KWA ZULU NATAL – Cindy-Lee Cloete, a prominent figure in South Africa’s environmental education landscape, has been appointed acting CEO of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) with effect from 1 March 2024.
Having served as WESSA’s Director of Programmes and Projects since 2021, Cloete brings a wealth of experience and expertise in environmental conservation and organisational leadership to her new role.
Her journey in environmental education began on the Namaqualand plains, where she developed a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of people and nature.
This understanding led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in conservation at CPUT and a Masters Degree in Environmental Education (MEd) at Rhodes University.
Throughout her career, Cloete has been a strong advocate for environmental learning in communities, leading initiatives such as the Eco-Schools Programme, Learning About Forests (LEAF), Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) and WESSA’s coastal and sustainable tourism programmes, which include the Blue Flag, Green Coast and Green Key programmes.
Her commitment to promoting sustainable practices and empowering young people to take action on environmental issues has earned her national and international recognition.
In her new role as acting CEO of WESSA, Cloete will work closely with the WESSA Board and Executive Team to ensure continuity of operations and the continued pursuit of the organisation’s mission and goals.
Her appointment is on an interim basis, initially for a period of three months or until the next CEO assumes the position.

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