Leadership

Lord Hain (Peter Hain)

Independent Non-Executive Director

“To meet the rising energy demands of today and the future, clean gas must be part of the diverse energy mix of a country, including renewables. The economic growth aspirations of South Africa can only be realised with a secure energy industry, that is also environmentally responsible.”

Lord Peter Hain is a campaigner, politician, and author. He spent his childhood in South Africa, moving to the UK in 1966 when his anti-apartheid parents were forced into exile. He has been active in politics for over 50 years. His childhood experience and parental influence were instrumental in his lifelong interest in, and commitment to, supporting a prosperous and vibrant Africa.

He was a Member of Parliament in Britain between 1991 and 2015, and a senior Minister for 12 years, serving in the Cabinet under the leadership of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown respectively. He has held the positions of Secretary of State for Wales, Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Secretary of State of Works and Pensions, Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Minister of State (Europe), and Minister of State (Energy and Competitiveness in Europe), among others. He was also a Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal.

Tinyiko Mhlari

Non-Executive Director

Tinyiko Mhlari is a director and co-founder of PSTM Chartered Accountants & PSTM Auditors Inc. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant (SA) and received her Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Accounting cum laude from the University of Pretoria. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Commerce Accounting Honours at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and her Higher Diploma in Tax Law at the University of Johannesburg. She was awarded Honorary Academic colours from the University of Pretoria and garnered two consecutive awards for the best performance in financial accounting during her undergraduate degree. She completed her articles in auditing and accounting at KPMG. She is a registered auditor with the Independent Regulatory Body of Auditors.

Before joining PSTM, Tinyiko Mhlari was a financial planner at ABI, the soft drinks division of SAB Miller, where she was responsible for managing financial controls and cost activities. Prior to that, she was an audit supervisor at KPMG, where she also completed her articles.

Tinyiko Mhlari also serves as a non-executive director Anchor Group Ltd. She has previously served on the boards of the Department of Human Settlement’s Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS), Armscor, Great North Transport, SAA, Mango and Air Chefs SOC Ltd. In addition, Tinyiko served as an audit committee member for the Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA), the Department of Labour, South African State Theatre and Freedom Park.

Aldworth Mbalati

Group Chief Executive Officer

“Gas must play an important role if South Africa is to meet its economic, political and social objectives of reducing poverty”

Aldworth Mbalati is Group Chief Executive Officer of DNG Energy, the company he founded in 2013. His interest in the energy industry stems from his belief that affordable energy is the strongest catalyst for sustainable growth, unlocking opportunity, and supporting trade. He also knows that today’s decision on energy usage will shape the quality of life for generations to come.

He spent the first four years of his career working in real estate before deciding to co-invest in a coal investment company where he focused on learning everything about the energy industry. From this time on, he has been actively involved in promoting and supporting new energy sources.

In 2009, he founded African International Energy (AIE) plc, an independent power producer providing renewable energy to the African market.

AIE was involved in generating electricity using natural gas, fuel cell technologies, underground coal gasification, coal to power, and renewable resources such as wind, solar and hydro-electric power.

He exited his investment in AIE upon its de-listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to set up DNG Energy with the goal of helping to advance South Africa’s economic growth and meet its environmental protection obligations by providing a cleaner and cheaper fuel alternative.

Ewan Middlemiss

DNG Group Chief Investment Officer

CEO DNG Renewables

“There can be no more important task in the current decade than to transform the energy landscape to look after lives and livelihoods to ensure there is a vibrant sustainable world tomorrow”

Ewan is a seasoned Investment Banker with over 30 years of experience. With Degrees in Finance, Accounting, Law and Tax and a Post Grad Diploma in Taxation, he is a registered CA(SA) that articled at Deloitte. He has spent time at several SA and International Investment Banks, before joining Thebe Investment Corporation and playing a significant role in building their Investment Portfolio. He has been involved in every round of the RE bidding processes with successful international bidders from cradle to grave on RE projects. He was a Director and Shareholder in Bridge Capital, a boutique Investment advisory practice, specialising in all aspects of energy transition, renewable energy, bio-fuels, and natural gas, before joining DNG as head of their investment activities and heading up DNG’s renewable energy initiatives. Ewan is 100% committed to a just and sustainable energy transition.

Terence Nkhwashu

Chief of Staff

“Industries the world over are continually transforming and being disrupted by new ways of working, new technologies and new demands and expectations from customers and employees. The adoption of gas as a viable energy alternative that is affordable and clean will require DNG Energy to work in partnership with a diverse stakeholder group.”

Terence Nkwashu is an Executive Director at DNG Energy. He has extensive experience in the area of Human Resources, including General Management, Leadership, and Management Development and Transformation. His industry expertise spans the Mining, Motor Retail and Financial Services sectors, having held senior management and leadership positions at Anglo Platinum, Barloworld Motor Franchise and ABSA.

He has consulted to many large organisations as well as many stakeholder groups operating outside of the mainstream corporate environment. Specialising in strategic planning, he has helped many organisations to operationalise their strategy, and set key result measurables that deliver on agreed objectives

Lindo Mbalati

Executive Director - Finance

“The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.”  – Charles R Swindoll, pastor & author

Lindokuhle Mbalati currently serves as an executive director at DNG Energy Ltd. A qualified tax advisor, Lindokuhle oversees DNG Energy’s finances. She cut her teeth in financial accounting at Netcare where she was responsible for compliance and tax. Prior to that, she was a supervisor for Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) at Ernst & Young. Lindokuhle has a keen interest in development and has plied her skills as a lecturer in taxation at Varsity College, Sandton.

Lindokuhle is a graduate of the University of Pretoria where she completed her Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management Sciences and Honours in Taxation. She is a member of the South African Institute of Tax (SAIT).

Captain Neil LePine-Williams

CEO: DNG Marine

“I did not walk this far to get this far.”

Captain Neil LePine-Williams is Executive Head of the DNG Marine division. He has over 40 years of experience in the shipping industry, both at sea and ashore.

He came ashore to South Africa and joined a shipping company where he became the Managing Director.

His experience covers many aspects of the shipping industry, both in marine and land logistics.

Before joining DNG, he consulted to smaller trading houses by providing marine solutions, including marine insurance.

He is very keen to transfer his shipping knowledge through education. DNG is committed to educating South Africans to become first-class mariners in the LNG industry, to secure a sustainable future for the LNG maritime industry, and to support the new employment opportunities under the South African Registry.

Thabo Mongoma

CEO: DNG Commercial & Retail

“The world is moving from fossil fiels to renewables. In that transition, as DNG we have a wonderful opportunity to influence energy futures.”

Thabo Mongoma is an energy and Fintech professional and entrepreneur with a wealth of strategic and operations experience. With a career spanning over 16 years in Africa and international markets, Thabo has been instrumental in introducing major solutions in the energy and fintech space. He spent most of his career with oil major BP and global payment firm MasterCard where he led numerous advisory programmes with oil majors and introduced award-winning initiatives.

While at BP, Thabo designed and directed the introduction of new products such as the Smart Electricity Grid solution which reached market-wide adoption.

During his tenure with MasterCard he led market development initiatives across the Sub-Saharan region.

Thabo is a founder of Endurance Energy, a liquid energy retail outfit, in partnership with Engen Oil. He is also a co-founder of an award-winning Payments and Commercial Credit firm in partnership with Diners Club South Africa.

Thabo holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from University of Pretoria’s Graduate School of Business (GIBS) where he scooped merit awards.

Elmar Keusgen

Group Chief Operating Officer

“In the transforming South African market, LNG businesses are the pioneers of a new industry, there is a need to rethink business and operating models to capture the inherent value”

Elmar Keusgen is the Group Chief Operating Officer of DNG. His main area of expertise includes, but is not limited to, Petrochemical Engineering, Cryogenics, Liquefied Natural Gas and Renewable Energy. He has a direct, collaborative management style, working with dynamic teams in his pursuit of taking on complex projects.

He cut his teeth in the Petrochemical industry in 1982 with ELCA Engineering. At the age of 28 he designed and manufactured a cryogenic satellite simulator and all associated equipment. This was one of three operational cryogenic satellite simulators in the world!

Having spent much time working in the Engineering industry, he holds great experience in designing (process and mechanical) intricate equipment. He has a vast knowledge of design code and various specifications.

From 2007 to 2015, he held the Managing Director position at K2 Holdings where he did various consulting work on mechanical and petrochemical plants – from concept to detailed design and the manufacture of equipment. He was integrally involved in the process design, mechanical configuration, and ultimate production with multiple Sasol departments to deliver a paraffin scrubber within four months.

He is constantly learning and strives to execute day-to-day operations with intelligence and resolve. He is fully committed to DNG’s goal of providing a cleaner and cheaper fuel alternative to advance South Africa’s economic growth and meet its environmental protection obligations.

John Winterton

Executive Head - DNG Cryogenics

John Winterton is Executive Head at DNG Cryogenics, a subsidiary of DNG Industrial, which is part of DNG Energy’s group of companies. With over 40 years of experience in the cryogenic and industrial gas field under his belt, John has used his in-depth knowledge to successfully implement hi-tech projects within budget and on time.

His vast understanding of gas-related engineering systems has seen him intimately involved and sharing his knowledge in projects from concept and design in industrial gas and cryogenic applications. John’s innovative spirit has earned him several “firsts” in the cryogenic industry in South Africa and abroad. He holds directorships in two industry associations the South African Compressed Gas Association (SACGA) and the Southern African Qualification and Certification Council (SAQCC).

John has held management positions at African Cryogenics and is the founder of Cryoshield, a business he sold in 2010. One of the greatest achievements of Cryoshield was the successful design (from concept) and manufacture of the cryogenic satellite testing system for the South African space environment simulator in the 1990s, a system that is still operational today.

Jason Stone

Executive Head - Logistics & Supply Chain

“In today’s high-risk environment, a firm reliance on a robust safety culture is imperative.”

Jason Stone’s career in the road transport industry spans over 20 years. He has had extensive exposure to road transportation of bulk liquids, cryogenics, gases and packed products. In addition to this he has had many years of production management exposure in a very complex cryogenic and gases manufacturing and packaging environment.

He enjoys the challenge of finding innovative solutions to customers’ Transport and Logistical challenges. He believes that holistic logistics solutions should include a heavy reliance on current and future technological advancements.

Jason feels strongly that in today’s high-risk environment, a firm reliance on a robust safety culture is imperative. He has many years of experience in developing and implementing practical, working HSEQ systems.

Jason has spent most of his career leading diverse teams, including those in many African countries, which included building teams, implementing and standardizing operations and processes. He is passionate about people, and donating his knowledge and skills, thereby ensuring team members are ready to meet the next challenge as it arises.

Jason has completed a Masters in Supply Chain Management at the University of Pretoria and is certified as a European Master Logistician (EmLog) by the European Logistics Association & European Certification Board for Logistics.

Lorraine Van Wyk

Executive Head - SmartGas Industrial

Always striving for better, delivering exceptional service with a smile, even in times of adversity.

Lorraine Van Wyk is Executive Head, Smart Gas at DNG Energy. She has in excess of 35 years sales and marketing experience in LPG into the South African market and neighboring countries with extensive regulatory and market knowledge of natural gas in South Africa via the Sasol/Mozambique natural gas pipeline development.

During her tenure at Fedgas (now Air Liquide), Lorraine quickly rose through the ranks from Sales Representative to Product Management, Product Development Management to heading up the Specialty Gas Department.

Looking to brighten her horizons, she joined Easigas to assist in the promotion of LPG where she was voted one of 8 individuals in Southern Africa to receive an award at the Leadership Conference in Cape Town. The award was given for exceptional input in to improving customer service both internally and externally as well as dedication to Sales Competency and Shell Business Principles and Values.

Lorraine was invited to Shell Philippines to participate in a coaching and sales management development program for the Eastern cluster and was selected to attend a Business Development Program in Shell, London.

It is a natural progression for Lorraine to move into LNG, since she believes this is the future for our country.

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