Full name: Greg Austin

Position: MD of juwi Renewable Energies

Main Activity of the Company: juwi is a renewable-energy company with particular focus on the wind and solar energy sectors. Currently, the South African subsidiary is active in the utility-scale, commercial and industrial sectors as a developer and engineering, procurement and construction, as well as operation and maintenance, service provider

Date and place of birth: October 7, 1966, Port Elizabeth

Education: Matric, 1984, Grey High School; BSc (mechanical engineering), 1988, University of Cape Town (UCT); MSc (biomedical engineering, 1993, UCT

First job: Mechanical engineer, Rand Water

Career History Prior to Current Position: I have worked in the renewables sector for the past 20 years, with an emphasis on anaerobic digestion (biogas) technologies and their applications

Size of First Pay Packet: Too long ago to remember

First Job with Present Group: MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: R100-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 50

Management Style: Consultative

Personal Best Achievement: Designing and patenting a small biogas digester

Professional Best Achievement: Building this company

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on your Life: My wife

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Several

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk

Business Person Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: The more you practise, the luckier you get

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Working in rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal and using renewables to transform people's lives

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Missing an opportunity to research elephants in northern Botswana

Hope for the Future: Great leadership and excellent governance in South Africa

Favourite Reading: Quantum/universal physics

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Braai/wine

Favourite Music: Blues and rock

Favourite Sport: Body surfing

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Hiking, playing the guitar

Car: Adventure motorbike (BMW)

Pets: Two cats

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Inefficiency and wasting of our natural resources

Favourite Other South African Company: None

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla

Married: Since 1998

Children: Two girls aged 14 and 12

Clubs: None