Pierre Reyneke has an undergraduate background in theology and social anthropology. He completed his Bachelor of Theology degree in 2010 followed with an Honours degree in Anthropology in 2012 at the University of Pretoria.

He joined the Nova Institute in the year 2013 after he was approached by Dr. Attie van Niekerk to conduct qualitative research over a period of 3 months concerning the way in which an improved cookstove was accepted into the daily cooking practices of households situated in the rural context of Limpopo, South Africa. This endeavour proved to be quite a stimulating project, and after the research was completed he accepted the role of Project manager of this improved cookstove project.
Parallel to his employment at the Nova Institute, he completed a master’s degree in Social Anthropology at the University of Pretoria in 2017. This research project entailed an ethnographic study of the informal sector’s role in solid waste management at two landfills, situated in the City of Tshwane. He has had a particular interest in the topic ever since.

He recently obtained his doctorate degree from The University of Witwatersrand in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Sciences in 2024, as part of the SARChI Chair in Waste and Society. This study investigated the role of ‘waste reuse and remake’ practices in the production of space and the urban waste economy of The City of Tshwane. His research experience and work at Nova has allowed him to develop and implement sustainable solutions with low-income communities of South Africa. His ultimate interest and concern is the rapidly increasing global economic inequality coupled with the evident effects of climate change. Work for Nova offers the opportunity to engage with theories regarding this socio-environmental threat, but more importantly the opportunity to grapple with possible solutions to it. Pierre is a passionate and dedicated cyclist who actively seeks out challenging terrain, regularly exploring remote and technical single-track trails on his mountain bike.