Team
Mary Jervis
CEO
Mary, a registered Professional Engineer with ECSA, began her career at Eskom distribution before transitioning to renewable energy ten years ago. In her previous role as Engineering Director and Chief Technical Officer for Africa's largest commercial and industrial solar PV company, she successfully supervised 300+ PV projects across four countries. Managing diverse engineering teams, Mary interfaced with construction teams for the installation of millions of solar panels.
Chris Luckhurst
Business Development
Chris has over 25 years of experience in commercial transactions in North America and EMEA. Transitioning from commodities trading to entrepreneurship, he has spent 15 years in the renewable energy sector, pioneering the Energy as a Service model for telecommunications and commercial solar projects. Chris has played a key role in commercial dealings, project development, financial structuring, and fundraising for C&I solar projects across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Ken Ross
Project Advisor
Ken is a globally registered Electrical Engineer specializing in solar PV projects and carbon project development. He has a rich portfolio of high-ROI renewable energy projects across Africa. As the former CEO and COO of Africa's top C&I Solar PV provider, he developed 300MW of solar projects, primarily for property funds, with a keen focus on net-zero strategies. Solar PV remains his core expertise.
Ed Trautman
Finance
Ed is a Chartered Accountant and University of Stellenbosch graduate with international experience in financial reporting and consolidation. He joined the global consolidation team of a listed multinational retail group, overseeing financial reporting across Europe, Australasia, Asia, and the Americas. Ed played a key role in managing complex consolidations, applying advanced IFRS treatments, and supporting large-scale restructuring initiatives. His experience spans technical accounting, cross-border operations, and dynamic corporate environments.
Devin de Waal
Operations
Devin holds an MSc (Eng) in Sustainable Energy Engineering from UCT and boasts ten years' expertise in energy efficiency and solar PV undertakings across Southern Africa. As a seasoned engineer, he led the design and project management of large-scale solar PV systems. In his prior role at Africa's largest Commercial & Industrial solar PV firm, he spearheaded technical business development, driving inventive energy solutions for diverse industries.
Michael Cloete
Project Management
Michael brings 9 years of construction project management experience to Amethyst, having successfully delivered large-scale projects across both South Africa and the Middle East. With a strong background in commercial, retail, and renewable energy sectors, he excels in stakeholder management, leadership, and problem-solving to ensure efficient project execution. Passionate about innovation and teamwork, Michael thrives in dynamic environments, driving operational excellence and fostering strong client relationships. He is committed to leveraging his experience to streamline project delivery and contribute to the growth of Southern Africa’s renewable energy sector.
Kevin Hardham
Engineering
Kevin is a versatile Electro-Mechanical Engineer with 7 years of experience across construction, manufacturing, and industrial project engineering—from factory design to process optimisation. His time in Australia’s mining sector deepened his expertise in improving complex systems and operations. Now active in the renewable energy space, Kevin applies his cross-industry engineering background to deliver innovative, efficient solutions across African projects, contributing to sustainable development.
Tarryn Rhoda
Asset Management
Tarryn brings over 8 years of solar asset management expertise, with deep knowledge of utility-scale and distributed operations. She has led O&M for 300+ MW across 450+ solar plants, driving technical performance and commercial outcomes. Her track record spans energy billing, revenue assurance, and data-driven performance management - consistently translating metered energy into bankable revenue while ensuring contractual compliance across diverse portfolios.
Jacques Loftus
Business Development
Jacques Loftus is a senior business development and commercial specialist with over 20 years’ success and experience across the renewable energy and health industries in South Africa, Namibia, Somaliland and Zambia. He specialises in creating long term relationships and drives project origination, regulatory approvals, and the structuring of bankable projects. At Amethyst Jacques applies this expertise to driving solar project development and business growth across the African continent. A seasoned dealmaker, he negotiates long-term contracts and strategic partnerships which create value for all parties.