Ashley Mwendia

R&D Specialist with over 2 years of experience in circular economy development projects including sanitation and waste management, life cycle assessment (LCA), renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Developed organomineral fertilisers with multi-national organisations that not only promote sustainable farming practices but also improve yield by at least 30%, hence building resilience and reducing the carbon footprint associated with fertilisers. 

R&D Specialist, 2022 - Present
Sanergy, Kenya
• Managed strategic partnerships with 4 external organisations, resulting in the co-development and 
launch of a new line of eco-friendly fertiliser products that have, increased customer base, market 
share, and profit margin by 30%
• Established a field trial strategy by implementing standardised protocols, resulting in a 40% reduction in trial duration, enhanced product testing accuracy, and a 30% improvement in overall trial success rates
• Conducted comprehensive market research and analysis on farming practices, resulting in invaluable 
project insights and mitigated risks for optimal product positioning in the competitive market; reduced 
potential missteps and maximised profitability
• Assessed operations at the production site by identifying bottlenecks and implementing data-driven 
process improvements, that reduced average production cycle time by 20%
• Prepared technical briefs, highlighting key technical requirements, design considerations, and 
implementation strategies, resulting in enhanced project alignment and reduction in rework
 

Climate and Energy Action Intern, 2021
ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, Germany
• Presented two renewable energy case studies prepared for the local governments of the Australian
Capital Territory (ACT) and Pingtung (China)
• Collaborated in the development of ICLEI’s Energy Compact, shortlisted for inclusion in the UNEnergy Compact, a leading initiative driving transformative change in sustainable energy practices
• Coacted with cross-functional teams to develop 6 visually appealing factsheets on renewable energy 
sources, highlighting key benefits and potential savings for clients in the clean energy sector
• Analysed and updated renewable energy solutions in the Solutions Gateway, equipping political
decision-makers with detailed guidelines and action-oriented resources, increasing the adoption rate
• Facilitated energy modelling for the 100% Renewable Energy Roadmap and 100% Renewable Energy 
Cities and Regions Network Projects

UNASA-UCT SDG Education Committee Member, 2021
United Nations Association of South Africa, South Africa
• Executed a series of impactful workshops and webinars, reaching over 100 participants, to drive 
awareness and understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Spearheaded the creation of comprehensive publication materials, including infographics, to 
communicate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to a diverse global audience
• Galvanized community participation through a pad drive initiative, resulting in the collection and 
distribution of 3,000+ pads to underserved schools; directly supported 200+ young girls in educational 
pursuits, fostering empowerment and breaking barriers
 

Engineering Teaching Assistant, 2020 – 2022
University of Cape Town, South Africa
• Led and facilitated weekly focus group sessions with students and gathered valuable feedback to inform 
curriculum enhancements and optimise learning experiences that improved student engagement and 
retention

Research Assistant, 2019
University of Cape Town, South Africa
• Executed fieldwork operations, capturing valuable data, collecting samples, and performing analysis, 
resulting in the production of data-driven reports that informed strategic decision-making processes

MSc. (Eng) Chemical Engineering, 2020 - 2023
University of Cape Town, South Africa

BSc. (Hons) Chemical Engineering, 2016 - 2019
University of Cape Town, South Africa