Dr Rethabile Melamu is sustainability professional who is trained in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. She has almost two-decade experience in the areas of clean energy, green economy, water and sanitation, environmental sustainability, enterprise development, life cycle assessments and climate change. She also has a depth of understanding in the adoption of innovative climate smart technologies in society. This is backed by experience of running a technology innovation-based incubation programme for almost 6 years. Moreover, she is experienced in developing public sector policies and have led the development of sub-national energy and green economy strategies and facilitated their implementation. She sits on several boards and advisory committees of private, academia and the public sectors organisations including as the Chairperson of the Water Research Commission. She is a thought leader in her areas of expertise, having published reports, thought leadership pieces and academic articles on several platforms. In 2019, she was recognised by the national Mail & Guardian newspaper as one of Women Who Are Changing South Africa in the Public Sector.