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Communications

Michelle Preen

Senior Manager: Communications, Membership and Knowledge Management

Michelle has close to 20 years’ experience in the field of environmental communications, most of these within local government, and covering a broad range of environmental issues. Her MSc in Environmental Biology, various communications qualifications and advanced writing skills, allow her to proficiently translate complex issues and concepts into accessible, action-oriented information. Michelle manages communications for ICLEI Africa and the Cities Biodiversity Center, as well as oversees the membership team.

 

 

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View The Team
AllDirectorsSenior Professsional Officers
Director: Communications & Knowledge Management

Michelle Preen
Senior Communications Officer

Thea Buckle
Research & knowledge management officer

Claudia Schroder
Graphic Designer: Graphic design and layout

Widaad Pienaar
Communications Officer: Climate and Energy

Jarita Kassen
Communications Officer

Ruby Schalit
Communications Officer

Dr Willemien Calitz
Professional Officer: Energy and Climate Change

Courtney van Niekerk
Communications Officer

Carina Mason
Director: Communications & Knowledge Management

Michelle Preen

Michelle has close to 20 years’ experience in the field of environmental communications, most of these within local government, and covering a broad range of environmental issues. Her MSc in Environmental Biology, various communications qualifications and advanced writing skills, allow her to proficiently translate complex issues and concepts into accessible, action-oriented information. Michelle manages communications for ICLEI Africa and the Cities Biodiversity Center.

Senior Communications Officer

Thea Buckle

Thea joined ICLEI in 2016 after completing her Master’s at Nelson Mandela University’s Sustainability Research Unit. She initially embarked on a trans disciplinary Master’s, combining her aptitude for communication with her love of nature, learning that your passions and talents will often meet to reveal your vocation. Her expertise ranges from online marketing campaign conceptualization to graphic design and social media management. She has more than 5 years’ experience.

Research & knowledge management officer

Claudia Schroder

Claudia holds degrees in Social Dynamics, Environmental Management and a masters in Environment, Society and Sustainability. Her role as a Research and Knowledge Management enables her to manage the knowledge and information processes for projects while simultaneously exploring the complex dynamics between humans and nature in the face of climate change.

Graphic Designer: Graphic design and layout

Widaad Pienaar

Widaad studied Multimedia Design at The Cape Peninsula University of Technology where she attained her National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology Degree in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Widaad is known for being optimistic, dedicated and detail-oriented. Her love of fine art and talent for design is obvious in her work. Widaad brings valuable creativity to the multi-skilled Communications team at ICLEI Africa.

Communications Officer: Climate and Energy

Jarita Kassen

Jarita Kassen spent the last two years working at Eyewitness News producing radio news stories and articles on a variety of topics. She is passionate about climate change and sustainability and excited to work in a communications position that addresses these issues. She has experience liaising with local government officials and gained a good understanding of government structures and communicating about political issues during her studies at the University of Cape Town. She has a BA degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and an Honours degree in Political Communications, focusing on media. She also has a diploma in Business French and has dabbled in design and layout, and podcast production. Jarita will be joining the ICLEI Africa team as a Communications Officer for Energy and Climate Change, specifically to support communications for the CoM SSA Secretariat as well as our LoCS4Africa Virtual Congress, and other related campaigns.

Communications Officer

Ruby Schalit

Ruby recently graduated with a masters in Development Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand with a research focus on informal recycling systems in Johannesburg’s suburbs. Her undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics illustrates her affinity for multidisciplinary ways of thinking. Ruby sees her role as Communications Officer at ICLEI Africa as the perfect marriage between her professional background in marketing and communications, her education and passion for sustainable urban planning, spatial justice and the environment, and her creative flair.

Communications Officer

Dr Willemien Calitz

Willemien obtained a PhD in Media Studies, focusing on China’s environmental and human rights reputation in Africa. Her 12 years of experience ranges from journalism and strategic communication, to academic research in the communication field. Willemien strongly believes that communication plays a vital role in achieving ambitious goals for biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Professional Officer: Energy and Climate Change

Courtney van Niekerk

Courtney is a committed, dynamic and diplomatic communications professional, with over two years’ experience in the climate change sector, international relations, education, and language development. She has recently completed her Masters in International Relations with a research focus on climate change in African states. Courtney joins the ICLEI Africa team as a Communications Officer for Energy and Climate Change to support communications for the CoM SSA Secretariat and other related projects.

Communications Officer

Carina Mason

Carina has over 12 years’ experience in the writing and editing industry, with about 5 years in the non-profit space. She is passionate about contributing her skillset to the sustainable growth of the African cities that ICLEI’s projects support. Carina has a degree in Communications and recently submitted her Masters dissertation in Media Studies to Wits University. She has always been interested in the intersection of media and communication with environmental issues, and the impact that the right message can have in making lasting positive change.

Related Projects

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AfriFOODlinks
AfriFOODlinks aims to address the systemic underpinnings of food insecurity and environmental impact, to lead to real transformation. Urban food environments are the key area for improving nutrition and reducing environmental impact in African cities because this is where residents make choices about the food they eat. It is also where the food security priorities of food availability, access, agency, utilisation and stability manifest.
Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA)
We, together with various partners, are jointly delivering activities under the SESA project, which aims at providing energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in selected sites in nine African countries.
WIOMSA
We are supporting and facilitating capacity building within coastal cities and the transfer of knowledge and expertise to harness the potential of these cities. We are assessing needs of coastal cities’ in the Western Indian Ocean region through a key stakeholder engagement workshops and delivering trainings on adapting to climate change and enhancing resilience.
African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC)
Cities are complex, dynamic, political systems. We bring together the right people and an understanding of the political economy of individual cities to identify and address the critical challenges they are facing. Our aim is to generate insights and evidence that will help improve the living conditions, services and life chances of all city residents, particularly for disadvantaged communities.

Related Resources

View More

The Team

View Staff
AllDirectorsSenior Professsional Officers
Director: Communications & Knowledge Management

Michelle Preen
Senior Communications Officer

Thea Buckle
Research & knowledge management officer

Claudia Schroder
Graphic Designer: Graphic design and layout

Widaad Pienaar
Communications Officer: Climate and Energy

Jarita Kassen
Communications Officer

Ruby Schalit
Communications Officer

Dr Willemien Calitz
Professional Officer: Energy and Climate Change

Courtney van Niekerk
Communications Officer

Carina Mason
Director: Communications & Knowledge Management

Michelle Preen

Michelle has close to 20 years’ experience in the field of environmental communications, most of these within local government, and covering a broad range of environmental issues. Her MSc in Environmental Biology, various communications qualifications and advanced writing skills, allow her to proficiently translate complex issues and concepts into accessible, action-oriented information. Michelle manages communications for ICLEI Africa and the Cities Biodiversity Center.

Senior Communications Officer

Thea Buckle

Thea joined ICLEI in 2016 after completing her Master’s at Nelson Mandela University’s Sustainability Research Unit. She initially embarked on a trans disciplinary Master’s, combining her aptitude for communication with her love of nature, learning that your passions and talents will often meet to reveal your vocation. Her expertise ranges from online marketing campaign conceptualization to graphic design and social media management. She has more than 5 years’ experience.

Research & knowledge management officer

Claudia Schroder

Claudia holds degrees in Social Dynamics, Environmental Management and a masters in Environment, Society and Sustainability. Her role as a Research and Knowledge Management enables her to manage the knowledge and information processes for projects while simultaneously exploring the complex dynamics between humans and nature in the face of climate change.

Graphic Designer: Graphic design and layout

Widaad Pienaar

Widaad studied Multimedia Design at The Cape Peninsula University of Technology where she attained her National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology Degree in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Widaad is known for being optimistic, dedicated and detail-oriented. Her love of fine art and talent for design is obvious in her work. Widaad brings valuable creativity to the multi-skilled Communications team at ICLEI Africa.

Communications Officer: Climate and Energy

Jarita Kassen

Jarita Kassen spent the last two years working at Eyewitness News producing radio news stories and articles on a variety of topics. She is passionate about climate change and sustainability and excited to work in a communications position that addresses these issues. She has experience liaising with local government officials and gained a good understanding of government structures and communicating about political issues during her studies at the University of Cape Town. She has a BA degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and an Honours degree in Political Communications, focusing on media. She also has a diploma in Business French and has dabbled in design and layout, and podcast production. Jarita will be joining the ICLEI Africa team as a Communications Officer for Energy and Climate Change, specifically to support communications for the CoM SSA Secretariat as well as our LoCS4Africa Virtual Congress, and other related campaigns.

Communications Officer

Ruby Schalit

Ruby recently graduated with a masters in Development Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand with a research focus on informal recycling systems in Johannesburg’s suburbs. Her undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics illustrates her affinity for multidisciplinary ways of thinking. Ruby sees her role as Communications Officer at ICLEI Africa as the perfect marriage between her professional background in marketing and communications, her education and passion for sustainable urban planning, spatial justice and the environment, and her creative flair.

Communications Officer

Dr Willemien Calitz

Willemien obtained a PhD in Media Studies, focusing on China’s environmental and human rights reputation in Africa. Her 12 years of experience ranges from journalism and strategic communication, to academic research in the communication field. Willemien strongly believes that communication plays a vital role in achieving ambitious goals for biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Professional Officer: Energy and Climate Change

Courtney van Niekerk

Courtney is a committed, dynamic and diplomatic communications professional, with over two years’ experience in the climate change sector, international relations, education, and language development. She has recently completed her Masters in International Relations with a research focus on climate change in African states. Courtney joins the ICLEI Africa team as a Communications Officer for Energy and Climate Change to support communications for the CoM SSA Secretariat and other related projects.

Communications Officer

Carina Mason

Carina has over 12 years’ experience in the writing and editing industry, with about 5 years in the non-profit space. She is passionate about contributing her skillset to the sustainable growth of the African cities that ICLEI’s projects support. Carina has a degree in Communications and recently submitted her Masters dissertation in Media Studies to Wits University. She has always been interested in the intersection of media and communication with environmental issues, and the impact that the right message can have in making lasting positive change.

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