IFC Honours Women in Green Building

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in conjunction with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), honoured the winners of its Women in Green Building Competition during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Green Building Convention 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. IFC EDGE's Green Building Lead for Africa, Lenore Cairncross, stated that 51% of IFC EDGE Experts in South Africa for 2023 are women, indicating a considerable improvement in gender representation in the green building industry.

Luze Kloppers-Mouton, an Assistant Manager in Sustainable Development at Lithon, won first place in the competition, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating green practices into fundamental project choices. Lungile Mthi finished second, stating her dedication to breaking down obstacles to sustainability in the Facilities Management profession. Giselle Pillay, a skilled Civil Engineer at JG Afrika, finished third, using the award as a springboard to seek new prospects and push for sustainable methods in her current projects.

The award ceremony was held at the workshop "Celebrating Women in Green Building: Rising Stars," demonstrating IFC's commitment to highlighting and promoting women's skills and achievements in the green building sector. The GBCSA's CEO, Lisa Reynolds, underscored the organization's commitment to supporting women in the green economy and sustainable jobs.

The second year of the Women in Green Building Competition coincides with IFC EDGE's commitment to helping women in the green building industry via focused training initiatives. The EDGE online platform, a green building standard and certification system, continues to dominate the South African and African residential green building certification industry. The accomplishments of the competition winners act as a spark to inspire and drive more women into leadership roles in sustainable building, encouraging equity and advancement in the sector.