ISO standards (ISO14001:2015, OHSAS18001 and ISO9001:2015) from Potchefroom University, TUV Reinland and BSCI in India. I also hold leadership skills from Steve Covey Institute, Total Quality Management from UNISA and Stellenbosch University.

Dr van Zuydam – Matshebula’s leadership skills have been recognized in various institutions where she is serving as Chairperson of the Southern African Power Pool ESC, Board Chairperson at Renewable Energy Association Eswatini (REAESWA), Eswatini Environment Authority as Board of Trustees, SHE FORUM Eswatini as Deputy Chair and Secretary and Global business roundtable as national executive secretary and in Eswatini Standard authority in various technical groups. Part of the steering committee on third national communication for Swaziland on climate change. Have successfully led environmental department in the leading electricity industry in the country which received Green Parastatal award in two succession years. Has conducted interdisciplinary research in the Safety Health and Environment field and published scientific papers. She is the founder of the International Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (ICSE). She is the current Country Chairperson for AWEaP Eswatini.

Personal statement

To address some of the challenges faced in the continent, women must be involved as change agents, in decision making and clean energy value chains to bring innovation, sustainable energy solutions that can turnaround the economy in African countries.