Claire Reid - Inventor & Director

At only 16 years old Claire invented Reel Gardening. Her invention was entered into the Eskom Young Scientists expo which won a gold medal at the national finals. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry nominated Claire’s invention for the South African Junior Water Prize as it reduces water wastage by 80% and Claire won. Claire then represented South Africa  at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize where Reel Gardening came first out of 24 countries.

Claire won the Woman of the Year Award in the Water for Scientific Research - below the age of 35. She was then nominated for the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year in Science and Technology where she came in the top three.

In 2007 Claire graduated with a BSC Arch from the University of Pretoria. In 2008 she completed her internship year at TPS.P Architects. Her focus was on the development of environmentally friendly, low income housing.  Claire is currently completing her Honours in Architecture and next year she will complete her Masters.

Claire lives by the motto: ‘Rather teach a man to fish than give a man a fish’. She is very environmentally conscious and is passionate about problem solving. She believes the two main issues that our country faces is a lack of food, and proper housing. She is tackling both.

Sean Blanckenberg - Chief Operating Officer

Sean Blanckenberg graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 2006 with a BCom Marketing Management degree majoring in Logistics and Business Management.

In 2007 Sean joined Change Logic – a Change Management consulting firm. He had the privilege of focusing his Change Management skills in the financial services sector. This has given him a solid frame of reference that can be used in any industry.

Sean has the ability to connect with the people he is around which puts him in a good position to develop and grow people and ultimately see their potential.  Sean has been engaged at various levels; from participating in strategic decisions with senior management to talking to the employees at ground level and getting a better understanding on whether or not the ideas and plans would work in reality.

Sean has strong organizational skills and a proven ability to communicate and negotiate at various levels. He can learn new systems, concepts and processes and can visualize the bigger picture. He is motivated, hard working and will enhance any team he works in.

Sean is currently working to grow the capacity of Reel Gardening to facilitate both the retail and community development sector.

Catherine Corry - Business Development Manager

Catherine obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town in 2007 majoring in English Literature, Art History and Media studies. Catherine then decided to pursue an entrepreneurial career in business at the WITS Business School in 2008 where she acquired critical thinking skills through a Postgraduate Diploma in Management focussing on Business Administration.

Catherine has worked in various industries including banking at Investec Private Bank, marketing for the Starfish Greathearts Foundation and events, but her focus is on strategy, development and project management.  Catherine recently started I Heart Joburg (CC) which focuses on entrepreneurial activities and project management.  Catherine aims to identify and develop opportunities and to expose the true potential of South Africans and what their combined cultures and talents have to offer the rest of the world.

Catherine has a ‘get things done’ approach and is striving to make Reel Gardening a very real part of every South African’s life.