Max Thabiso Edkins was born in Lesotho and grew up between Lesotho, Germany and South Africa. He completed his undergraduate in Natural Science, Conservation Biology and Economics from the University of Cape Town, and a MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford, where he focused on renewable energy, climate change mitigation, and the role of businesses and media. Max has worked as a marine biologist and ecologist in southern and eastern Africa, and as a renewable energy specialist advising the South African parliament and government on climate change and energy policies. He is also a photographer and filmmaker.
He initiated and coordinated the ClimateConscious Programme and he was crucial in the success of the international Why Democracy? and Why Poverty? media campaigns. He joined Connect4Climate in January 2013 and he is now the Acting Manager and climate change expert of the program. He brings eight years of climate experience to the team. He is passionate about the environment, and he enjoys combining communication and science to solve development challenges.