OUR TEAM
“We have planted more than 177,000 trees over the last 12 years, but what makes me more excited than the trees are the thousands of hands that have helped us plant them.”
We cannot do the work we do, without the support of dedicated staff members, consultants, interns and volunteers. Learn more about our team, and the skills that they bring to our organisation on a daily basis.
Interested in joining our team? Visit our vacancies page to see our current job openings.
OUR BOARD
LAUREN TEASDALE
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Lauren is a co-founder and the Managing Director of Greenpop. With a passion for people, Lauren spends her days inspiring individuals from all walks of life to be active citizens and get active (not anxious) about the future of our planet.
JEREMY HEWITT
Co-Founder & Board Member
Before he was the award-winning South African folk musician Jeremy Loops, Jeremy Hewitt co-founded and managed the finances for Greenpop. Today, Jeremy lends passion and power to the project from afar and inspires his thousands of adoring fans to tread a little lighter.
EITAN STERN
Board Member
The founder and director of Legalese, Eitan is a practising attorney with a background in commercial and entertainment law and tech entrepreneurship. Eitan has worked with sectors across the board, from creative, advertising and media, to educational, non-profit and technology industries.
OUR TEAM
LAUREN TEASDALE
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Lauren is a co-founder and the Managing Director of Greenpop. With a passion for people, Lauren spends her days inspiring individuals from all walks of life to be active citizens and get active (not anxious) about the future of our planet.
MISHA TEASDALE
Co-Founder & Tree-E-O
In 2010, Misha gathered like-minded individuals to plant 1000 trees in a month and hasn’t looked back since. When he is not planting trees, you can find him doing wheelies on his bicycle or sprinting up Table Mountain.
ZOË GAULD-ANGELUCCI
Head of Programmes
After earning a Master’s degree in Development Studies, she joined Greenpop in 2014. When she is not heading up programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, you can find her tending to her garden, practising Italian, and searching for the best pizza in the Mother City.
DEON LOUW
Urban Greening Manager
After earning his BMus from Stellenbosch University, Deon worked toward his PGCE and spent the next few years teaching in South Africa and the UK. In 2017, he moved back to Cape Town and joined Greenpop’s programmes department.
CARLA WESSELS
Partnerships & Communications Manager
Carla earned her BComm from the University of South Africa, whilst working in communications and operations roles across the country. She has been involved with Greenpop since 2015 and is passionate about connecting businesses with impact opportunities.
CLAUDIA WALLER
Events & Fundraising Coordinator
Claudia landed in South Africa seven years ago and fell in love with the land and its people. With a strong belief for experiential living, after many years of living, working and cycling all over the world, Claudia is with Greenpop helping create impactful experiences.
JESSIE LEVERZENCIE
Communications Coordinator
Jessie joined the Greenpop team in 2022. She has a B.A. in Film & Media Production from the University of Cape Town and is passionate about all things content creation.
When she is not in the office, you’ll find Jessie thrifting or making delicious treats for her family.
MICHIEL GROBLER
Forest Restoration Manager
Michiel acquired his BSc Hons in Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University and is currently completing his MSc in Ecological Entomology. His role as Forest Restoration Manager allows him to explore new ways of thinking, novel solutions to our environmental problems and to engage with communities and individuals who are keen to get active in restoring our planet.
EMMA JONES-PHILLIPSON
Project Development Consultant and
Operations Manager
When she’s not supporting operations and project development at Greenpop (usually in a jumpsuit), Emma works as a freelance gender, policy and climate consultant for UN agencies, international NGOs and LDC governments, putting her MSc from the London School of Economics to good use.
CARL VAN DER LINDE
Communications Consultant
Carl was raised in the Overberg area in the Western Cape, South Africa. Growing up with the ocean and Fynbos in his backyard, his love for nature sprouted at a young age. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and International Trade and pursued Postgraduate Marketing studies.
IRENE OLWOCH
Finance & Accounting Consultant
Irene completed a finance intership with Greenpop in 2015, before starting her career as a Qualified Chartered Accountant. She now runs her own firm, Remote Controller, helping businesses (just like Greenpop) get our finances into tip-top shape!
BONGILE GALO
Urban Greening Intern
Bongile joined the Greenpop team in February 2022 as our Urban Greening Assistant. Bongile has an Advanced Diploma in Ornamental and Landscape from UNISA and a passion for nature that keeps growing each day.
DAMIEN HEWITT
Facilitator & Educator
Having studied a PGCE, Damien is eager to continually combine the world of sustainability with education and search for ways in which the learning and school experience for our youth is one that connects the learner with the environment and their surroundings.
Greenpop Foundation NPC is a registered non-profit organisation. Registration Number (NPO): 151-411 NPO.