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