Dr Raylene Watson from Ernst & Young Advisory Services, joins our Branch Council in South Africa

We are pleased to welcome on board Dr Raylene Watson Associate Partner at Ernst & Young Advisory Services as a new member of our Branch Council in South Africa:

We asked Raylene a couple of questions:

• If you could personally change or influence one thing within infrastructure and/or energy, what would it be?

Raylene: If I could influence one thing in the infrastructure and energy sectors, it would be to embed sustainability and climate‑resilience at the earliest stages of project development, ensuring every project is designed for long‑term social, environmental, and economic value. My experience supporting bankable feasibility studies, ESG risk management, and climate‑aligned design across 34+ countries has shown that early integration of these principles reduces project risk, improves capital attraction, and delivers more inclusive outcomes. Empowering developers and financiers to adopt these practices from the outset would fundamentally transform the quality and impact of global infrastructure.

• Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to yourself at the start of your career?

Raylene: Start to build your network sooner.

• What do you hope to bring to the South Africa Council?

Raylene: I bring deep infrastructure, energy and sustainable finance expertise gained from advising clients across 34+ countries, including governments, development banks, private equity and sovereign wealth funds. I offer strong technical capabilities in ESG risk management, sustainable infrastructure design, feasibility studies, climate strategy and regulatory alignment, helping position projects for resilient, investment‑ready outcomes. My involvement in international frameworks, including the Climate Bonds Technical Working Group – UK, strengthens the council’s ability to guide discussions on climate finance and market trends. I also contribute proven experience in capacity building and disclosure alignment (IFRS, EU Taxonomy, TCFD), supporting IPFA’s mission to advance excellence in infrastructure delivery.

Please see the full South Africa Branch Council below: