IMBEWU Team

Michael Vermaak: Senior Environmental Legal Consultant

Michael Vermaak BSc (Honours) LLB

Specialities: Mining & Industrial Legal Compliance Evaluation/Audit Risk Assessments, Water Law Authorisation Processes, Safety, Health and Environmental Legal Registers, Legal Awareness Training

Michael Vermaak hold a BSc (Honours) degree in plant sciences and geography and an LLB degree and has specialised in environmental law for over eight years (he is currently a Senior Environmental Legal Consultant at IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists (Pty) Ltd). Michael has also had direct exposure to environmental consulting. This background reinforces his particular interest in the practical "on-the-ground" application and implications of environmental law and the challenges of achieving and sustaining compliance in the highly fragmented and dynamic South African environmental legal regime. His interests are reflected in his focus on environmental legal compliance evaluations ("audits") and risk assessments, having undertaken such evaluations at a very wide range of industrial and mining operations throughout South Africa. Other key areas of interest include environmental permitting, licensing and authorisation processes, strategising for multiple authorisation processes for large-scale projects and the alignment and streamlining of process and public participation requirements. Michael has also presented training courses and presentations on a range of environmental legal issues.

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