RISING STAR

VERE SHABA SHABA & RAMPLIN GREEN BUILDING SOLUTIONS shabaramplin.co.za

As a teen, Vere Shaba recalls seeing a satellite image of the world at night. ‘I was saddened: it shows that Africa is dark at night and my first thought was: “But how are the children reading?” If education is the greatest weapon we can use to change the world, how will we ever be empowered if the education of African children stops at sunset?’

This sentiment, as well as a passion for the environment, compelled Vere years later to start Shaba Green Building Solutions. At 29, she now owns the only black youth female- owned-and-managed green buildings and engineering firm in SA. Shaba & Ramplin (Vere sold 50% of the company to Ramplin Consulting) is an engineering consulting firm specialising in green building certifications, engineering solutions, energy solutions and strategic partnerships across Africa.

‘We use the Integrated Green Design approach to design energyefficient, water-efficient and low-waste building engineering systems.’

Vere believes reputation and credibility are the best marketing tools: ‘Every time I’d leave a company, some of the clients would follow me. So by the time I started my own business I already had a client base.’

But little capital, however; when she resigned from her full-time job in 2016, all she had was ‘three months’ salary, my pension which I cashed out, internet access and a car’, she says. ‘I lived with my mom!’

Her biggest hurdle, says Vere, is that she is ‘young, black and female’ in a male-dominated industry. She has established herself as an expert in her field, however. ‘The green building industry honours my story and the specialist knowledge I have, having done green buildings across Africa.’

Vere has raked in several accolades: she made Forbes Africa’s ‘30 Under 30’ list, the Mail & Guardian’s list of 200 Young South Africans to watch, and was most recently selected as a finalist for the inaugural Gauteng Premier’s Women Excellence Awards for Young Achievers.

Vere is thrilled to be FAIRLADY’s Rising Star. ‘Winning this award will enable me to create opportunities in the green building sector for South Africans in the future, as well as expand the business into key economic hubs in Africa and Europe.’

Winning this award will enable me to create opportunities in the green building future.❜❜ sector for South Africans in the