Neil Townsend, neil@just-energy.org

Neil Townsend 23 Dreyer Road, Kommetjie, Cape Town, 7975

+ 27 82 410 4183; neil@just-energy.org

Profile I am an ambitious and innovative thinker with excellent problem solving skills. I thrive on new challenges and excel at analysing new opportunities, negotiating and closing deals. I bring 15 years in-depth knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa and well established networks in the renewable energy and banking sectors. Current Employment Managing Director, Just Energy, June 2008 – Present Day, Cape Town South Africa. As the MD of Just Energy I analysed the emerging renewable energy market opportunity in South Africa and established Just Energy as an early mover in the sector with start-up funding from the Bank of America. I successfully identified and initiated a pipeline of commercial scale renewable energy projects on high performing wind energy sites across South Africa - including leading on all necessary technical due diligence. I developed detailed financial modelling, negotiated project finance terms and secured financing with local and international commercial banks. I secured major partnerships, such as with EDF (Electricité de France), and negotiated their equity participation as major shareholders in Just Energy projects. A critical part of my role was to present the investment opportunities to the board of Just Energy which I successfully achieved on all projects. I have cultivated significant networks across the sector with government, financial institutions, project developers, technology providers and engineering partners. Reflective of my innovative and ambitious approach, I established new models for democratisation of energy resource ownership, creating potential value in excess of 30 million US dollars for local communities. Over the last 6 years I have explored other market opportunities and partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa and in other countries such as in Nicaragua and been a speaker at numerous renewable energy conferences.

Relevant Consultancy Experience

Solar PV Industry Association of South Africa (2014) – Research on the socio-economic benefit of solar PV projects in the REIPPPP process in South Africa. Provincial Government, Western Cape, South Africa 2013 / 14 – Development of provincial renewable energy policy position paper. Department of Trade and Industry (South Africa) and WWF, 2013 – Creating a sector development strategy for the small scale renewable energy sector in South Africa. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 2012 - Developing an ‘Energy Access Programme’ for off grid low-income communities in South Africa.

Neil Townsend, neil@just-energy.org

Conservation International, 2012 - Review of guidelines for ‘Best practice with regard to socio-economic development in the development of wind farms.’

Project 90 x 2030, 2012 - Consulting advice with respect to the implementation of an off grid water supply and small scale energy project.

Prior Employment Experience Oxfam G.B., Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, Southern Africa Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, June 2004 – June 2008

Lead complex and multi-disciplinary teams for the planning and implementation of multi-million dollar humanitarian action and water supply engineering programmes benefiting hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across Southern Africa.

Created contingency plans which enabled rapid responses, providing lifesaving assistance, to major regional humanitarian emergencies such as in response to major flooding in Mozambique.

Took a leadership role in complex regional forums enabling the development of effective shared strategies between many organisations on complex issues such as regional food security.

Seconded globally to provide strategic leadership for the organisation to emerging global crises such as in Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Darfur and Indonesia.

Save the Children UK, Consultant, Ivory Coast, March – May 2004

Developed strategy on re-structuring to significantly increase programme effectiveness.

Provided effective country context and risk analysis and security planning. Rivers Without Borders, CEO, Canada and US, Nov 2000 – Nov 2003

Lead a broad coalition of partner organisations and Native American and First Nations groups, to

bridge complex cultural differences to effectively work together on socially sustainable projects in Alaska and BC.

Provided expert testimony to the Canadian Parliament on environmental legislation. Catholic Relief Services (US), Director, Albania, 1999 – 2000 Food for the Hungry (US), Regional Programme Coordinator, Congo, 1998 – 1999 Tear Fund UK, Team Leader, Burundi and Sierra Leone, 1996 – 1998

Education B. Eng Aeronautical Engineering, Manchester University, UK, 1991 – 1994 M. Sc. (Eng) Public Health Engineering, Leeds University, UK, 1995 – 1996 Key Training programmes attended Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership – 2011. Wind Pro – Wind Farm design training, basic and advanced levels – 2010, 2011. Institute for Conservation Leadership, Montana, Executive Director Management Training Programme: 2002, 2003. Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (REDR) – various training courses, including security training for operations in insecure environments.

Other Chairperson, Small Scale Wind, a working group of the SA Wind Energy Association. Fluent in English (mother tongue) and French. Loves participating in ultra-marathon trail running and surfing.