??In celebration of Youth Month, the Young Alumni Programme (YAP) at Stellenbosch 万博体育官网 (SU) is showcasing our incredible young alumni. Meet some of our remarkable Maties, all under the age of 35, who are using the knowledge and skills they gained at SU to push boundaries and make a real impact across various fields.
Kamryn Smith does not shrink away from making her voice heard – whether it's admonishing a former South African president or advocating for women's rights in male-dominated spaces.
The Stellenbosch 万博体育官网 (SU) alumna – who earned a BA in International Relations in 2020 and an Honours in International Relations and Political Science in 2022 – is now blazing a trail in the renewable energy sector as a senior stakeholder manager at Zero Carbon Charge. The pioneering company aims to decarbonise South Africa's e-Mobility sector through a national network of ultra-fast, solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations.
Kamryn's role focuses on building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders, private investors and civil society organisations to align efforts on climate-friendly infrastructure development. She is also involved in developing opportunities for collaboration and expansion.
“What I enjoy most is the tangible impact of our work. We're not just talking about change; we're actively building it. I've also been honoured to speak at and represent my company at high-level stakeholder engagements."
Before this, toward the end of her studies, she interned at Belgian company Hozint, where she worked as a political risk and threat intelligence analyst. After graduating, Kamryn worked at SU's Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development as a programme administrator, followed by a role as a senior student advisor in student recruitment at Varsity College.
But Kamryn's journey as a changemaker began much earlier. At just 17, she made headlines with an open letter to then-President Jacob Zuma, published nationally. In it, she criticised Zuma's leadership and called on him to resign.
“Looking back, it was the first time I realised the power of using my voice to hold leadership accountable and to inspire dialogue and justice," Kamryn says.
She regards Youth Month as a call to action for younger voices to break systemic barriers and redefine leadership.
“I see myself – and my generation – as bridge-builders. We have the ability to merge idealism with pragmatism, to push for innovation, while honouring the need for inclusive, intentional growth. We need to ensure that policy and development are not only sustainable, but socially just. I want our generation to be known for acting with urgency, courage, and compassion."
She adds: “As a young woman of colour in spaces that are often male-dominated or disconnected from grassroots realities, I've learned that simply showing up can be an act of resistance. But showing up isn't enough anymore – we deserve to lead, to influence and to build systems that reflect the full diversity of our country."
Kamryn has also set ambitious personal goals for herself.
?“In the future, I'd like to deepen my influence in development structure, ideally working at the public-private intersection of economic development, social justice and gender equity. I aspire to take on more leadership roles – whether in the public or multilateral space – where I can shape policies that benefit both people and the planet. A long-term dream is to represent South Africa on the global stage in development cooperation." ?
Photographer: Vishen Ramgobin
