Founder

Sasha Saugh is the Founder of The Solar Drift Project and an aquatic veterinarian with 13 years of experience, based in South Africa, with a strong interest in climate change adaptation. She is a Chevening alumnus with a Master's in Aquatic Veterinary Studies (University of Stirling, UK). Working across aquaculture and agriculture, she has seen firsthand how climate change threatens water quality, farm productivity, and rural livelihoods. These experiences inspired her to launch The Solar Drift Project, where floating solar is used as a tool for climate adaptation—protecting water, powering agriculture, and empowering communities.

At The Solar Drift Project,  and also as an executive director, Sasha leads strategy, organisational management, and implementation, while driving partnerships and stakeholder engagement. She also contributes to the scientific side, assessing the impact of this technology on animals and ecosystems to ensure the solutions developed are responsible and effective. She brings a systems-based approach that integrates science, environmental stewardship, and practical solutions to deliver benefits for people, animals, agriculture, and ecosystems alike.

Sasha’s vision for The Solar Drift Project is to spearhead floating solar as a transformative solution at the water–energy–food nexus, protecting natural resources while empowering farmers and communities in a changing climate.