Hi, I’m Linus.

Linus is a seasoned leader and environmentalist at heart and in practice. He holds a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering which focused on waste and energy solutions in emerging economies, and is completing an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability.

He is currently the Managing Director of a sustainability consultancy called Green Gap. Prior to that, for more than a decade, Linus has brought his expertise to Don't Waste, a waste minimisation company. In his various roles, Linus provided oversight in Sustainability, Software and Business Development; spearheading initiatives to enhance recycling practices, client reporting, and promoting sustainability awareness. Linus is also a director of the Zero Waste Foundation a non-profit organisation focused on waste minimisation, education and environmental conservation.

Linus has curated skills in sustainability strategy, waste minimisation, circular economy, supply chain management, carbon strategy, and net zero. To this end, he is Net Zero Accredited professionals with the Green Building Council of South Africa, and using his experience in waste minimisation and alternatives to landfill, Linus specialises in Net Zero and Net Positive Waste Certifications.

Personal Info

Skills

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Corporate sustainability:
Knowledge and advisory

Project management:
Leadership and organisational

Technical skills:
Engineering problem solving

Communication:
Professional report writing and presentation

Diplomacy:
People skills and professionalism

Teaching:
Conveying concepts and interfacing

Commitment:
Responsibility and dedication to a task

Work Experience

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  • Green Gap Consulting

    Managing Director
    March 2024 – Present

  • Don’t Waste

    Group Sustainability & Business Development Manager
    March 2019 – February 2024

    Oversight of Sustainability and Business Development, including Sales, Marketing, Thought Leadership, Advanced Reporting, Client Software Solutions and Zero Waste Solutions.

    Group Sustainability Manager
    July 2017 – February 2019

    Oversight of the sustainability portfolio internationally. Design of software development, data management and advanced reporting. Thought leadership and sustainable strategy development.

    Zero Waste Manager
    January 2014 – June 2017

    Sourcing and investigating alternatives to landfill for clients.

  • SLR Consulting

    Engineering Consultant: Waste & Energy Sector
    July 2017 - March 2019

    Process engineering consulting in the waste and energy sector. Project and engineering work and management including Clean Development Mechanism and Sustainable Development Mechanism projects.

  • University of Cape Town

    Course Convenor/Lecturer
    January 2012 – June 2012

    Course convenor and lecturer for the final year Chemical Engineering elective: Introduction to Environmental Process Engineering and Industrial Symbiosis.

  • P.D. Naidoo & Associates

    Process Engineering Sub-Consultant
    January 2010 – December 2010

    Process engineering design, technical report writing and presentations.

  • South South North

    Environmental Consultant
    January 2009 – December 2009

    Part time consulting in report writing for carbon financing for Clean Development Mechanism projects in South Africa.

  • Logoprint

    Environmental Impact Assessor
    June 2007 – November 2007

    Consulted for Woolworths via Logoprint. A life cycle assessment on certain packaging to assist Woolworths on their Good Business Journey.

  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

    Student Researcher
    November 2005 – February 2006

    Research and training in heap and column mineral bio-leaching operations in Perth, Australia.

  • Precipitation and Crystallisation Research Unit

    Student Researcher
    June 2004 – July 2004

    Research and training in sulphide precipitation in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Cape Town.

Education

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  • University of Cape Town

    Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) in Environmental & Process Systems Engineering
    2012 – 2019

    Doctorate in Environmental Processing Engineering, for a thesis which evaluates under which circumstances small-scale biogas can be an appropriate technology to provide energy to urban Africa. Presented work locally at conferences, and regionally in Ethiopia, Uganda and Ghana.

    M.Sc. (Chemical Engineering) in Bioprocess Engineering
    2007 - 2010

    Research into optimisation of bio-leaching of low grade copper ore. Presented work at Bio ’08, SAIMM 2009, and a journal paper accepted for the International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium 2010.

    B.Sc [Hons] in Chemical Engineering
    2003 - 2006

    Graduated with first class honours. On the Dean’s Merit List (>70% aggregate) for all four years.

  • Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo

    UCLES A-Levels
    2001-2002

    Biology (A), Chemistry (A), Mathematics (B), English Literature (C).

  • UCLES O-Levels
    1999-2000

    Biology (A), Physics/Chemistry (A), Mathematics (A), Additional Mathematics (A), French (A), Latin (A), Geography (A), History (A), Commerce (A), English Literature (A), Integrated Science (A), Religious Education (A), English Language (B).

  • St. George’s College, Harare

    Zimbabwe Junior Certificate
    1997-1998

    Maths (1), English L1 (1), Science (1), History (1), Geography (1), Shona L2 (3), Art (3).

Outreach

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  • The Zero Waste Foundation

    Board of Directors
    2020 - present

    The Zero Waste Foundation has a mandate to support and facilitate clean-ups (beach, river and inland), as well as to promote recycling practices in the public and private sector.

  • USE-IT (eThekwini Waste Beneficiation Industrial Cluster)

    Board of Directors
    2016 - 2019

    I served on the board of directors for four years of which my final two were as chairman of the board. The organisation promotes waste beneficiation and recycling across the municipality and has built the Hammarsdale Waste Beneficiation Centre.

Publications

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Dissertations

  • 2019
    Doctoral
    An investigation of the potential and limitations of small-scale biogas in urban Africa.
  • 2010
    Masters
    The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth and activity of Leptospirillum ferriphilum.
  • 2006
    Honours
    Growth rates of heap leaching bacteria in a continuous stirred tank reactor.

Journal Publications

  • 2013
    Biomass and Bioenergy
    Prospects and challenges for urban application of biogas installations in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • 2011
    Biomass & Bioenergy
    Factors determining the stability and productivity of small scale anaerobic digesters.
  • 2010
    Biohydrometallurgy
    The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth rate of L. ferriphilum.

Conference Proceedings

  • 2017
    Sustainable Energy Transitions for Urban Sub-Saharan Africa (SETUSA)
    Factors affecting the productivity and stability of small-scale biogas Journal Publications.
  • 2016
    WasteCon
    Operational experiences in treatment of organic waste from malls via composting and anaerobic digestion.
  • 2013
    International Energy Workshop (IEW)
    Biogas for energisation in urban informal Africa.
  • 2012
    WasteCon
    Onsite food valorization: Experiences with an anaerobic digester at a university residence.

    South African Institute of Chemical Engineering (SAIChE)
    Anaerobic co-digestion of paper sludge and blood waste: demonstrating a low-tech intervention for waste management in African Cities.
  • 2011
    Carnegie III
    Poverty alleviation via energisation of informal urban Africa: a special role for small-scale biogas.

    Sub-Saharan Biogas Community, Ethiopia
    Small-scale biogas workshop.
  • 2010
    Sub-Saharan Biogas Community, Uganda
    Small-scale biogas workshop.

    International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium
    Combined factors affecting heap leaching operations.
  • 2009
    Southern African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (SAIMM)
    The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth rate of L. ferriphillum.
  • 2008
    Bio ‘08
    Growth rates of L. ferriphilum in continuous stirred tank reactors.

Awards

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  • 2016
    NRF Doctoral Bursary for Permanent Residents
  • 2013
    African Centre for Cities Bursary
  • 2012
    Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fund Award
  • 2008
    International Students Scholarship
    Departmental Bursary
  • 2007
    International Students Scholarship
    Departmental Bursary
  • 2006
    Valedictorian: Chemical Engineering Class of 2006
  • 2005
    International Vacation Training Award for Perth, Australia
  • 2004
    Class Medal for Chemical Engineering
    Class Medal for Word Power
  • 2003
    Class Medal for Chemistry
  • 2002
    College Honours
  • 2001
    Academic Colours
    Volleyball Colours

Trivia

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My secret identity...

Many who know me, might call me Batman. All my sports shirts say “Batman” on that back and it’s usually my go-to username/profile picture on almost every online platform.

I was always a fan of the superhero, Batman, as to me he was the most relatable/achievable – anyone could actually become The Batman. When I logged onto an IRC chat in 2008, and was prompted to choose a username, I was surprised and elated to see that “Batman” was not taken. I immediately donned the cowel, and over time I came to was host the platform, so I called it “The BatCave”. For a few years, more people knew me “Batman” as opposed to my real name. Those days are gone but I’m still a fan, and I do collect and read the comic books. It’s now just a few people who remember, but, I’ll always be “Batman” to some.


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Unlucky for some...

In high school, my sport quickly became volleyball. I took this into university, eventually captaining and then coaching the semi-social residence volleyball team, the Clarinus Scorpions. The deal with House Committee of the residence at the time was that all teams which qualified for the league would have their kit sponsored. As it happened in that season, we qualified and the rugby team (which usually qualified) did not – but the money had already been spent on rugby jerseys. So the volleyball team played in rugby jerseys that season. My usual number, 3, was the wrong size in the rugby jersey so I started wearing 13, and we went on to win the league that season. We wore rugby jerseys every season after that and I kept the number 13. It’s still my lucky number and I still celebrate every Friday the 13th.

As for the volleyball team, we continued playing even after I had left the residence and I learned how to “attack like a lion, but be humble like a duuuka”. Those who ever played for the team will understand: Tight like Rice!


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A liverbird, upon my chest...

I have been a supporter of Liverpool FC for over 20 years. I used to watch games with my cousins in Zimbabwe, and then friends in Cape Town where we joined the local supporters club there. When I moved to Durban in 2012, there wasn’t a local supporters club, so a friend and I took to founding our very own. The club has been officially recognised since 2015. The Official Liverpool Supporters Club Durban is about more than football. It is involved in community outreach, feeding schemes and charity events.

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Even me, I can start-up...

Some years ago, a friend and I decided to register a company. The vision was to have a non-profit start-up which focused on supporting technology and methods to increase public recycling. It has had to lay dormant for a few years, but I hope to pick it up again at some point.


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