The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has appointed Dorah Modise as its executive director, effective from 24 February 2025.
The vacancy of executive director resulted from the retirement of Dr. Crispian Olver and his subsequent appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa as deputy chairperson of the Commission from 1 January 2025.
Modise is a sustainability enthusiast with more than 26 years of experience in areas such as environmental sustainability, international diplomacy, government (local, regional, and national), industry associations, and academia.
She served in several senior management roles at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.
She was also instrumental in drafting the adaptation component of the White Paper on Climate Change and establishing the National Green Fund. During this time, Modise was intensely involved with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development as part of the negotiating team and leader of the technical delegation at the Rio Plus 20 Summit in 2012.
Modise also served as deputy director general at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and as Executive Director for city sustainability at the City of Tshwane, before her involvement in the private sector as Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of South Africa.
She is the current Regional Director for Africa for C40 Network.
Among her academic qualifications, Modise holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, a master’s degree in Environmental Development and Policy from the University of Sussex, and a post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Diplomacy from the University of Geneva.
“The PCC is delighted to have recruited a professional of impeccable record to take the helm of this organisation at this critical time and early steps in the implementation of the Climate Change Act as recently assented by President Ramaphosa,” said Olver.
“With her time-tested multidisciplinary experience, we are confident that she will lead the PCC in mobilising and harnessing social dialogue and consensus, cooperation and action towards the achievement of South Africa’s just transition and the appropriate country responses and efforts for impactful climate action.” - BR Reporter.
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