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