TIPS Forum 2024 Discussion: Lesego Moshikaro-Amani, Elize Hattingh and Amélia Machava

In this episode, recorded at the 2024 TIPS Forum, TIPS Senior Economist Lesego Moshikaro-Amani sits down with Elize Hattingh, a sustainability specialist, and Amélia Machava, a researcher and teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University.Lesego Moshikaro-Amani joined TIPS in July 2019. Lesego earned a Master’s degree in Economics specialising in Development Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Prior to joining TIPS, Lesego worked as a Crisis Response Fund (CRF) researcher and data analyst at CIVICUS and as a graduate research assistant at the Land Restitution Evaluation Study (LRES), launched by SALDRU.  Her expertise lies in industrial policy, battery energy storage value chains and the emerging sector of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa, including a strong emphasis on skill development within the NEV industry. Other areas of focus include skills development for industry and promoting employment in the development of SMMEs.Elize Hattingh is a sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience promoting sustainable development, particularly in Africa. She holds a Master's Degree in Sustainable Development and Management from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership in partnership with the Sustainability Institute. She has actively participated in numerous initiatives to decarbonise the economy and supported marginalised groups such as youth, women, and black-owned enterprises. She founded Green Talent, a sustainability career consultancy, and has been involved in various roles, including business coaching and developing green economy entrepreneurial development curricula. She works with Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) as a Sustainable Researcher focusing on sustainable growth and the green economy. Her previous roles include developing a Green Economy Literacy Program for the Youth Bridge Trust and business coaching for Future Females Business School.Machava is a teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique, where she is a PhD student in Development and Society.  She has a Master's degree in Rural Sociology and Development Management from the same university. Her research focuses on perceptions of Nacala Special Economic Zone’s contribution to local socio-economic development. Her other research interests focus on development policies, particularly the Special Economic Zones policy and industrialisation in the Southern African Development Community.