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Meet the members: In conversation with Linda Kempster

Linda Kempster is the financial and operations director at building technology company, Hydraform. She answered our questions to give us insight into her work, the environment and what inspires her.

1. Where do you go for inspiration?

My family is my biggest inspiration. The support of my husband, my mother and my two children has been really key to making me who I am today. Everything I have achieved, I could not have done it without their support. Their backing has enabled me to bounce back from any setback. My husband and mother most especially have always encouraged me to look to the future, to be curious and question when I am not sure – nothing is impossible and there are always opportunities, solutions, and that things are always achievable.

2. What is the best part of your workday?

I don’t really have a traditional work day – for me no day is the same. I work almost seven days a week, although I do ensure I have time for my family and have a good balance.  Every day for me is different, with different deadlines to meet. What I enjoy the most is being as efficient and productive as I can and, most especially, guiding and mentoring my employees to be more effective, efficient and aligned to company strategies, goals and plans.

3. What achievement are you most proud of?

In working for a company that brings housing and building solutions using alternative building technology. What has fulfilled me has been:

    • the gratification of the disadvantaged having a new brick home for the first time
    • seeing entrepreneurs’ business models flourish through our services
    • observing communities thrive through our technical training and local resources that better the lives of others such as hospitals in remote areas
    • being part of change locally and internationally is so rewarding. One such project I was involved in was a housing programme in Northern Uganda, where we built 60 houses to support people who were previously displaced by a mudslide.

4. What do you think is the most urgent global environmental challenge facing us?

Overpopulation. We are facing a shortage of resources such as food, water and fuel to sustain the rising global population, particularly in developing countries.

5. What do you feel is the biggest issue in the green building industry that we have to overcome, and any ideas on where to start in tackling it?

Global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases from human activity, which in turn causes an increase in temperature that then leads to rising sea levels, melting of polar ice caps, flash floods and desertification. One solution is better buildings – which could be more energy efficient, such as Hydraform’s interlocking building technology which uses soil and 10% cement to produce bricks. We should also adopt more renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Individual Membership

Designed for professionals acting in their individual capacity, including single consultant-businesses.

Organisational Membership

Ideal for companies, government departments, and organisations.

  • Total Employees: 1 - 5 Employees - R 4080.00
  • Total Employees: 6 - 20 Employees - R 12570.00
  • Total Employees: 21 - 50 Employees - R 24690.00
  • Total Employees: 51 Plus Employees - R 43840.00

Lisa Reynolds

Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director

Lisa Reynolds is the CEO of the Green Building Council South Africa.

Lisa was the driver for the drafting of Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulations for Buildings and has been involved in Energy Efficiency since 2003. She serves on many committees in the SABS and within the energy management professionals’ space. She was President of the SAEEC from 2016 to 2019 and was the previous President of the ESCo (Energy Services Companies) Association. Lisa was instrumental in the formation of SAFEE (Southern African Females in Energy Efficiency) within SAEEC.

She has assisted the South African Government with its Green Building Framework policies, Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives and Energy Efficiency Strategies

Her passion for the “Green space” started with the birth of the Green Building Council in 2007. Lisa served on the Board and the Technical Committee of the GBCSA, as well as on several Technical Working Groups for Rating Tools and Criteria. Lisa. became CEO in June 2020.

Lisa has a BSc, an MBA and a CEM. Lisa’s awards include the 2007 ETA Award for Women, 2008 Individual Energy (SAEE), 2012 SABS Standards Writer Award; the 2014 Women in Energy (SAWIEN); and the 2016 Ian Lane Hall of Fame award.

Lisa is committed to growing the Green Economy within a Green Recovery.

Organisational categories

As an organisational member, you will fall into one of the below categories, and be charged according to specific size indicators. Please reach out to us for any further clarity on which category is best for your organisation

Property Developers

Annual Turnover

Investors, Owners, Property Managers

Total Asset Value

Major Corporate Tenants & Retail

Annual Gross Rentals

Building Contractors

Annual Turnover

Building Product Manufacturers & Distributors

Annual Turnover

Professional Services: Architects, Designers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, PM’s, Consultants, Legal

Number of employees

Research, Higher Education, NGO’S & Regulators

NGO or Research/Higher Education/ Regulators

Related Interests: Utilities, Financial, Insurance, etc.

Annual Turnover

Government

Local/ municipal/ provincial/ state 
Contact GBCSA to confirm your category