ECO-LOGIC AWARDS 2021 SOUVENIR BROCHURE

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ECO-LEADERSHIP
Award
CORMAC CULLINAN
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Cormac Cullinan, is a worldwide respected writer, activist, mentor and director of the oldest specialist
environmental law firm in South Africa, Cullinan and Associates. Cormac has managed the firm in a
leadership position for its entire existence and has trained and motivated numerous environmental attorneys
who have gone on to contribute to the sector in their own unique ways, from working in government, in the private sector and
for environmental and social justice NGOs. Cormac has had various clients, private, government and non-profit (both local
and international) whom he advised and provided legal assistance to which directly and indirectly motivated and introduced
policy, strategy and cultures which have strengthened relationships between the environment and human beings.
Cormac also created SpotOn Management Systems which allows corporate clients to ensure their compliance with health and
safety and environmental law fostering safe working environments for human beings as well as compliance with regulations
and laws which safeguard the interests of the environment. As a Director of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature
(advancement of eco-centric governance worldwide), Cormac works on a pro bono basis with other world leaders in this field
and gives generously of his time in promoting the recognition and the advancement of the Rights of Nature, on a global level.
Cormac has also established the Wild Law Institute which is concerned with promoting eco-centric laws and policies.
LISA REYNOLDS: GBCSA
Lisa Reynolds took up the position as CEO of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) in June 2020
and in a short time she has transformed the organisation. Through her own example she has transformed
and revived the organisation, creating team commitment, an enjoyable work environment and purpose driven
focus. Lisa has looked ahead and seen not only where she wants the organisation to be in the future, but what the built
environment in South Africa needs to look like going forward in order to meet our planetary obligations. She is making sure
that the GBCSA as an organisation knows the role we need to play to help the property and construction sectors get there.
Lisa has a true spirit of collaboration and with her wealth of experience in the public sector, writing standards and training
as well as her experience from days in the corporate world, she is bringing everyone on board to strive toward this goal of a
better, greener built environment.
Lisa is pushing top companies, with big impacts in South Africa, to be more responsible about the structures they create.
For Lisa, sustainability and success are the only options.
MATTHEW COCKS: WESSA
Matthew Cocks, the General Manager for WESSA Education Centres, introduced the WESSA e-STEAM
curriculum framework to WESSA in 2018. Since then, the teaching method has been adapted, improved,
and grown to now become the core teaching and learning practice for WESSA’s 5 education centres across the
country.The WESSA e-STEAM method uses engineering design, creative thinking, and spiral learning to inspire participants
to think “outside the box” when exploring and developing solutions to local environmental issues. By incorporating the
Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics into the ideation process, the solutions that participants
develop are holistic, locally relevant, and generally successful in their implementation.
It is because of Matthew’s vision, and his knowledge of programme and curriculum development, that WESSA e-STEAM is
now recognised by our partners, school leadership, and subject advisors as an exciting way to teach and learn, with positive
outcomes for the environment. The South African education system is undergoing exciting changes with STEAM and STEM
being introduced into parts of our school curriculum. WESSA’s e-STEAM method of learning is able to support our stakeholders
who are at the coal-face of both climate change and biodiversity loss at local community level. Matthew’s innovation hopes
to inspire youth to design and implement locally relevant solutions that create real and meaningful improvements to
environmental issues.
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