Full Name: Mark Pickering

Position: MD of Globeleq South Africa Management Services and GM of three renewable-power projects, namely De Aar Solar Power, Droogfontein Solar Power and Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm

Main Activity of the Company: Globeleq develops, owns and operates power generation facilities in the emerging markets, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. These include three renewable-power projects in South Africa

Date and Place of Birth: January 9, 1966, Durban

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, a postgraduate diploma in public policy and development administration, and an MBA – all passed with distinction

First Job: Engineer in training at Eskom

Career History Prior to Current Position: I have led various advisory processes on infrastructure matters and power-sector reforms for various government departments, development agencies, local municipalities and international investors. I also served on the National Electrification Forum (NELF) in the early 1990s, edited the 1998 White Paper on Energy, was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Forum on EDI Restructuring and led the team advising EDI Holdings on its legal strategy. For the past seven years, I have been involved in the development of commercial power projects in South and Southern Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 600 a month

First Job with Present Group: Local adviser to Globeleq for the past two years

Value of Assets under Your Control: Projects worth R6-billion currently under construction

Number of People under Your Leadership: 12

Management Style: Hands-on

Personal Best Achievement: 24 years of love and growth with my wife Penny

Professional Best Achievement: Contributing to the country’s postapartheid energy policy framework

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, a dedicated teacher and believer in the potential of all people

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Professor Anton Eberhard, who also believed in my potential

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Luckily, I have already met him – in 1991, I bumped into Nelson Mandela at my local corner café

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: I am more likely to be impressed by a young activist who wants to change the world

Philosophy of Life: Am I making others happy? Am I making myself happy? What other point is there to existing?

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Generally, the thing I am working on at the time

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Loss of our first child

Hope for the Future: That South Africa fixes the country’s broken education system

Favourite Reading: Mainly nonfiction, but of late I have been riveted by Deon Meyer’s local crime stories

Favourite TV Programme: Steady diet of CBeebies these days

Favourite Food/Drink: Sushi/a glass of Chardonnay

Favourite Music: The Ho Hey song

Favourite Sport: Watching test cricket on a hot, lazy, sunny afternoon at Newlands with a beer and a curry

Favourite Website: Google helps the world go round

Hobbies: Do-it-yourself activities, mountain walks, cooking and politics

Car: I am really enjoying my new A3

Pets: The three cats and I are fending off pressure to get a dog

Miscellaneous Dislikes: South African Airways’ approach to customer relations

Favourite Other South African Company: RMB Private Bank

Favourite Foreign Company: You have to admire what Google has achieved

Married: To Penny McKenzie since April 28, 2000

Children: Gemma, 5; Joel, 1

Clubs: A private dinner/debating group