Wendy McCallum

Wendy is a Senior Project Manager in the Innovative Finance portfolio at the Bertha Centre. She has extensive experience in economic development and development finance research, policy, and practice, focusing on how to leverage finance and technology to improve the economic and social situation of developing regions.

She is a Research Associate at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), Stellenbosch University. She previously worked as a researcher for CST as part of an international research consortium, where her contribution focussed on the role of finance in the just energy transition.

Wendy has worked with and provided technical assistance to international development agencies and financiers, and governments and NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Building on this experience and networks, Wendy works to bring together financiers, government, business, academia, and communities to shape innovative, socially just, and sustainable approaches to development. She premises this work on the combination of her practical experience, including working for the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and academic qualifications in economics, future studies, and development finance. She holds a Master of Philosophy degree in development finance (cum laude) and is a PhD candidate at the Stellenbosch Business School. She lectures in development finance, FinTech, and project management at a postgraduate level.

Wendy expresses her social responsibility in serving as a Non-Executive Director for PVInsight (Pty) Ltd, a photovoltaic testing service that she assisted in establishing, and serves as the Treasurer of the Grey Junior School Governing Body.