Civil Engineering August 2021 | Vol 29 No 7

Civil Engineering August 2021 53 Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand and holds a BSc and MSc in Engineering from the university. One of the more recent environmental projects that Chris was involved in is the rehabilitation of Bruma Lake and the re-natu- ralisation of streams in Paterson Park, as well as in the Killarney Golf Course. He has a special interest in stormwater modelling for catchment management and the mitigation of the negative impacts that urban development has on the ecology and morphology of the receiving rivers. In this field Chris has recently worked on the catchment management modelling for Modderfontein, assisted with the catchment management plan for the Jukskei River, and worked on the City of Johannesburg’s Stormwater Management Manual. Chris gets great pleasure from spending time in the bush where photography and bird watching compete with “just sitting”. Roderick GD Rankine Pr Eng Student outreach portfolio Rod is a professional engineer and con- struction materials specialist. He holds a PhD and MSc in Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, an Advanced Concrete Technology Diploma from Imperial College London, and is a Certified Level 2 Infrared Thermographer through ITC Stockholm, Sweden. Rod says that he has no environmental qualifications or experience, and this is a passion of his – he refers to himself as a concerned global citizen and environmental enthusiast. Rod is also a sustainable energy enthusiast. His home generates most of its own electrical energy (>99%) including electricity to charge his electric vehicle (Toyota Yaris home conversion), and he harvests rain and grey water for irrigation. He loves the outdoors, sails a homebuilt yacht (Holiday 23 Weekender launched in 1996) on the Vaal Dam, mountain bikes and hikes. Jeshika Ramchund Pr Eng Industry engagement portfolio Jeshika is a lead engineer in develop- ments at Bosch Projects and holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Jeshika has 13 years of experience in water, wastewater and integrated development infrastructure projects. She has extensive experience with infrastructure devel- opment in informal settlements and the planning and design of large-scale land developments. She is currently involved in project structuring and funding for green and renewable energy projects while growing Bosch Projects’ portfolio in the sustainable and integrated developments space. She serves on several local and international engineering and business organisations, chairing and supporting board committees and promoting sustainable engineering, diversity and inclusion. Jeshika is an advocate for the role of infrastructure develop- ment in achieving the SDGs and for enhancing the circular economy through the built environment. She is a champion of behavioural change for sustainable development and living, and loves sharing knowledge on the role of infrastructure in miti- gating climate change. Koketso Princess Legoka Communications and student outreach portfolios Koketso is a full-time civil engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand and holds a National Diploma in Civil Engineering. She tries to take care of the environment to the best of her ability and encourages others to do the same. In her free time Koketso bakes, reads, or watches movies. She also likes the challenges that come with trying something new. Richard Anthony Coke Pr Eng Corresponding member Richard holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and has been a member of SEED since its inception. Richard’s main interests are wastewater treat- ment/disposal, municipal waste dis- posal (including pollution control), and environmental engineering such as flood plain management, flood water control/erosion protection structures, etc. He was employed in both the solid waste and wastewater departments of the City of Johannesburg, which became Johannesburg Water, for 19 years and was also involved in township development control, commenting on and prescribing requirements for all township-related matters. Richard enjoys sailing, photography, carpentry, and general wildlife management and experiences. Hans King Pr Eng Corresponding member Hans holds a BSc in Civil Engineering as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering from the University of Cape Town. His experience has included eight years of working for a civil contractor before spending 30 years with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture as a soil conservation engineer. He now runs his own consulting business, HansKingSRS. Hans’ main interests include the planning of river and gulley erosion stabilisation projects, especially where projects can be used for employment creation schemes, and where indig- enous wetland vegetation can be used to reduce the number and size of engineered structures. Debbie Besseling Debbie is the technical divisions administrator for a number of SAICE divisions. She has extensive experience in public relations, communications, and publishing, specialising in the more technical fields of civil engineering and mining. Debbie works on numerous portfolios for SEED, including events management, marketing and communications, and has successfully managed several conferences for division. Debbie is passionate about women’s empowerment and motivating and uplifting the youth. She enjoys time in nature, reading and writing articles.