Biography

Simon is a Programme Lead at the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership with a focus on enabling wellbeing economies in the face of climate change and growing inequality.

An aspiring changemaker, Simon has a Masters' in Development Planning and recently completed his action research Doctorate where he focused on enabling wellbeing economies in Johannesburg’s inner city. As part of this he set up the intermediary organisation Makers Valley Partnership, and founded coworking and co-living spaces in the area. Through this work and in previous roles with the City of Johannesburg, Planact and UN-Habitat, he has found partnership-building to be the most effective approach to enabling action. Simon has been recognised as one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans, News24’s 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, and is a member of the Community Economies Research Network and Wellbeing Economy Alliance.