PROFILE
CESA , and others , have comprehensive programmes engaging the youth and promoting participation in the industry . SMEC South Africa is at the forefront of these initiatives . We at SMEC have established a platform in each of our regions for young professionals from different disciplines within the firm to engage with both each other and with the senior leadership of the firm on issues pertinent to their careers and working environment . Each forum meets on either a monthly or quarterly basis with a theme in mind and identifies a senior leadership figure with whom they engage . Topics covered in these forums range from business development to skills development and transformation . Recently , SMEC launched the Rising Stars Summit , an initiative that aimed at converging the firm ’ s most talented young professionals with the most senior leaders in the organisation on the business ’ s strategic direction . The group had the opportunity to discuss the type of company that they would like to work for , how they wanted to be led , and what the future in engineering should look like .
Company updates
SMEC joined forces in 2016 with Surbana Jurong ( SJ ), Asia ’ s consultancy powerhouse in the urban , infrastructure , and management advisory sectors . SMEC ’ s strength in major infrastructure projects , coupled with SJ ’ s expertise in urban planning , industrial development , and management advisory services , enables us to provide critical value-chain services to clients around the world . SJ has a distinguished track record in shaping Singapore ’ s landscape over the past 50 years . Their motto is ‘ Building Cities , Shaping Lives ’. By creating spaces where people live , work , and play , SJ shapes cities into homes where communities and businesses can flourish . This is an essential growth path for South Africa , if we are to advance our society and provide our people with work and educational opportunities . We need to build homes , create Smart Cities , and improve infrastructure for seamless industrial and urban living . We are already seeing examples of this type of project with the awardwinning Cornubia Mixed-Use Development in KwaZulu-Natal . The development is a multi-pronged initiative driven and funded by private industry and government , represented by Tongaat Hulett Developments and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality , respectively .
Given its adoption by Cabinet as a national priority project , various other departments from all spheres of government are also engaged as official partners . nn
Ageing infrastructure , together with a rapid urbanisation with younger generations opting to live in the cities to seek job opportunities , are the biggest challenges facing our infrastructure today .
Kostas Rontiris , CEO of SMEC .
SMEC
CEC April 2018 - 31