Africa

Hein assumed the position of General Manager in 2016. He has direct responsibility for projects in development, construction and operations including taking the lead on Mainstream’s Africa initiatives late in 2016.

Since Hein joined Mainstream, his roles have included project and business development through to construction. Having worked in renewable energy since 2008, Hein has vast knowledge and experience in the industry.

Hein trained as a mechanical engineer and built a successful career in delivering complex projects and new business initiatives leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. His experience covers rewarding enterprises in the automotive, rail, marine and energy industries. He has been one of the pioneers of the South African renewable energy industry and a board member of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) from 2014 to 2018.

Lindsay joined the Mainstream team in October 2018.  Her core function is supporting the ExCo and regional leadership teams, and all employees across the global business to ensure HR best practice, wellness and engagement. She also leads the Communication function for the Group, overseeing internal and external communication channels, media management, event sponsorships and industry memberships.

Previously, she consulted to Mainstream as a Recruitment Manager from 2012 to 2018. Lindsay has over 20 years’ experience in the recruitment and executive search consulting profession and developed core skills in interviewing, assessments, business consulting, research and project management.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Psychology and HR, and a Diploma in Public Relations and Business Communication.

Matthew currently holds the position of Chief Financial Officer, South Africa, with responsibility for leading the Commercial and Finance departments. In this role, he oversees the financial strategy, planning, and reporting for the South African business, while also driving commercial execution across projects. His remit includes ensuring robust governance and compliance, managing capital allocation, supporting project financing and investment decisions, and aligning commercial outcomes with Mainstream’s broader strategic objectives.

He joined Mainstream in 2021 as Head of Commercial, Africa, where he led the commercial function to secure PPAs for wind and solar PV projects, covering tendering, structuring, negotiation, due diligence, and ultimately financial close.

Before joining Mainstream, Matthew worked at Eaglestone Capital Advisory, a project finance advisory boutique, where he advised power and infrastructure clients on corporate and project finance transactions across Africa. Prior to that, he was part of the infrastructure sector team at Macquarie Capital Johannesburg, specialising in financial modelling, transaction execution, and debt and equity procurement advisory.

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, having completed his articles at KPMG Johannesburg in the financial services sector.

Birgitte was appointed Head of Legal and Compliance South Africa in 2025, transitioning from her role as General Counsel at Mainstream which she took up in October 2022.  She has responsibility for the legal and compliance functions in South Africa.

She joined Mainstream from the position of General Counsel at Aker Offshore Wind following the company’s combination with Mainstream in August 2022.

She has worked in private practice within the energy sector for most of her career and since 2013 as a partner in the law firm Wikborg Rein.

Birgitte graduated with a law degree from the University of Bergen in 2002.

Christiaan joined Mainstream Renewable Power in 2015 and has spent a decade growing with the business, progressing from energy analysis and yield assessment into group-level technical leadership, and ultimately into his current CTO role in South Africa. Over that time, he has worked across Mainstream’s South African, APAC, and European portfolios, spanning the full project lifecycle from early-stage development through to operational asset performance.

He brings deep experience across the renewable energy sector, with a track record of leading cross-functional technical teams across multiple regions. His work sits at the intersection of engineering rigor and commercial decision-making, translating complex technical data into strategy that drives project and investment outcomes.

Christiaan holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stellenbosch University, complemented by professional certifications in Operations Management, Finance, Contracts and Risk from UCT, and Project Management from AIM.