CESA CEO’s Comment
Making engineering
T
future-proof
he year 2021 is a major
new levels of design functionality,
milestone for the
appealing to a new generation of
influenced by trends such as a
CESA Aon Engineering
tech-savvy engineers entering
switch to renewable energy and
Excellence Awards. It
the profession.
electrically powered vehicles. As UNFCCC points out, these
commemorates the support of Aon
interventions won’t reverse climate
CESA and a platinum title sponsor
The importance of consultation Consulting engineers deliver
of the event for the past 22 years.
a scientifically based solution,
introduction of resilient infrastructure
This is also the 49th year that we
whether it’s a solar energy plant,
will certainly slow it down. Most, if
are celebrating the groundbreaking
a road, school, public transport
not all, infrastructure funders and
achievements of our member
network, water or wastewater
investors internationally are now
companies via this prestigious
facility. However, rather than make
committed to carbon neutrality.
awards platform, which showcases
assumptions about what works best,
the vital role infrastructure plays in
the new trend is to ensure that all
structure will need to be designed
the development and delivery of
affected stakeholders are consulted
and built with energy efficiency top
essential services to society.
at the pre-feasibility stage so that
of mind, both at the construction
communities buy into the project,
stage and in terms of life-cycle
the evolution of the awards, it’s
experience a level of ownership
management. The goal is to deliver
fascinating to reflect on what’s
in the decision-making process,
fit-for-purpose infrastructure
changed, what’s stayed true to
and get the best value from any
and, in this respect, South Africa’s
the course, and what the future
infrastructure investment.
consulting engineering sector
South Africa as a strategic partner to
Reflecting over five decades in
holds for the consulting engineering profession. What hasn’t changed is the
In other words, future projects need to be designed around people – and not the other way around –
exceptional excellence being
and there are widespread examples
provided by CESA’s member
of this approach in the 2021
companies. What has changed is
CESA Aon Engineering Excellence
the way projects are designed and
Awards entries, where form and
delivered to achieve modern-day
function come together to create
sustainability objectives, establishing
aesthetically striking structures that
the optimum balance in terms of
are also environmentally compliant.
the environment, society and the economy. An example is the development
Climate change Concerns around climate change
of mixed-income housing
and how to combat it are now an
developments, with integrated
overriding concern. Globally, this is
mobility, which enables everyone
being spearheaded by the United
to enjoy a high-quality living
Nations Framework Convention on
experience within proximity to
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its
employment, education and health
signatory countries, which include
facilities. Smart city initiatives, like
South Africa.
our proposed Lanseria example in Gauteng, are intended to
The collective call is to find ways to meet agreed-on
achieve this. The rapid advances in technology also provide new tools to simulate and model designs. Rather than detracting from traditional skill sets
Chris Campbell, CEO, CESA
– in the right hands – they provide
2
emissions reduction targets
C E S A A o n E n g i n e e r i n g E x c e l l e n c e Aw a r d s 2 0 2 1
change in the short term; but the
Going forward, every future
remains world class and ahead of the curve.