Misha Teasdale
Founder & TreeEO
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.
Lauren O’Donnell
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. As the Managing Director of Greenpop, she is continually looking for ways to run an organisation differently, more organically and yet also professionally.
Jeremy Hewitt
Founder
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.
Georgina Avlonitis
Head of Programmes
After finishing up her Master’s degree in urban ecology from the University of Cape Town in 2009, Georgina gained professional experience working in the fields of biodiversity planning, biodiversity informatics and ecosystem based adaptation at ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center. After working on projects in Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa, Georgina joined the Greenpop team. When she is not heading up our programmes across Southern Africa, you can find Georgina walking the soles off of her shoes or cooking up a Greek storm in the kitchen.
Zoë Gauld-Angelucci
Head of Communications
Born in Knysna and raised in the United States, Zoë moved to Cape Town in 2008 to study at the University of Cape Town. After leading a variety of student organisations, teaching undergrads, and earning a Masters degree in Development Studies, she joined Greenpop in 2014. When she is not speaking for the trees as Greenpop’s Head of Communications, you can find her singing soprano for VOX Cape Town, practising Italian, and searching for the best pizza in the Mother City.
Carla Wessels
Head of Events
Born in Brazil, Carla grew up in the small town of Swellendam. Straight after school, she joined the Greenpop team as an intern in the events department and developed a passion for sustainability. Since then she has completed a marketing degree and worked in communications and operations across the country. Carla joined the Greenpop team full time in 2017 with an aim to help create sustainable events that connect people with nature. And did we mention she’s only 21?!
Emma Jones-Phillipson
Head of Operations
Raised in Cape Town, Emma joined the Greenpop crew at the Zambia Festival of Action in 2015 and 2016 whilst completing her degrees in Politics, Economics and Public Policy at UCT. After working in Human Rights and completing her MSc in London, Emma returned to Cape Town and began working full-time for Greenpop in January 2018. She considers herself an authority of random trivia with a predilection for procrasticrafting and stress baking, and when she’s not keeping things ticking-over at Greenpop, she enjoys dismantling the patriarchy and indulging in foreign cuisines.
Ron Stevens
Finance Manager
Ron grew up in the peaceful Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. After completing his studies in Management Accounting at the University of Stellenbosch, he spent two years living in rural Zululand, building a backpacker lodge and exploring the back roads of Malawi. After vowing to never again partake in the corporate race, he joined Greenpop in 2016 in search of a cause other than profit chasing. Outside of the office he enjoys making music and listening to the philosophies of Alan Watts.
Yazeed Peters
Fundraising Manager
Born in the green hamlet of Kramat and raised in the beach holiday suburb of Strand, Yazeed finally settled in the hustle and bustle of historical District 6. After completing a degree in marketing management, he spent the next 6 years working in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. In 2017, he decided to bring his passion for making a positive contribution to Greenpop. When he is not managing our donor relationships, you can find Yazeed hiking or attending dhikr gatherings.
Nevau Levanon
Marketing Manager
Having grown up in various countries around the planet including India, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Israel and South Africa, Nevau has found a home in the Mother City. Spending large stints of his childhood on farms and in the bush, he developed a strong passion for the natural world and organisms that make it up. After studying Sociology at the University Currently Known as Rhodes, he gained industry experience in the fields of marketing and advertising before combining them with his love for the planet by joining Greenpop in 2017.
Deon Knoetze
Urban Greening Programme Manager
Born in Durban, Deon moved to Cape Town as a child and went on to study music at Stellenbosch University. After earning his BMus, he 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. When he is not overseeing our urban greening work, you can find Deon tending to his honeybees, working in the garden and making delicious curry.
Nadine Botto
Office Coordinator
Born and raised on the Cape Flats, Nadine always had great passion for life outdoors. After studying PR and working in corporate Nadine woke up one day with a strong urge to quit her job and plant trees for the rest of her life, with this finding her self at Greenpop. Nadine is Greenpop’s Administration and Office Coordinator and runs the office firmly making sure everything has a place. When she’s not in office Nadine loves spending time with her friends going on adventures and considers her self a serious foodie.
Tapera Mlambo
Eco-Education Hub Caretaker
Originally from Mtare, Zimbabwe, Mlambo relocated to South Africa in 2009 with his wife Patience. Together, they have four children, three girls and one boy, and they are currently working hard to put them all through school and university. His son, Emmanuel, just finished his matric and one of his daughters is in her second year of university. At Greenpop, Mlambo ensures that our Eco-Education Hub stays safe and sound.
Marleen Lammers
Ambassador
Marleen (pronounced ‘Marlane’ – sensitive subject) started her career as a broadcasting journalist in the Netherlands, but was drawn to African adventure and moved to Zambia ten years ago. After developing and managing community and conservation volunteer projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, she joined Greenpop in 2012. Marleen is passionate about photography and is also a Director at Penda Photo Tours and The Penda Trust.
Don't Be Shy. Get In Touch.
If you are interested in working together, send us an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
Greenpop Foundation NPC is a registered non-profit organisation. Registration Number (NPO): 151-411 NPO.