Eugene Marais

Eugene Marais has over 25 years of experience in the field of urban and regional planning. Eugene is currently the Head of Development for Africa at Mainstream Renewable Power.

Marais began their career in 1995 as a part-time lecturer at Vaal University of Technology. Eugene then spent three years as a town planner for Welwyn Town & Regional Planners and Ngwathe Municipality. In 1998, they were promoted to chief town planner for Emfuleni Municipal Council.

In 2001, Marais left South Africa to take on the role of executive planner for Mayo County Council in Ireland. Eugene remained in this position for 10 years before returning to South Africa in 2011 to join Mainstream Renewable Power as a project development manager. In 2014, they were promoted to senior development manager and in 2016, they assumed their current role as Head of Development for Africa.

Under Marais’ leadership, Mainstream Renewable Power has become one of the leading developers of utility-scale wind and solar farms on the continent. The company has built over 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, and Lesotho.

They work with Emmet Curley - Head, Communications & Positioning, Fabiano Fortes - Head, PMO & Global Project Management, and Patrick Warren - Chief Technical Officer. Eugene Marais reports to Mary Quaney, Group CEO.