Honour for those who help to build a better future
• Awards proof of pivotal role consulting engineers play in service delivery to the people of SA, writes Alf James
The who’s who of the country’s engineering industry gathered at a gala dinner held at Vodaworld in Midrand on August 16 to celebrate the 2017 Consulting Engineers SA (Cesa) Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, which recognise exceptional achievements in innovation, workmanship, quality and professionalism in the engineering industry.
“Consulting engineers are at the forefront of infrastructure development and these awards bear witness to the pivotal role that consulting engineers, as trusted advisors and partners to clients, play in the delivery of services to the people of SA and the continent,” said Cesa president Lynne Pretorius.
“Given the pivotal role Cesa members have in SA’s society and economy, these awards are about thanking participants for the role they play in our country’s growth. The winning projects show us SA still has so much to offer to its citizenry, and that the potential of the country that we love and call home will continue to require the excellence the consulting engineering industry offers.”
Terence Williams, CEO of Aon South Africa, which sponsors the awards, said an enormous responsibility lies on the shoulders of consulting engineers in SA but, by the same token, to deliver on these responsibilities, engineers have to operate in a secure, riskmanaged environment.
Awards were handed out in the following categories: Young Engineer of the Year; Engineering Excellence for projects with a value of less than R50m; projects between R50m and R250m and for projects with a value over R250m; Best International Project; Visionary Client of the Year; Mentor of the Year; Business Excellence; Mentoring Company of the Year; Publisher of the Year; Job Shadow Initiative; Branch of the Year.
WINNERS ●
To promote the consulting engineering industry to young professionals, Cesa recognises the contribution young engineers make to the industry and to the future of the profession. The winner is afforded an opportunity to attend the International Federation of Consulting Engineers Infrastructure Conference. Airports Company SA sponsored the award. The winner of Young Engineer of the Year is Jabulile Msiza from Jones & Wagener, with Catherine Blerch from Aurecon and Pieter Crous from SMEC both receiving commendations.
The category for Engineering Excellence with a value greater than R250m was won by Aurecon for the Mall of Africa for Atterbury Property. Aecom was awarded a commendation for the acid mine drainage project for TCTA. Another commendation was awarded to Royal HaskoningDHV for provincial Main Road 577 for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.
The category for Engineering Excellence with a value between R50m and R250m was won by Neil Lyners and Associates for the L’Ormarins Hydro Power Project. Commendations were awarded to Aurecon for the Stortemelk Hydropower Plant for Stortemelk Hydro and Bosch Projects for special maintenance of N2 section 11 for Sanral.
The category for Engineering Excellence with a value less than R50m was won by Fellow Consulting for Malapa Fossils for Wits University. Bigen Africa received a commendation for the water reclamation plant at the BRP Mine for Royal Bafokeng Platinum and Aecom received a commendation for the Plankenburg main outfall for Stellenbosch Municipality.
In the category of Best International Project, sponsored by the Built Environment Professionals Export Council, a commendation was awarded to Aurecon for the Mzingani sea wall in Zanzibar.
Nyeleti Consulting won the Business Excellence category with Knight Piésold receiving a commendation. Bigen Africa won the Mentoring Company of the Year, sponsored by Bosch Holdings. In an effort to promote mentorship of young engineers Cesa recognises the contribution mentors make to the industry and the future of the profession. Cornelius van der Wath from Matleng Energy Solutions is the Mentor of the Year. Tongaat Hulett is the Visionary Client of the Year.
In recognition of the role that the media plays in the industry, 3S Media received recognition for Publishing Excellence: Trade Publications and Independent Newspapers received recognition for Publishing Excellence: Daily Newspapers.
UWP Consulting was announced as the winner of the Cesa Job Shadow Initiative with Infraconsult as the first runnerup and Bigen Africa as second runner-up. Cesa’s Port Elizabeth branch was named winner of the Branch of the Year Award.