Thuli Montana

Thuli Montana is a climate resilience and international development practitioner with extensive experience advancing sustainable development and inclusive socio-economic opportunities across Africa. She currently leads the Africa Climate Collaborative at the Mastercard Foundation, a pan-African initiative strengthening the capacity of universities to drive climate research and innovation, entrepreneurship, green skills development and youth leadership.

Her career includes work across climate resilience, water security, higher education and socio-economic development, with experience in government, academia, philanthropy, international development and the private sector. This includes contributions to water security research and policy at the World Bank, supporting metropolitan governments in South Africa with water business turnaround strategies. Additionally, during her tenure at the British High Commission, she played a key role in establishing the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT) in South Africa, supporting UK - South Africa collaboration on climate action and the green economy.

Her broader experience includes research, program strategy development and multi-stakeholder partnerships, with a focus on creating opportunities for young people and advancing inclusive approaches to climate innovation and institutional transformation across Africa.

Thuli holds a PhD from Durham University, her research focused on the politics and ethics of water security and resilience in Cape Town, South Africa. She also holds an MSc in Environment and Development from the University of Leeds.

Her work is grounded in a commitment to African-led sustainability solutions, systems change and creating pathways for young people to shape Africa’s climate resilience and development.