THE 2025 ANNUAL GBCSA LEADERSHIP AWARDS

It was a privilege to be able to celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional achievements of all of the community in 2025. These awards represent the hard work of our master builders, the individuals who are busy crafting an industry where business as usual is gradually being eclipsed by business as sustainable. The GBCSA, and green building certification as a whole, is driven by its APs, and its EDGE Experts and EDGE Auditors, says Georgina Smit, CEO Designate, Green Building Council South Africa.

For me, being part of this green community is to continually win something intangible. At the Gala dinner evening during the annual Green Building convention, we had an opportunity to celebrate some very tangible victories.

The GBCSA Leadership awards are our way of saying that we see the high standards that we set for achievement, and that we also see the individuals who leapfrog over them. These awards recognise projects that have done exceptional things, submissions that have been exquisitely crafted, project owners who have transformed industry norms, and APs, Experts and Auditors who have gone above and beyond.

These awards are GBCSA’s way of celebrating excellence. This is done in two different ways: Firstly, there are the awards that recognise green building professionals. Some awards in this category may celebrate people dedicated to careful practice of their craft, acknowledged through the Best Quality Submission award. Others honour those who have led industry-defining projects, through the Rising and Established Green Star awards.

Secondly, we celebrate industry-leading certified projects that have created impactful milestones for a specific certification and exceeded environmental targets. These awards go to those exceptional properties’ owners. This is also a recognition of those who take sustainability seriously within their portfolios and lead the charge on driving climate action in practice.

For the 2025 awards, there was the need to shift the assessment period window. This was undertaken to ensure that GBCSA can continue delivering a high-quality and representative awards process. That shift has meant that last year’s period was artificially shortened. I thank those that I know this shift affected for their grace towards us, and their investment in doing things better and more effectively in future.

2025 was also the inauguration of two new additions to our existing EDGE awards. This is a needed response to the amazing growth of this tool in the market, and the individuals who have stepped up, skilled up and taken risks that supported that growth. The awards are the EDGE Auditor Excellence award and the EDGE Commercial Leader award to complement the EDGE Residential Leader award.

To all of the 2025 GBCSA Leadership Awards recipients: Thank you for continuing to show us how to manifest brilliance. Here’s to a truly excellent year for green certification!

GBCSA Leadership Awards 2025

These awards have been adjudicated based on the period 1 October 2024 – 30 June 2025.

1. Established Green Star

The Established Green Star is someone who has made an exceptional contribution to Green Star and green buildings during the awards period, either through industry-leading projects or exceptional support extended to GBCSA in its role as Green Star custodian. This individual is actively changing the way the world is being built or managed, and we recognise them for their leadership, passion and contribution to the green building movement.
Winner: Fabio Venturi, Terramanzi Group
Runner-up: Makhosazana (Khosi) Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

2. Rising Green Star

The Rising Green Star is someone who has recently launched their career with Green Star certification but has already made a notable contribution either through numbers of certification projects submitted, support for certification through assessment or training given, or exceptional support extended to GBCSA in its role as Green Star custodian.
Winner: Thato Molapo, Solid Green Consulting
Runner-up: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting

3. Highest-Rated Project (Existing Operations)

This award celebrates the Green Star Existing Building Performance project that has achieved the highest final number of points during the awards period, indicating exceptional green leadership.
Winner: Old Mutual Mutualpark, Old Mutual PR Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Pty Ltd; Accredited Professional (AP): Zoe Rushin, Old Mutual
Runner-up: Promenade Mall, Liberty Two Degrees
AP: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting

4. Highest-Rated Project (New Development)

This award celebrates the Green Star New Build, Green Star Interiors, or Green Star Sustainable Precinct project that has achieved the highest final number of points during the awards period, indicating exceptional green leadership.
Winner: Balwin Head Office, 105 Corlett Drive, Johannesburg – Balwin Properties Limited
AP: Jennifer Dean, Solid Green Consulting
Runner-up: CPT 14 Zola AWS Central, Riverlands Precinct, Cape Town
– Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust
AP: Makhosazana (Khosi) Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

5. Best-Quality Submission (Existing Operations)

This award celebrates the Green Star Existing Building Performance project submission that achieves the highest percentage of its target in round 1 of submission, indicating an exceptional quality of clarity and accuracy in the submission.
Joint winner: Advocates Chambers, Sandton – Growthpoint Properties Limited
AP: Sinethemba Ndlovu, Zutari Southern Africa
Joint winner: 148 On Katherine (Eastgate 20), Sandton – Growthpoint TPG (Pty) Ltd
AP: Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace
Joint winner: Anslow Park – Nestle, Bryanston – Growthpoint TPG (Pty) Ltd
AP: Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace

6. Best-Quality Submission (New Developments)

This award celebrates the Green Star New Build, Interiors, or Sustainable Precincts project submission that achieves the highest percentage of its target in round 1 of submission, indicating an exceptional quality of clarity and accuracy in the submission.
Winner: Garden Cities Sunningdale, Northridge Coastal Estate, Cape Town
– Garden Cities NPC; AP: Fabio Venturi, Terramanzi Group
Runner-up: Arterial Industrial Estate Phase 2, Cape Town – Growthpoint Properties
AP: Iphendule Ndzipho, WSP in Africa

7. EDGE Auditor Excellence

This award celebrates someone who consistently delivers excellent EDGE Auditor quality. This individual is a custodian of the EDGE standard and upholds the EDGE Auditor principles with integrity and rigour.
Winner: Yvonne Pelser, Inside Out Consulting, EDGE Auditor

8. Net Zero Champion

This award celebrates Net Zero or Net Positive projects in Waste, Water, Carbon or Ecology that have demonstrated sustainability leadership and taken steps towards a positive climate future.
Winner: Redefine Properties, recognising Net Zero Carbon: Level 2 – Building + Occupant Emissions (Measured) achievements of Alice Lane, Ballyoaks Office Park and CTICC Convention Tower
AP: Kamohelo Selepe, Solid Green Consulting
Runner-up: Discovery Central Services (Pty) Ltd., recognising Net Zero Waste: Level 2 – Operational Waste achievements at Discovery KZN
AP: Marcelle van Tonder, Zero Waste Technologies

9. EDGE Residential Leader

This award celebrates an EDGE project that has made an exceptional contribution to promoting resource efficiency in the residential sector in South Africa and across the continent.
Joint winner: Divercity Urban Property Group, for driving affordable and sustainable housing solutions in the urban residential market and ensuring sustainability is accessible across their portfolio
Joint winner: International Housing Solutions (IHS), for their work in driving affordable housing, for advancing affordable housing in South Africa and expanding their green investment footprint across Africa, including Kenya
Joint winner: Century Property Developments, for achieving the highest number of post-construction certified units and leading the way in resource-efficient lifestyle estates
Joint winner: Balwin Properties, for the second highest number of post-construction certified units, with all developments achieving EDGE Advanced and setting a national benchmark for green apartment living

10. EDGE Commercial Leader

This award celebrates an EDGE project that has made an exceptional contribution to promoting resource efficiency in the commercial sector in South Africa and across the continent.
Winner: Redefine Properties for the Herholdts Brackengate 2 project
Runner-up: Atterbury Properties for the Solar MD project

11. Green Star Leader (New Developments)

This celebrates project owners whose Green Star New Build, Green Star Interiors or Green Star Sustainable Precincts project paves the way for a brighter future by demonstrating spectacular 6-Star success, achieving an industry or sector first, or developing design strategies or systems with potential to transform the green construction sector.
Winner: Riverlands Precinct, Cape Town – Zenprop Property Holdings
Projects within the Riverlands Precinct that were recognised as part of the award:
Riverlands Precinct Development (5-Star Sustainable Precinct Rating); CPT 15 Zola CS West (6-Star New Build Rating); CPT 14 Zola AWS Central (6-Star New Build Rating); Riverlands Precinct 1A (Retail & Offices) (4-Star Mixed Use Custom)
Runner-up: Country Road V&A, Country Road Group

12. Green Star Leader (Existing Operations)

This award celebrates project owners whose work around Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) paves the way for a brighter future by demonstrating spectacular Green Star success, achieving an industry or sector first, or developing design strategies or systems with potential to change how sustainable buildings are managed.
Winner: Growthpoint Properties, for Green Star EBP bulk certifications
Runner-up: Absa Bank Limited, for Green Star EBP bulk certifications of their branches
Runner-up: Liberty Two Degrees, for Green Star EBP bulk certifications for retail

13. Special Recognition

Awardee: Nedbank CIB EDGE Expert team, in recognition of Nedbank’s establishment of an in-house team accredited as EDGE Experts, enabling the acceleration of South Africa’s green building transition at scale
Awardee: Redefine Properties, in recognition of Redefine’s leadership in integrating Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) processes and efficiencies internally. This integrated model demonstrates how business objectives and certification can work hand in hand.

1. ESTABLISHED GREEN STAR AWARDS

WINNER: Fabio Venturi, Terramanzi Group

Q: What initially attracted you to the green building industry, and how did that passion evolve into the multidisciplinary work you lead today?
FV: My journey into green building began with a deep conviction that the built environment should regenerate, not deplete, the ecosystems that support us. Early in my career, I saw first-hand how traditional development models failed communities, biodiversity and long-term value creation. Green Star provided a framework that aligned with my belief that buildings can actively enhance human well-being, resource efficiency and environmental integrity. Over time, this passion evolved into a broader systems-thinking approach. Today, I lead multidisciplinary teams across environmental permitting, auditing, green building, ecology and sustainability strategy, ensuring that projects are not only compliant, but also genuinely transformative.

Q: What’s a standout example where collaboration played a key role in achieving certification success?
FV: A recent example is the Country Road project, which received an industry award for its design quality and sustainability achievements. The project required close coordination between the client’s Australian team, local design professionals and our own specialists, and the level of technical alignment achieved early in the process was central to its success. Retail fashion interiors sits in a space that is not always straightforward within the Green Star framework. We approached this challenge with a strong emphasis on technical rigour and design innovation, methodically identifying design pathways and outcomes that met the full intent of the rating tool, while still allowing the client’s global brand standards and vision to shine. Achieving this balance required deep subject-matter expertise, disciplined technical judgement, and the ability to guide the client and team with clarity when decisions were not obvious.

Q: How do you see Green Star evolving to meet future climate and biodiversity challenges?
FV: Green Star has matured from being a performance-rating tool to becoming a strategic lever for climate resilience, biodiversity stewardship and ESG accountability across Africa. I believe its future lies in pushing the industry from “less harm” to “net-positive impact”, net-zero pathways becoming standard, biodiversity uplift embedded in early planning, and circularity driving procurement and construction norms. As circular economy pressures intensify, Green Star will increasingly shape investor expectations, municipal policy alignment and long-term asset valuation. The tool is also evolving into a bridge between environmental performance and social value creation, ensuring buildings uplift communities as much as they reduce carbon.

Q: What emerging trends do you believe will shape the next decade of green building?
FV: The next decade will be defined by integrated technologies and circular design principles that drive measurable performance. Key trends include AI-driven energy optimisation, advanced building analytics and adaptive HVAC systems that respond dynamically to occupant patterns. On the materials side, circular procurement, low-carbon concrete alternatives and transparent supply-chain data will become non-negotiable as embodied carbon gains regulatory attention. Biodiversity-positive design will accelerate, particularly as SA strengthens its climate and biodiversity policy frameworks. Buildings will increasingly serve as distributed infrastructure, micro-grid nodes, water-reuse hubs and community-aligned resilience assets.

RUNNER-UP: Makhosazana (Khosi) Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

Q: What inspired your journey into green building consulting and how has your role evolved?
KM: It began with a desire to see buildings genuinely improve people’s lives. With a professional architectural background, I often saw missed opportunities to create spaces that supported well-being, environmental responsibility and long-term performance. Sustainability consulting allowed me to bridge that gap and work more holistically across disciplines. As standards have advanced, my role has evolved from providing technical guidance to becoming a strategic partner in the design, implementation and communication processes. I now work earlier in projects, shaping sustainability goals from the outset and supporting alignment across teams. The industry is also expanding its focus on occupant well-being – not only through design, but also through HR, operational and organisational policies that influence daily experience. Areas such as embodied carbon and circularity are becoming increasingly important, and I am actively growing my capability in these fields to support future project needs.

Q: What strategies help you balance technical precision with client education and engagement?
KM: My approach centres on clarity, collaboration and context. Technical precision is crucial, but it becomes far more effective when clients understand the purpose behind each requirement. I focus on translating complex criteria into practical, accessible actions and illustrating how these decisions influence building performance, user well-being, cost efficiency and brand value. Understanding a client’s broader sustainability goals also helps shape a certification pathway aligned with their long-term vision.
Early engagement is key. By setting up clear road maps, timelines and responsibilities, teams gain confidence about what is required and when. I also create an open environment where clients feel comfortable asking questions and exploring solutions, helping shift certification from a compliance exercise to a shared ambition.

Q: Can you share a standout example where innovation or collaboration played a key role in achieving certification success?
KM: An example is a recent development where the client had strong sustainability commitments and pursued an ambitious multi-certification strategy. From the outset, we used an integrated design approach, bringing all disciplines and stakeholders together to explore how Green Star, WELL and the ILFI’s (International Living Future Institute)embodied carbon guidance could collectively strengthen the project’s sustainability outcomes. Each framework added a unique dimension, enabling us to introduce innovations beyond traditional Green Star requirements, particularly around occupant well-being, operational practices and long-term performance. This collaborative process elevated the projects to 6-Star Green Star ratings, demonstrating world leadership. The development also contributed to the wider Riverlands Precinct receiving the Green Star Leader for New Developments Award, and it earned its own recognition as Highest-Rated Project – New Development runner-up (2025). An additional innovation was the creation of a sustainability website to make key initiatives accessible to building users.

Q: What innovations or shifts in green building design excite you most, and how are you preparing to integrate them into your work?
KM: I’m excited by the growing shift towards a more holistic approach to sustainability in the built environment – one that integrates environmental performance with broader aspects of societal well-being. This evolution encourages buildings to play a more active role in supporting people, communities and long-term behavioural change. I’m also inspired by the rising focus on resilience, circularity, embodied carbon and other impact areas that often fall outside traditional certification scopes – such as food waste reduction and responsible operational practices. These themes align closely with global sustainability priorities and the UN’s SDGs, signalling a more future-focused and regenerative direction for the industry. The upcoming GBCSA Green Star V2 framework is another exciting development, and I look forward to its role in elevating sustainability ambition and strengthening outcomes across South African developments. I’m also exploring how Green Star, WELL and ILFI frameworks can work together to deliver resilient, future-fit outcomes that balance environmental performance with meaningful human experience.

2. Rising Green Star Awards

WINNER: Thato Molapo, Solid Green Consulting

Q: What inspired your early interest in sustainable design?
TM: I’ve always been a nature enthusiast. Long before I knew the language of “sustainability”, I was fascinated by how natural systems solve problems elegantly without waste, and with balance. That curiosity gradually became a professional lens: I wanted to understand how buildings could work the same way, supporting people while respecting ecosystems. My first direct involvement with Green Star came when I joined Solid Green. My first certification project was Lapalala Wilderness School in Limpopo, a non-profit that raises environmental awareness among South Africa’s youth. It went on to achieve Net Zero Carbon Level 2, and its design was recognised internationally at the 2023 World Architecture Festival. That experience grounded sustainability for me as something practical, human and deeply hopeful.

Q: What have you learned from leading Net Zero and 6-Star Green Star certifications?
TM: The biggest lesson is that high performance and great design are not trade-offs. The best Net Zero and 6-Star Green Star projects I’ve worked on show that a building can be energy-efficient and climate-responsive, and still feel beautiful and rooted in place. When sustainability is integrated early, it often strengthens the architecture rather than constraining it. Another lesson is that these outcomes are never delivered by one discipline. They come from consistent collaboration among architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors and clients pulling in the same direction, making decisions with shared intent. Metrics help keep us honest, but it’s the collective mindset that makes excellence repeatable. I’ve also learned to respect local context: African cities have a unique opportunity to shape a sustainability narrative that celebrates culture, climate and identity.

Q: How do you see the role of simulation and modelling evolving in the pursuit of regenerative building performance?
TM: Simulation is shifting from being a compliance tool to becoming a design partner. Historically, modelling was often used to “prove” a final design. Now it is increasingly used to shape design from the start, testing ideas early, revealing trade-offs, and helping teams choose solutions that genuinely perform in the real world. What excites me is the move toward regenerative performance: not only reducing harm but creating net-positive outcomes. That requires deeper feedback loops, linking energy, comfort, carbon, water and even urban microclimate behaviour. My role is evolving into that of a custodian for performance integrity, pushing boundaries through innovation, staying curious, and sharing knowledge so the next generation can go further.

Q: Any advice for young professionals looking to make an impact in the green building space?
TM: Start by getting clear on what sustainability means to you. Write it down, link it to your values and be honest about the impact you want to have in five or 10 years. Once that north star is set, it’s much easier to choose what to learn, which projects to take on and who to learn from. Then stay curious and keep showing up. Read widely on the problems and solutions in our space: policies, materials, renewables, circularity, modelling, all of it. Find mentors but also build a circle of peers; your network will shape your thinking and your opportunities. And don’t sleep on communication. If you can turn technical insight into a story people understand and act on, you’ll make real change happen.

RUNNER-UP: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting

Q: What drew you to Green Star certification, and how has your journey shaped your understanding of sustainable building performance?
DT: Along this green building journey, I’ve realised that a building is only as green as the people occupying it. You can design an innovative building, but without user awareness and conscious action, the performance gap remains. Green Star, and the green building sector in general, felt like a way to make changes in a very holistic way. You’re not just focusing on the operational savings, but also on how people live, work and connect in the space, and importantly, how they take that awareness home. Sustainability becomes the norm.

Q: What strategies help you tailor sustainability goals to different clients and building types?
DT: Every organisation approaches sustainability from a different angle – some are driven by operational cost savings, others by employee well-being, brand positioning or broader ESG commitments. Once you know their core motivation, you can translate sustainability goals into their language. For an industrial or retail client, that might mean prioritising energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. For a commercial office or academic institution, the emphasis could shift towards occupant wellness and productivity outcomes. From there, it becomes about finding the sweet spot where specific credits or certifications genuinely support the building’s purpose and the client’s long-term business strategy. When sustainability measures align with real operational needs, the certification stops being just a plaque on the wall; it becomes a practical road map for their success.

Q: What challenges have you faced in scaling your certification portfolio so rapidly?
DT: One of the biggest challenges in rapid scaling is managing the volume of data while maintaining the integrity of the submission. Green Star requires rigorous evidence, and when you multiply that across a large portfolio, the administrative load can be daunting. I aim to overcome this by focusing on clear communication with the facilities management teams. By empowering these on-site teams to understand the Green Star requirements, we can turn data collection from a bottleneck into a streamlined process.

Q: What future shifts in the green building industry are you most excited about?
DT: I’m most excited by the industry’s growing focus on our existing building stock. With roughly 80% of our built environment already built, we won’t meet our climate goals by concentrating only on flagship new developments. The built environment is responsible for around 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions – it remains one of the most powerful levers we have for driving real climate action1. There is enormous, untapped potential in optimising and retrofitting older assets – unlocking operational savings, extending their life and reducing the demand for new materials. The real innovation lies in transforming these inefficient buildings into resilient, regenerative spaces. As professionals, our role is to identify the gaps, reimagine what these assets can become and guide clients through that transition.

3. HIGHEST-RATED PROJECT (EXISTING OPERATIONS)

WINNER: Mutualpark, Old Mutual
Jan Smuts Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town, Western Cape
Accredited Professional (AP) supporting: Zoe Rushin, Old Mutual

RUNNER-UP: Promenade Mall, Liberty Two Degrees

Cnr AZ Berman Drive and Morgenster Roads, Mitchells Plain, Western Cape
AP supporting: Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting.

RUNNER-UP: CPT 14 Zola AWS Central, Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust

Being involved in this project allowed me to witness Liberty Two Degrees’ dedication to transforming a building’s performance. In just over three years, the rating was propelled from a 5-Star to a 6-Star Green Star world leadership status due to their continuous efforts. This was a rewarding project to work on and serves as an inspiring example for the industry.” – Danika Taylor, Imbue Sustainability & Solid Green Consulting Liberty Two Degrees is delighted to be recognised with this award at the prestigious GBCSA Leadership Awards. It is testament to years of incremental operational performance improvements. The 2017/ 2018 “Day Zero” water crisis in Cape Town prompted drastic action to improve water efficiencies at the mall. This was followed by a focus on energy requirements and energy supply, as well as waste management, culminating in Net Zero Waste certification. From reducing environmental impact to creating future-ready spaces, we’re proud to serve our tenants, shoppers, and the Mitchells Plain and surrounding communities in ways that truly matter. – Liberty Two Degrees

4. HIGHEST-RATED PROJECT (NEW DEVELOPMENTS)

WINNER: Balwin Head Office, Balwin Properties

105 Corlett Drive, Birnam, Johannesburg, Gauteng
AP supporting: Jennifer Dean, Solid Green Consulting

Winning the highest Green Star rating for our Johannesburg head office demonstrates Balwin Properties’ commitment to sustainable development. It proves that world-class environmental performance is achievable in South Africa, setting a benchmark for responsible building and inspiring industry partners to pursue greener, future-focused design for the built environment in Africa. – Balwin Properties

RUNNER-UP: CPT 14 Zola AWS Central, Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust

51 Gogosoa Street, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape
AP supporting: Makhosazana (Khosi) Mthethwa, Solid Green Consulting

This recognition highlights the CPT-14 AWS project’s exceptional performance and our dedication to delivering buildings that exceed industry expectations. Being acknowledged among the highest-rated new developments demonstrates our focus on creating meaningful, lasting impact in the green building space. – Zenprop Property Holdings

5. BEST-QUALITY SUBMISSION (EXISTING OPERATIONS)

JOINT WINNER: ADVOCATES CHAMBERS

Corner Fredman Drive & West Street, Sandton, Gauteng
AP supporting: Sinethemba Ndlovu, Zutari Southern Africa

Receiving this recognition for best-quality submission from GBCSA is a proud moment and reflects my passion for creating a greener, more sustainable built environment. This award also highlights our team’s commitment to deliver a high-quality standard of work in creating more environmentally friendly operations. – Sinethemba Ndlovu, Zutari Southern Africa

JOINT WINNER: 148 On Katherine (Eastgate 20)

148 Katherine Street, Sandton, Gauteng
AP supporting: Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace

We are proud of our efforts to transform the built environment, and deeply appreciative of the recognition from GBCSA. Receiving this honour affirms the value of our work and motivates us to continue making a positive impact. – Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace

JOINT WINNER: Anslow Park – Nestlé

8 Anslow Crescent, Bryanston, Gauteng
AP supporting: Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace

As a team, being recognised with this award serves as a powerful motivator for us. It encourages us to drive innovation within our projects and to remain dedicated to delivering building solutions of the highest quality. Our focus continues to be on sustainability, ensuring that our work contributes to reducing carbon footprints and promoting greater resilience. – Mellissa Titus, GreenSpace

6. BEST-QUALITY SUBMISSION (NEW DEVELOPMENTS)

WINNER: Northridge Coastal Estate, Garden Cities Sunningdale

Blaauwberg, Cape Town, Western Cape
AP supporting: Fabio Venturi, Terramanzi Group

This award speaks to the standard we aim to uphold, care and technical rigour, the disciplined, behind-the-scenes work our team puts into every submission. It also reflects our broader track record of trust, accuracy, clarity and quality above all else. We are deeply grateful for this recognition. – Fabio Venturi, Terramanzi Group

RUNNER-UP: Arterial Industrial Estate Phase 2

Erf1423, Range Road, Blackheath Industria, Cape Town
AP supporting: Iphendule Ndzipho, WSP in Africa

Good submissions come from good projects: this recognition reflects innovative design and collaborative effort to drive impactful outcomes. Winning this award underscores our commitment to excellence and sustainability. – Iphendule Ndzipho, WSP in Africa

7. EDGE AUDITOR EXCELLENCE

Winner: Yvonne Pelser, EDGE Auditor, Inside Out Consulting

Yvonne is recognised for her exceptional quality, dedication to delivering excellent results to clients, and commitment to maintaining the highest EDGE auditing standards. During the assessment period, her high-quality submissions led to nine projects being certified in Round 1 – a remarkable achievement that reflects both precision and a deep understanding of the EDGE process.

I am grateful to have been recognised by GBCSA and received the EDGE Auditor Excellence award. This would not have been possible without the dedication of my clients and supporting project teams implementing the EDGE strategy to achieve EDGE certification. Existing building retrofits can at times be challenging, but at the same time it is very rewarding to see the vision play out where a derelict and disused building is transformed into housing to support the local community.
– Yvonne Pelser, Inside Out Consulting

8. NET ZERO CHAMPION

Winner: Redefine Properties

This award recognises the Net Zero Carbon: Level 2 – Building + Occupant Emissions (Measured) achievements of:
Alice Lane, Cnr Alice Lane & Fifth Street, Sandhurst, Gauteng
Ballyoaks Office Park, 35 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston, Gauteng
CTICC Convention Tower, Cnr Heerengracht & Walter Sisulu Avenue, Cape Town, Western Cape
AP supporting: Kamohelo Selepe, Solid Green Consulting

We’re thrilled to be recognised at the 2025 GBCSA Leadership Awards for our commitment to creating a climate-positive future. – Ursula Mpakanyane, Head of ESG, Redefine Properties

RUNNER-UP: Discovery Central Services (Pty) Ltd.

This award recognises the Net Zero Waste: Level 2 – Operational Waste achievements at Discovery KZN,
41 ImvubuPark Place, River Horse Valley Business Estate, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

AP supporting: Marcelle van Tonder, Zero Waste Technologies

This award marks a significant achievement in environmental sustainability, showcasing Discovery’s dedication to consistently minimising company-generated waste sent to landfills. Attaining Net Zero Waste status is essential not only for reducing our environmental footprint but also for enhancing our corporate responsibility. Discovery is determined to be an exceptional employer, excellent partner and a good corporate citizen. We are also deeply committed to nation building and protecting our planet.
– Discovery Central Services

9. EDGE RESIDENTIAL LEADER

JOINT WINNER: Divercity Urban Property Group

Divercity is proud to be recognised as a leader in green building within the residential sector. We are committed to achieving IFC EDGE certification on all our residential developments. – Divercity Urban Property Group

JOINT WINNER: INTERNATIONAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS (IHS)

Winning the 2025 EDGE Residential Leader Award affirms our commitment to building homes that are resource-efficient and create lasting value for communities. It’s a powerful recognition of our team’s dedication to driving sustainable, affordable housing solutions across the African continent. – IHS

JOINT WINNER: Century Property Developments

Winning the EDGE Leadership Award 2025 is an incredible honour. It recognises years of hard work, the support of our partners, and our commitment to creating affordable, climate-smart buildings that improve lives, reduce carbon and set a higher standard for the industry. – Century Property Developments

JOINT WINNER: Balwin Properties

Winning the EDGE Residential Leader Award means a great deal to us at Balwin Properties. It acknowledges the hard work we put into building sustainable, environmentally responsible homes and encourages us to keep improving and leading the way in greener living. – Balwin Properties

10. EDGE COMMERCIAL LEADER

WINNER: Redefine Properties for the Herholdts Brackengate 2 project

4 Tiber Road, Brackengate 2, Morgan Industria, Western Cape
Submitted by: EDGE Auditor, Roxanne Dovey, and EDGE Expert, Terramanzi Group

These accolades, presented at the 18th Green Building Council South Africa Convention in Cape Town, celebrate the incredible work of everyone driving sustainable progress at Redefine. – Ursula Mpakanyane, Head of ESG, Redefine Properties

Richmond Park, Cape Town, Western Cape
Submitted by: EDGE Auditor, Cornelia Mey, and EDGE Expert, Aisha Shaikh

Being recognised as a runner-up for the EDGE Commercial Leader Award is an affirmation of our commitment to sustainable, future-focused development. The Solar MD project reflects Atterbury’s drive to integrate innovation, energy efficiency, and long-term value for our tenants and communities. This acknowledgement inspires us to keep elevating industry standards. – Atterbury Properties

RUNNER-UP: ATTERBURY PROPERTIES FOR THE SOLAR MD HQ PROJECT

Richmond Park, Cape Town, Western Cape
Submitted by: EDGE Auditor, Cornelia Mey, and EDGE Expert, Aisha Shaikh

Being recognised as a runner-up for the EDGE Commercial Leader Award is an affirmation of our commitment to sustainable, future-focused development. The Solar MD project reflects Atterbury’s drive to integrate innovation, energy efficiency, and long-term value for our tenants and communities. This acknowledgement inspires us to keep elevating industry standards. – Atterbury Properties

11. GREEN STAR LEADER (NEW DEVELOPMENTS)

Winner: Riverlands Precinct, Zenprop Property Holdings

51 Gogosoa Street, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape
AP company supporting: Solid Green Consulting

Winning this award affirms our commitment to creating places where people, nature, and responsible development thrive together. It recognises the collective effort and the project team’s dedication to delivering Riverlands as a benchmark for sustainable, community centred urban design. – Zenprop Property Holdings

Projects within the Riverlands Precinct that were recognised as part of the award:
Riverlands Precinct Development (5-Star Green Star Sustainable Precincts V1.1); CPT 15 Zola CS West (6-Star Green Star New Build); CPT 14 Zola AWS Central (6-Star Green Star New Build); Riverlands Precinct 1A (Retail & Offices) (4-Star Green Star Mixed-Use Custom)

RUNNER-UP: Country Road V&A store, Country Road Group

239 Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, 19 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, Western Cape
AP company supporting: Terramanzi Group

We are extremely proud to be recognised for Country Road V&A, our first 5-Star Green Star-rated store in South Africa. This store beautifully reflects Country Road’s commitment to healthier and environmentally responsible spaces, as demonstrated in our careful selection of locally crafted and sustainably sourced materials.
– Country Road V&A

12. GREEN STAR LEADER (EXISTING OPERATIONS)

WINNER: GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES, FOR GREEN STAR EXISTING BUILDING
PERFORMANCE (EBP) BULK CERTIFICATIONS

Receiving the Green Star Leader (Existing Operations) award affirms our sustainability strategy, built on measurable performance, continuous improvement and meaningful impact. We are proud to see our commitment to responsible, future-focused operations recognised. This achievement comes from the collective effort of our Sustainability and Facility Management teams, who work together to embed best practices across our portfolio. It strengthens our leadership position and inspires us to accelerate the journey towards a more resilient, low-carbon future. We believe greener buildings are possible and key to long-term value creation. – Growthpoint Properties

JOINT RUNNER-UP: Absa bank limited, for Green Star EBP bulk certifications of their branches

Winning this award recognises Absa’s commitment to sustainable building operations across our retail portfolio. Nineteen branches certified between August 2024 and February 2025 each achieved a 3-Star EBP rating, collectively spanning 28 117m² GLA. Being named Runner-Up in the “Green Star Leader (Existing Operations)” category reaffirms our leadership in creating efficient, resilient and environmentally responsible spaces. – Absa

JOINT RUNNER-UP: Liberty Two Degrees, for driving change at scale through EBP certifications on their retail centres across SA

These retail initiatives deserve to be celebrated, reflecting years of dedication and the efforts of hundreds of people. This recognition of carefully planned, structured and environmentally sustainable work within retail spaces is warmly welcomed. It honours the hard-working teams who have shown that existing buildings can be managed and optimised in ways that truly make a difference. This milestone underscores Liberty Two Degrees’ pivotal role in shaping industry standards and driving innovation in sustainable property management. We remain committed to transforming South Africa’s built environment into a more resilient, future-ready landscape.
– Liberty Two Degrees

13. SPECIAL RECOGNITION

AWARDEE: Nedbank CIB EDGE Expert team

In recognition of Nedbank’s establishment of an in-house team accredited as EDGE Experts, enabling the acceleration of South Africa’s green building transition at scale.

Winning this award reinforces Nedbank CIB Property Finance’s commitment to partnering with clients to deliver assets that are future fit and resource efficient. It reflects our leadership in shaping a sustainable real estate sector and our disciplined approach to supporting the transition towards a low-carbon future. This recognition also celebrates the expertise of our EDGE team, a first in the SA banking sector, whose technical insights strengthen the sustainability outcomes we champion. – Nedbank CIB Property Finance

AWARDEE: REDEFINE PROPERTIES

In recognition of the Redefine’s leadership in integrating Green Star Existing Building Performance (EBP) processes and efficiencies internally. This integrated model demonstrates how business objectives and certification can work hand in hand.

Together, we’re building a better future, one mindful step at a time. – Ursula Mpakanyane, Head of ESG, Redefine Properties