The Civil Engineering Contractor January 2018 | Page 33

PROFILE “Some of the challenges I have experienced include being considered incapable of executing my responsibilities, first as an engineer and then as a leader.” services such as water, sewer, roads, storm water and bulk earthworks; as well as developing and implementing the company strategy. In June 2005 I then joined SAA in Kempton Park as an executive manager responsible for the SAA property portfolio worth R2.5-billion. I was also responsible for the SAA maintenance contract (outsourced) worth R1-billion over 10 years, which included the maintenance of buildings and aircraft maintenance equipment In September 2007, I was elected deputy president of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), which is an organisation that promotes engineering disciplines to high school learners, and is a mentorship to undergraduate tertiary students and new graduates. In 2009 I was appointed by the Minister of Public Works to be a council member of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). I previously sat on the Board of Spectrum Valuations and Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF). I then became fulltime managing director of Black Jills Engineers, a consulting engineering company that I founded in 2007.  In 2016 Black Jills Engineers merged with Worley Parsons Infrastructure business to form iX engineers, I then assumed the role of CEO when iX engineers was established. As a high profiled, young, black woman, what do you feel are the assets and gifts that you bring to the corporate (and male- dominated) construction world? Women are generally more nurturing and gentle in their approach to life; therefore, I believe I create an environment where the soft issues in the workplace are given the same priority as the hard business agenda items. Also, I believe in empowering other women as well. As such, our Exco is majority women and the women within the organisation are empowered through being given responsibilities that men would normally not expose women to. As they believe certain things can only be done by man, you would occasionally hear men say, ‘This is a man’s world’. I believe in creating an environment that challenges that misconception and showcase that women can do it all!   In your role of CEO, what are some of the challenges you have faced on your path to the top? Some of the challenges I have experienced include being considered incapable of executing my responsibilities, first as an engineer and then as a leader. How I have overcome those challenges are through hard work and continuously being innovative, proving my critics wrong. What is your management style? I believe people are more creative if you give them space and freedom to be so. Therefore, most of the time I am a democratic leader and, as and when required, consultative and persuasive. I don’t believe in one size fits all approach; what is of great importance is that whatever decisions are made are best for the company, our people, our stakeholders and the communities we serve.      Please comment on the present state of construction in South Africa. My view is that the industry has changed significantly over the past five years, and the changes are still ongoing. These were mainly due to the subdued market, the South African downgrade and the depressed mining sector. Major construction projects are no longer a common sight and many project awards are delayed or suspended due to lack of funds. I believe the market will improve in the next five years with more opportunities in the EPC plus fund and PPP’s space. Please comment on transformation within the construction sector. Transformation in the construction sector has seen ground-breaking achievements in the past three years, especially in the ownership category. Most of the large construction and consulting companies have transformed and other are in the process of transforming. iX engineers is also a product of a successful transfor mation transaction, which involved a merger of an infrastructure division of a global company Worley Parsons and a local black firm Black Jills Engineers. iX is a Level 1 BEE company which wholly owned by employees, is 53% black owned and 36% black women owned. What would your message be to graduates entering the sector? To the young graduates, just as they have worked hard to achieve their degrees and diplomas, they should carry on with that spirit of perseverance to make their mark in the industry. People respect you for what you know and what you have achieved. They must not accept the status quo as the norm, always challenge the status quo through innovation to create better engineering solutions and working environment. Anything else you’d be happy to share with our readers? iX engineers has identified a challenge within the construction sector of the lack of in-service training for University of Technology students. We are therefore embarking on a nationwide initiative to provide a structu red programme to assist the students to obtain the required practical training to achieve their qualifications. We would like other companies to partner with us in this programme to assist as many students as possible. Companies that would like to participate in this programme with us should please contact us by sending their interests to: [email protected]. Through partnerships we can do more and make our country a better place for everyone!   nn CEC January 2018 - 31