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BusinessDay www.businessday.co.za Thursday 29 August 2024
INSIGHTS
CESA AON ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
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Award winners building a sustainable future for all
Industry’s finest •recognised for the
difference they are making, writes Lynette Dicey
T
he 2024 Cesa Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, held in Johannesburg earlier this month, celebrated and honoured the outstanding contributions of SA’s consulting engineering sector towards infrastructure development locally and internationally and highlighted the crucial partnerships and collaborative efforts driving the industry forward. The awards, which recognise SA-based consulting engineers who are members of Cesa and the difference they are making to the country, feature a range of categories, highlighting quality of engineering design, ingenuity, originality, innovation, business excellence and outstanding leaders. In the Young Engineer of the Year category, Dr Andries Nel from Spoormaker & Partners was the winner. A registered professional engineer, project management professional and a professional construction project manager, Nel has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in thermodynamics. He manages teams of more than 33 engineers to identify, design, manage and deliver projects worth up to R2.2bn both
nationally and internationally. He has made time to mentor and transfer skills to several candidate engineers and engineers completing postgraduate studies. He also gives back through presentations, internationally published technical papers and guest lectures to local universities promoting the consulting engineering industry. Commendations in the Young Engineer category went to Erika Braune from AECOM and Istiaan Lubbe from Zutari. SCIP Engineering Group was the winner in the category of Projects with a Value Less Than R50m for the Monaghan Farm Road Bridge Remedial for the Clewer Development Trust. A commendation was awarded to Naidu Consulting for the SANRAL N.002-270-2022/1: For Repairs to B999A Mhlali River Bridge on National Route 2, Section 27, km 15.42. The Lifetime Industry Achievement award recognised Alan Chemaly’s lifelong dedication and substantial
contributions to dam engineering and safety, spanning more than 50 years. Chemaly, a specialist dam engineer with Zutari, is a highly accomplished civil engineer with a master of engineering degree in structural engineering with a focus on gravity dams and fracture mechanics. He has worked in the planning, investigation, design, construction, safety evaluation and decommissioning of dams of most types. He has also worked as a specialist engineer for various mining and hydropower projects. Bigen Group was the winner of the Mentoring Company of the Year Award. Isak Frederik Malherbe from AECOM was the winner in the Mentor of the Year Award. This year’s winner in the Business Excellence Award is the BVi Group, while Bigen Group received a commendation in this category. The winner of the Small/Medium Company of the Year was Avenir Holdings. SMEC South Africa was the
winner in the category for Projects ranging from R50 to less than R250m for the N4 Montrose Interchange Upgrade project for Trans African Concessions. WSP Group Africa received a commendation in this category for Rejem-Linton JV’s MediMix Ancillary Building. In the Engineering Technology and Innovation category, Knight Piésold won the Renewable Energy Systems Design Excellence Award for the Kikagati Hydropower Plant for Kikagati Power. Zutari received a commendation for the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Design Excellence Award for the Coegakop Water Treatment Works project for the Mandela Bay Municipality. In the Smart Building Systems Design Excellence Award, a commendation was awarded to Spoormaker & Partners for the NuMeRI Main Centre. MPAMOT & WSP JV were the winners in the category for Projects with a value ranging from R250m to less than R1bn
Buildings
Bridges
for the Southern Corridor Phase 1 — Farm 694 Kosovo Housing Development for the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure. The Publisher of the Year — Trade was awarded to Creamer Media, while Independent Online received the Publisher of the Year — Daily News award. The winner of the Job Shadow Initiative & Poster Competition was Mariswe, with Zutari as the first runner-up and BVi Consulting Engineers and Ensync Engineers both as second runners-up. In the Best International Projects category, Zutari was the winner for the PAIX DKR1 Senegal 21 project in Senegal for PAIX. The company also won in the category for Mega Projects greater than R1bn for the Upgrading of the Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works project for the City of Cape Town. Reflecting on the evening’s significance, Cesa CEO, Chris Campbell, said: “The Cesa Aon Engineering Excellence Awards celebrates not just the achievements of our industry, but the spirit of collaboration, innovation and partnership that defines our profession.” Aon South Africa CEO Dr Nolwandle Mgoqi said the awards honoured and celebrated the exceptional achievements, hard work and unwavering determination in the various infrastructure projects that are fundamental to shaping the world and livelihoods for the better. Aon South Africa is a longstanding sponsor of the awards.
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Consulting Engineers South Africa
‘Passionate’ mentor finds guiding candidates ‘incredibly fulfilling’ Mentorship plays a critically important role in the professional development of engineers, for technical learning and helping young engineers navigate the sometimescomplex culture and dynamics of an engineering team. Not only do mentors provide valuable career advice, but they also assist with the development and enhancement of skills such as emotional intelligence, communication skills and time management. Isak Malherbe, associate director at AECOM, is this year’s winner of the Mentor of the Year Award. Malherbe has devoted the past 15 years to the technical development of aspiring engineers within a structured ECSA-accredited mentoring programme. His commitment to mentoring shines through his longstanding involvement in AECOM’s own mentoring programme. Since 2009, he has guided 14 candidates, supporting them on their path towards professional registration. Beyond this, he provides mentoring support to candidates and colleagues within his department.
Isak Malherbe with Aon South Africa CEO Dr Nolwandle Mgoqi (left) and Cesa president David Leukes. His understanding of the ESCA requirements for candidacy training is also illustrated by the fact that several candidates he has previously mentored have successfully obtained their professional registrations. His mentorship extends beyond AECOM into the wider engineering field as his reputation as an expert has led to multiple invitations as an external lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch’s River Hydraulics, Floods and
Stormwater short course. “While technical expertise is important, what sets successful mentors apart is that they are approachable and have a genuine interest in the growth and development of their mentees,” says Malherbe. He completed a mentoring and coaching programme with Mentors and Business Coaches International in 2018, becoming an internationally accredited mentor in 2019. This structured mentoring training, he says, enhanced his effectiveness as a mentor, equipping him with the tools to assist mentees with career development and soft skills which are vital to becoming a more well-rounded engineering professional. “I’m passionate about mentoring and I find it incredible fulfilling, especially when you see mentees realise their potential and then pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of engineers. For retired engineers who want to leave a legacy and maintain a sense of purpose, staying involved in the industry through mentoring can also be very rewarding,” says Malherbe.
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candidates have been guided by Isak since 2009, being supported by him on their path towards professional registration
Innovative solutions designed to overcome adversity As infrastructure becomes increasingly vulnerable to economic fluctuations, climate change and natural disasters, the need for resilient infrastructure is imperative. Engineering excellence is therefore critical in developing systems that can withstand these challenges, ensuring safety, sustainability and stability for communities and economies alike. “Engineers and innovation in the industry have played a critical role in increasing the
quality of life in SA,” says Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa). “From developing enhanced water supply to providing design and engineering solutions for healthcare facilities, reliable electricity, fixing natural disaster-ravaged areas, building transportation systems and developing innovation in agriculture, the resilience of these projects is a testament to the ingenuity of this industry and changing the infrastructure narrative in SA.”
Strategic partnerships have emerged as a cornerstone for advancing development across various sectors. Collaboration between government entities, private sector firms and community stakeholders is not only essential for project delivery but also enhances efficiency and leads to superior quality outcomes. Says Campbell: “By leveraging the strengths and resources of different stakeholders, collaboration fosters innovative solutions that
can overcome financial constraints and streamline project execution. Publicprivate partnerships have proven effective in mobilising private investment, facilitating knowledge transfer and ensuring long-term asset management. This collaborative approach enables the sharing of risks and rewards, leading to improved service delivery and enhanced community benefits.” The Cesa Aon awards showcase the innovation and engineering excellence in SA
and demonstrate what’s possible in unlocking infrastructure development in the country.
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