VP: Renewables, Global Markets H2 Development, Sasol
Louise Paulsen is the incumbent VP: Renewables, Global Markets H2 Development at Sasol, a position that she commenced on 1 October 2022. Before her most recent appointment, Louise held the position of Managing Director at Vestas South Africa, the World’s largest onshore wind OEM, becoming the only woman to lead a renewables-specific OEM. During her tenure, she systematically facilitated the attaining of Vestas' BEE Level 1 status, strengthening its value proposition and aligning its domestic strategy to South Africa's development, diversity, and gender equity imperatives.
Louise has been a Mentor to several young women within the Wind Industry and has provided input to the SA Renewable Energy Master Plan. She volunteers with organisations such as Endeavor South Africa, and the African Leadership Academy as a mentor to student enterprises. Having provided directorship and advisory roles to multiple businesses, she has come to understand the challenges of doing business in South Africa and the opportunities for organisations.
Louise has extensive experience in the fields of strategy development and execution, Economic Development, Localisation, Enterprise and Supplier Development, and Black Economic Empowerment. Contract negotiation and management of consultants. Louise has consulted for the South African Supplier Diversity Council and UN Women with an area of stewardship in the capacity of UN Project Manager focusing on the localisation of the global procurement policies for gender-driven procurement. She has also served as the Project Manager at the South African Wind Energy Association providing support to the Industry Associations' programmes.
Previously, Louise worked as a Senior Project Manager at GE South Africa and varied career at Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). As Senior Project Manager to the Localization and Strategic Infrastructure Project Office (2012-2015), her responsibilities included the development of the strategy for localization and SIP. She worked in the corporate strategy and portfolio management team at the IDC for six years and before that the economic research team. Louise holds a Masters' in City and Regional Planning from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability from Cambridge University, UK.
Louise has served as a Director of numerous boards and has a keen interest in the coaching and personal development of individuals which is currently supported through her volunteer activities. She is a qualified and SETA-accredited moderator, facilitator, and assessor.