Claude is an accomplished director and experienced shareholder of commercial entities in both South Africa and the United Kingdom. Drawing from a wide scope of leadership and business development experience, Claude’s focus remains the continued and sustainable development of clean energy. Born and bred in the Free State, he is truly homegrown, and business and community forms part of his DNA. He spent 16 years in Europe (France, Austria, and the United Kingdom) managing several businesses. His first involvement with renewable energy goes back to 2011, whilst working in Cambridge. After extensive market research, he joined forces with RenEnergy UK, established in 2006. He returned to South Africa, with his family, to launch RenEnergy Africa in 2012. Since then, he has been fully immersed in the thrilling “solar coaster” ride, building a successful business in a continuously changing environment. He understands the challenges and the joy of our industry. After 13 years, RenEnergy International was acquired by Aggreko to expand the renewable energy capability behind this global giant. His focus during his term will be enabling the industry for faster deployment of decentralised, behind-the-meter solar generation, the storage and wheeling thereof. Faster, more efficient, more agile access to energy plays a massive role in what we need to achieve as an industry – for our consumers and the economy. Community is closest to his heart – changing lives in our beautiful country – and would like to explore the capability within SAPVIA to benefit communities.