Notable achievements by Aurecon’s African women

07 August 2018 - Many of the women at Aurecon are described as trailblazers, razor sharp and thought leaders. They win industry awards, come up with creative ways to help our clients reinvent themselves, and travel across the globe to share their knowledge and learn from others. They are passionate, fearless, and committed to uplifting women, the engineering sector and the communities that we touch.

This August, we would like to highlight some of the notable achievements of Aurecon’s African women this year:

Rebecca Ilunga is leading Aurecon’s global network of emerging professionals

In May 2018, Cape Town-based Aurecon Civil Engineer Rebecca Ilunga was announced as the Global Chair of Aurecon’s Limelight committee, which is the company’s network for emerging professionals. It is the first time that the Global Limelight Chair resides in the Afrikan region. Ilunga is excited to have Katie Brown, an Aurecon Structural Engineer from Adelaide in Australia, as her Global Vice-chair. Find out more about Rebecca Ilunga.

Karen Healy brings art into STEM

Karen Healy is a Design Innovation Partner at Aurecon. Karen says that in today’s engineering environment, those who possess both technical expertise and creativity have a distinct competitive advantage. It is becoming increasingly apparent that engineers need both technical knowledge and artistic skill to produce innovative and competitive designs. She believes it is crucial for engineers to develop their technical understanding, but also their creative power. Find out how Karen is helping Aurecon bring art into STEM.

Portia Derby leads strategic direction and women empowerment at Aurecon

Aurecon’s Portia Derby has taken on the role of Executive Director: Clients Afrika. This follows her appointment as Senior Regional Director for Gauteng in 2017, which marked the first black woman appointed to a senior management position involved in the operations of the company. She is passionate about the empowerment of women and is focusing on creating an environment that will help more women take up positions of influence in the economy. Find out more about Portia Derby’s appointment.

Nothando Khumalo selected for the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship inaugural class

Aurecon Junior Civil Engineer, Nothando Khumalo, has been selected for the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship's inaugural class.

The initiative sees 25 young African women leaders embark on a stimulating journey of discovery and learning that will enhance and strengthen their activism. The Fellowship will become an annual programme and the inaugural classruns from July 2018 to May 2019. Find out more about Nothando Khumalo being selected for the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship inaugural class.

Kolosa Madikizela appointed as Unit Leader for the Built Environment in Gauteng

Aurecon appointed Kolosa Madikizela as its Unit Leader for the Built Environment in Gauteng in April 2018. Madikizela serves as an industry expert on the advisory board for the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town’s department of Construction Economics and Management. Previously, Madikizela was an external supervisor to Masters students in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and a Guest Lecturer at the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. She served on the industry advisory boards for Industrial Engineering at CPUT and Stellenbosch University. On some late nights you can hear Kolosa on 702 Radio and Cape Talk discussing her passion – engineering. Find out more about Kolosa Madikizela’s appointment at Aurecon.

Mayra Hartman to attend the Global Solutions Summer School in Berlin

Aurecon Civil Engineer, Mayra Hartmann, has been selected to attend the Global Solutions Summer School initiative in Berlin. Top graduates from around the world are invited to participate in five days of seminars and lectures focused on providing independent economic and social policy solutions to global governance.

The Summer School also includes attendance at the G20/G7 Global Solutions Summit, which will bring together leading global policy-makers, business leaders, think-tank representatives and NGOs sharing the common aim of finding solutions for global challenges. Find out more about Mayra Hartman’s selection to attend the Global Solutions Summer School.

Gabi Wojtowitz named SAPSA Built Environment Young Professional of the Year

In February, Aurecon Geotechnical Engineer Dr Gabi Wojtowitz was announced the winner of the Built Environment Young Professional of the Year award at the South African Professional Services Awards (SAPSA).

One of the judges commented: “I know Geotechnical Engineering is not an easy industry. The fact that Dr Wojtowitz has navigated the field, and has a PhD in it, demonstrates a determination to achieve expert knowledge in her line of work. The awards that she has won in her industry also illustrate that her technical expertise is recognised by her peers and SAPSA will be recognising her within the broader Built Environment sector.” Find out more about Dr Gabi Wojtowitz’s SAPSA award.

Aurecon announces 42 new owners, of whom 40.5% are women

On 1 July, 42 employees became new owners of Aurecon. 40.5% of the new owners are women, as part of our commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce to drive innovation. Congratulations to the new Aurecon owners!