The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mmanare Cynthia Nong as the head of its Environmental Management Programme.

Nong brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise, gained through her extensive career spanning the public, private, and international spheres.

Prior to joining DEDEAT, Ms Nong held various significant roles in both the public and private sectors. She contributed her skills and knowledge to the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Limpopo, as well as prominent environmental consulting companies and state-owned enterprises including Eskom and Transnet.

Her remarkable career journey has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the laws and regulations governing the environmental management discipline, both in South Africa and abroad (Japan). She possesses valuable experience in designing and formulating systems and procedures to standardise service delivery functions. Nong’s academic background includes earning an MSc in Global Environmental Studies from Kyoto University in Japan, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science from Wits University in South Africa. With 18 years of expertise in the environmental field, she is a professionally registered environmental scientist and an ISO lead auditor for various ISO Management Systems, including Enterprise Risk Management.

In addition to her formal education, Nong has obtained several speciality certificates. These include the certificate of specialisation in global environmental management systems from Kyoto University, the lead auditor certificate for ISO management systems from Bureau Veritas, and certificates in environmental law for environmental managers and implementing environmental management systems ISO 14001-2015 from the Centre of Environmental Management at North-West University.

The department is confident that with her broad range of experience, exceptional qualifications, and the team of skilled officials she will be working with, they will effectively fulfil their responsibility of promoting sustainable economic growth through the implementation of effective strategies for sound environmental management.