NewForesight has recently expanded to South Africa. We sat down with Daniel to talk about why now was the right time, what makes South Africa such a good fit, and how this move connects to our bigger mission.
Q: Let’s start with the big picture. What inspired NewForesight to expand into South Africa, and why now?
A: For several years, NewForesight has worked in global markets and supply chains, many of which source directly from Africa. Expanding to the continent has long been part of our strategic vision, and South Africa became the natural starting point. Coming out of COVID, we saw renewed momentum in sustainability demand, alongside major shifts in the market. That made this the right moment to open our first African office.
Q: What is the core purpose behind opening the South African office, and what long-term vision do you see it fulfilling?
A: The office allows us to be closer to where much of our work is already happening while also tapping into an incredible pool of local expertise. In just the first months, we’ve built a strong, diverse team that’s not only adding value to South African projects but also to international work. Longer-term, the South Africa office represents the first step in our broader global expansion strategy. It positions us to work more closely with local and regional stakeholders, while continuing to serve our global clients with deeper, more grounded insights.
Q: Why South Africa as the first location for a regional office?
A: Practically, South Africa offers a strong business environment, good connectivity to Europe and other African hubs, and a relatively straightforward setup process compared to many countries. Strategically, it’s also a hub where sustainability challenges and opportunities are deeply interconnected with business realities. That alignment with NewForesight’s DNA made it the right place to start.
Q: What opportunities does this expansion open up, both for NewForesight and the region?
A: South Africa is facing significant challenges such as water security, an energy crisis, high unemployment, and the urgent need for a just transition to renewable energy. For us, these are also opportunities to apply the solutions we’ve developed globally in a context where they’re urgently needed. For example, corporate social investment and black economic empowerment funding are significant in South Africa, but too often spent as short-term CSR. We see the opportunity to help businesses turn that into integrated, commercially viable models that create long-term value for both companies and communities.
Q: How does the South Africa office connect with NewForesight’s mission of driving market-based solutions to sustainability challenges?
A: South Africa is a place where sustainability issues directly affect businesses every day, from energy and water shortages to supply chain risks. That urgency makes it the perfect setting to put market-based solutions into practice. Our approach is about shifting from compliance or philanthropy to building real business cases for sustainability. That’s where we believe we can have the biggest impact.
Q: From your perspective, what makes South Africa’s sustainability landscape unique?
A: Unlike in some regions, sustainability challenges here are not abstract or long-term, they’re immediate and material to business survival. Whether it’s water scarcity, unreliable electricity, or job creation, these issues hit companies directly. That makes collaboration, innovation, and systems thinking even more critical.
Q: Every big move comes with challenges. What do you anticipate in this new chapter, and how will NewForesight approach them?
A: Navigating complexity is always part of our work. In South Africa, challenges include policy uncertainty, infrastructure issues, and systemic inequalities. Our approach is to stay rooted in partnerships, with businesses, government, and civil society and to focus on building solutions that are not only impactful but also scalable and commercially viable.
Q: What excites you most about this expansion and South Africa’s role in shaping sustainable markets across Africa?
A: For me, it’s the chance to show that sustainability can be both a necessity and an opportunity in South Africa. If we can demonstrate that businesses here can thrive while tackling challenges like water, energy, and economic inclusion, it sets a powerful precedent for the continent as a whole. That possibility is what excites me most.