Lorraine Jenks

Change agent, tireless activist, thought leader and multiple award winner, Lorraine Jenks has followed climate change, global warming, responsible lifestyle, sustainability, environment, greening and ethical food trends for 48 years.

Her experience in sustainability began in California in the 70s, working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before returning to South Africa to serve for 15 years as Contracts Manager for the 82 hotels in Africa's largest hotel chain. Now with 28 years in hospitality and her remarkably wide and varied travel history, Lorraine has a deep understanding of social norms, tourism, hospitality, challenges related to environmental issues, impacts and adaptations on climate change.

Her brainchild and business, Hotelstuff (an online directory of products and services for all sectors), was born in 2001 and was followed in 2009 by its sister, Greenstuff, a database of only eco friendly products. (Not a selling portal; just a free directory). Lorraine and Greenstuff stood at the forefront of the green wave in South Africa, breaking new ground in many quarters.

She has been honoured with fourteen awards to date.

EXPERTISE and SPEAKING TOPICS

• Climate Change Impact on Africa for Tourism, Business, Food, Family – how to adapt
• Responsible Tourism and Green Hospitality – Economic, Social, Environmental and Political
• Green Guidelines for Professional Procurement and Supply Chain Managers – All products
• Sustainable Agriculture and Ethical Food – international trends
• Conscious Design for Sustainable Lifestyle/ Décor/ Fashion
• Green your event, venue, accommodation, food and exhibition stand.
• Going Green: Why, what and how in easy steps
• Victim of Circumstance or Master of Your Destiny for underprivileged youth.
• Entertaining Stories and Tips for Entrepreneural Women
• Gurus have Guts (TEDx)

 EDUCATION

• Pretoria High School for Girls
• Wits Teachers' Training College – B.Com HDipEd
• Montessori Education – two diplomas – American Montessori Association
• Purchasing and Supply Chain Management – Newport/Janus University
• International Purchasing Management – Newport/Janus University
• Carbon Auditing,  Sequestration and Certification – Training with Green Leaf
• Green Interiors Design and Decor  - Green Building Council South Africa
• Green Homes – Training with Green Building Council South Africa
• NCPC (National Cleaner Production Centre) - course at CSIR via UNEP (UN Environmental Programme)
• Eco Labelling Training - UN Environmental Programme course
• African Climate Reality Leader - Training with Ex US Vice President, Al Gore

AWARDS

• BEST STAND AT SHOW
  • Decorex Johannesburg2010 against 700 other exhibitors for 100 m2.
  • Green Lifestyle Home.  The house built and fitted with only eco friendly furniture, appliances, decor, renewable and energy saving installations, water conservation, waste management solutions, sustainable food and beverages.  Floor space sponsored by Plascon.  The first, and still the only such project.
• EXCELLENCE AWARD
  • Decorex Cape Town 2010 our initial Green Home, floor space sponsored by Pick n Pay. Duplicate of Johannesburg project.
• EXSA - GREENEST LARGE INDOOR PAVILION
  • Hostex 2010 for an 80 m2 mock hotel with guest room, bathroom, industrial kitchen, restaurant, public areas and landscaping featuring only eco or greener products and services.  Again, energy, water and waste solutions displayed, carbon auditing demonstrated and fully furnished using products from subscribers to my Greenstuff.co.za website.
• IMVELO RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
  • FEDHASA Chairman's Award 2011 for outstanding work towards improving Responsible Tourism, Sustainable Hospitality and Green Procurement practices in South Africa and for twenty years' of research and subtle activism! 
  • Acted as Chief Judge for 2013 and 2014 award entries for Dept. Tourism and SA Tourism Grading Council.
• ENVIROPOEDIA ECOLOGIC AWARDS - Eco Warrior
  • 2013 Certificate of Recommendation for workshops, website, articles, exhibitions.
  • 2014 Certificate of Merit.
  • 2015 Certificate of Merit.
  • 2017 Eco Warrior Gold Award
• SA ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  • (SAEE) – Energy Patron of the Year 2013, second place. 
• ESKOM - ETA AWARD 2013
  • Special Award Winner for creating Energy Efficiency Awareness throughout South Africa.
• INSPIRE DESIGN & DECOR EXPO
  • Bronze Award for fully furnished Greenstuff Eco Guest Suite Project. 2014.  See video here. 
• MEETINGS AFRICA
  • Top Forty Women in MICE Industry 2014
• WOMEN IN QUALITY
  • Environmental Quality Award 2015
• EXSA – GREENEST EXHIBITION STAND – 2015
  • Top award for greenest stand in SA for our Greenstuff Eco Guest Suite at Inspire Design and Décor last year. 80 sq.m accommodation built and furnished with only eco-friendly items and incorporating efficient energy, water and waste management systems.
• HOTEL SHOW AFRICA –Element of Enviropoedia Gold Award 2017
• • Four hotel rooms furnished with only green or eco-friendly items.  Bedroom, lounge, bathroom and patio area. 
  • Displaying items from our Hotelstuff and Greenstuff directories

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Lorraine has presented at scores of conferences, workshops and seminars as far afield as Ghana and China, including:

Tourism Indaba (6 years running) | BBC Lifestyle/DSTV Grand Designs | SA Youth Travel Conference | Decorex | Hostex | Getaway Conf | Facilities Management | Waste Management Pan African Convention | Hotel Investment Conf TBCSA | Wastex Africa | Event Greening Forum | Professional Speakers International Convention | Tedcor Awards Gala | Ghana African Hotel Investment Convention | Sustain and Build Africa | Fiera Milano Hospitality and Food | Green Drinks, Newlands and Sandton | Energy Efficiency, Climate Change, Green Hospitality in collaboration with Eskom IDM – 15 nationwide workshops to date | Food for Thought |Africa Waste Summit (2 panels) | The Free State Green Summit (2 keynotes) |Slow Food Festival, Beijing, China | TEDx Lyttelton  (Video) | Hotelier Summit, Africa | 2nd Green Tourism Summit, Nairobi, Kenya | SAPICS regional workshops | Wisehub | RETOSA Tourism | DSTV Home Channel Programme | All Africa Confex | Professional Beauty and Spa | SAPICS National Convention | Pecha Kucha | Power and Electricity Conf. | SAEEC Conf. | Hotel Show DMG | Tourism Marketing Indaba } Tourvest Women in Greening | SAPICS Young Professionals | All Africa Events Confex | Slow Food Soweto Conference on Climate | Energy Indaba | Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation Conference | Event Greening Forum Training | Tourism Marketing Indaba...and dozens more key notes, presentations and workshops.

TEDx title is "Gurus have Guts" 

SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FOOD CONFERENCE

Recently Lorraine ran the first such conference in South Africa: a professional, academic double-blind experiment to compare organic and industrial foods. 

Eight speakers, 100 chefs, caterers and food professionals. 

Identical meals prepared by Prue Leith Chefs Academy at a sit down lunch.  The chefs formally judged differences in taste – and most importantly – an analysis of the differences in cost.

ARTICLES, RADIO, TV AND BOOK

Lorraine has written articles for Financial Mail (series of 12), Engineering News, Simply Green, Hotel and Restaurant, Hospitality Magazine, Life in Balance, Butler, Tourism Tattler, Decor Magazine, Decorex Magazine, Environment Magazine, Business Travel, Green Times, Imvelo Magazine, Engineering News, Business Day and Grand Designs BBC Lifestyle – and been featured in many others. 

She has been interviewed by SABC, 702, Free State Radio, Eastern Cape Radio, Cape Talk and DSTV Home Channel with TV coverage of her projects on several channels.  

Author of the "Sustainable Procurement" module for the Responsible Tourism Manual, this is being expanded into a book applicable to all sectors. 

ONLINE DIRECTORIES

Over and above this work, Lorraine – with the support of her indomitable team – manages her Hotelstuff and Greenstuff  online directories (33,000 page views a month); consults and runs a series of seminars (originally in collaboration with Eskom) across South Africa focusing on climate change and sustainable agriculture, business, hospitality and lifestyle (27,000 opted-in subscribers and followers).  

FOOD AND CATERING

Her most recent activities involved being invited to represent South Africa at the international Slow Food Festival in China, most recently at the Slow Food Terra Madre Salon Del Gusto conference in Italy, where she is heavily involved with ongoing work to promote good, clean and fair food, develop urban food gardens, protect biodiversity and protect heritage foods.  

CLIMATE CHANGE - With the current crisis of water shortage in Cape Town, South Africa is waking up to Climate Change challenges.  Lorraine has a new presentation based on the latest statistics and opinions from top international climate scientists, her training with Sen. Al Gore and his latest material, and based on research she has personally carried out on "The Impact of Climate Change on Africa".  This work was done for keynotes to tourism specialists in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria but applies to all sectors.  South Africa needs to catch up.

 SPEAKING

On the speaking circuit, Lorraine is known for her fresh, engaging signature style and impactful delivery, laced with well-placed humour. Her environmental messages are hard hitting yet practical. Speaking engagements are usually between 15 and 50 minutes or can be tailored as full day workshops for groups of all sizes.

 ARTICLES, RADIO, TV AND BOOK

Lorraine has written articles for Financial Mail (series of 12), Engineering News, Simply Green, Hotel and Restaurant, Hospitality Magazine, Life in Balance, Butler, Tourism Tattler, Decor Magazine, Decorex Magazine, Environment Magazine, Business Travel, Green Times, Imvelo Magazine, Engineering News, Grand Designs BBC Lifestyle and featured in many others. She has been interviewed by SABC, 702 and Cape Talk with local and BBC TV coverage of exhibition green living projects.She was invited to write the Sustainable Procurement module for the Department of Tourism's Responsible Tourism Manual and is expanding the module into a book applicable to all sectors.

WOMENS' ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLE MODEL

Sustainability aside, Lorraine has evolved as a role model for professional women, an example that a career-minded woman in her 60s and 70s has as much, if not more, guts and gumption as any professional 40-something. Her big personality and inspiring personal journey as a mother, wife and career woman engenders inspiration in those seeking to build their own personal brand based on an inherent passion or belief.

TESTIMONIALS

MAKING MANGAUNG THE GREEN CAPITAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you so much for adding colour, warmth, passion, laughter and most importantly insight to the 2015 MCCI "Making Mangaung the Green Capital of South Africa" Conference.
Your intimate knowledge on the topic "The what, why and how of going Green" set a solid foundation for the event!
You are truly an asset to the event industry!
PETER METCALFE (Chairman)
The Foundation For The Development Of Africa

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS ASSOCIATION OF SA
As a fellow professional speaker my expectations are generally high -- Lorraine exceeded mine.
Lorraine not only shares her insightful wisdom with finesse and professionalism, she does so with brilliant humour keeping you engaged and attentive.
Every human being should have the privilege of listening to and being inspired by Lorraine.
CELYNN ERASMUS REGISTERED DIETICIAN,
Professional Speaker, Author, Passionate Foodie

PAUL du TOIT - Professional Speaker - CPS

Folks, this lady is one cracker of a speaker with a very important message, expertly delivered. Do yourself a favour and go and see her.

Paul du Toit, PSASA, CSP

JONI PEDDIE - Professional Speaker

Lorraine speaks with kowledge, integrity and authority on her subjects. But that's not what makes her captivate her audience - she is clear, practical and has a teriffic sense of humour. But more importantly... watch this lady... she will leave a legacy!

Joni Peddie, CEO, BizCom. PSASA Professional Speaker

SAPICS - SA Supply Chain Professionals

Lorraine's presentation was one of the most popular of the entire regional conference programme in 2016 and we look forward to introducing her to the broader SAPICS community.

They say that dynamite comes in small packages and they are right. Lorraine Jenks is dynamite. Her frank, factual and direct presentation on Sustainable and Green Procurement at the SAPICS Regional Conferences was both interesting and enjoyable and was highly rated by the attendees.

Lorraine tells it like it is and challenges her audience to heed her recommendations in terms of lifestyle changes and to influence business to be more environmentally conscious as they pursue their objectives. Lorraine changed some of my paradigms and I encourage you, if you have to opportunity to hear what she has to say.

Mungo Park, President, SAPICS