Meet The Gurus
Alexis Barwise
Alexis Barwise received his bachelor’s degree in Engineering (B.Eng.) in both Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa. He specialises in power quality and has completed Master’s degree subjects in both power quality and energy management at NWU.
He is an active member on national and international standards and technical committees, such as IEC TC81, SANS 10142-1, SANS 10313. Recently he has been elected, by the SABS, as the Chairman of the TC81 mirror committee, a fitting position seeing as he has been serving as SA’s elected Technical Expert on the IEC TC81.
While working for Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, Alexis filled numerous roles as an electrical engineer. In 2012, Alexis was appointed as Managing Director of DEHN Africa. In 2017, he was appointed as Area Director for DEHN & SOHNE for the Americas, Middle East, and Africa regions where he was exposed to different standards, design philosophies, and technologies.
Throughout his career, Alexis has written several technical articles and provided many training courses in several countries around the world and has gained in-depth knowledge as an Electrical Design Engineer, Systems Engineer, and Lightning Protection Engineer across several different industry sectors.
Marisa Cilliers
Meet Marisa, the Financial Director. Marisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chartered Accounting and has completed two years of CA articles along with a full CIMA clerkship. This dual background in chartered and management accounting gives her a rare combination of rigorous technical precision and strategic financial insight.
For the past few years, Marisa has managed financial operations at Energy Gurus, where she
ensures strict regulatory compliance, streamlines internal reporting, and supports business expansion through sound financial planning. Detail-oriented and dedicated to operational transparency, she provides the financial clarity and stability that drive the company’s long-term sustainability.
Adriaan Ballack
Adriaan Ballack is the Head Project Manager of all our Commercial and Industrial installations.
With an extensive 20 years of Electrical Project Management experience, Adriaan has been involved in working on projects such as soccer stadiums, national road weighbridges, commercial office parks, industrial factories, and Eskom power plant (Medupi), to name but a few.
Adriaan has predominantly been involved with solar PV projects for the past 6 years and can be found on-site mainly with commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients. He has also been involved with several of our residential installations as well.
He has comprehensive knowledge in the industry and specializes in managing roof mount and ground mount systems. Adriaan is well respected amongst our corporate clients and always has a smile on his face with a “go-getter” attitude.
Jeremiah Ngobeni
Jeremiah is a seasoned Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) professional with over eight years of experience. Holding a Safety Management Diploma from the Vaal University of Technology and Advanced Diploma in Safety Management. He is registered with the South
African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) as a Construction Health and Safety Officer (CHSO).
With a strong foundation in occupational health, safety, and environmental management,
Jeremiah is well-versed in ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards. He has gained valuable experience working with renowned organizations such as Africa Data Centre, Teraco Data Centre, RCL Foods, and Eskom Kusile.
Throughout his career, Jeremiah has successfully implemented and overseen ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems, ensuring strict adherence to occupational health, safety, and environmental regulations. His hands-on approach to conducting site inspections, safety audits, incident investigations, and emergency preparedness drills has fostered a strong culture of safety within teams.
Lukas Greyling
Lukas serves as the Head of Electrical Installations and Engineering, bringing over 30 years of industry experience with a strong specialization in solar and renewable energy. As a qualified electrician, his background covers the full project lifecycle, including equipment sales, system design, installation, commissioning, and regulatory compliance across both residential and commercial sectors.
In his current role, Lukas leads the company’s installation and engineering teams, ensuring every project adheres to strict safety, quality, and technical standards. By seamlessly bridging the gap between engineering design and practical on-site execution, he delivers tailored, highly efficient electrical solutions for every client.
Dean Kroon
Dean has a strong background in project management and operations with over a decade of experience in the mining and construction industries. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to The Energy Gurus.
Ruan Liebenberg
Ruan studied at CTU Training Solutions before beginning his journey in the electrical industry, where he steadily worked his way up while developing a strong foundation in electrical design and technical drafting. Through hands-on project experience, he has built expertise in solar PV system design, LV and MV electrical connections, and lightning protection systems.
Working closely with engineers and project teams, Ruan produces accurate technical drawings and electrical layouts that support the successful delivery of projects. His attention to detail and practical approach help transform engineering concepts into reliable and well-executed designs.
As part of the Guru team, Ruan contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable energy solutions across a range of projects.
Francois Le Roux
Francois is a key member of our energy management division. With a wealth of experience across different industries, Francois has built an impressive career. He began in aviation, specializing in instrument landing systems, before transitioning to road construction and residential building projects.
His expertise further expanded to agricultural initiatives, including work on avocado farms and sawmills. Francois later honed his skills in data centre’s, focusing on DC voltage systems, and spent two years specializing in residential solar installations.
He then spent two years on the installation and maintenance of Battery Energy Storage Systems, driving innovation in the energy sector. For the past 8 months, Francois has been part of the energy management (automation) division, bringing his broad technical background to optimizing and automating energy systems.
Shane Venter
Shane is our dedicated Sales Engineer and Mechanical Draughtsman with a proven track record in the engineering and renewable energy sectors. With his focus on our commercial & industrial projects, Shane provides guidance to clients, ensuring solutions are customized and quoted to their specific needs.
His journey in the engineering sector is backed by an International Diploma in Draughting and he further enhanced his capabilities with certifications in Project Management and multiple design packages, adding a strategic edge to his sales acumen.
Shane has built a reputation for his ability to bridge the gap between technical intricacies and client satisfaction. He is well-liked amongst our client base and within the team and his previous role as Sales Manager for Residential solar projects was a testament to his leadership and dynamic approach. Now, as a Sales Engineer, Shane is at the forefront of driving our solar project success, from initial consultation to project implementation.
Bheki
Bheki serves as Site Manager at Energy Gurus, having joined the company in 2023 as its very first installer. Since taking on a foundational role in the company’s early operations, he has spearheaded on-site execution for some of Energy Gurus’ most prominent flagship commercial projects across the region.
His impressive portfolio features major commercial and retail developments, including Mthatha Mall, Midstream Shopping Centre, De Beers, Clientele, Rainbow, ALT Academy, Kyoto De Ara, and Durban-based projects for Retailability and Dromax. With deep hands-on expertise and strong leadership on the ground, Bheki ensures that complex installations are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest technical standards.
