Civil Engineering September 2021 | Vol 29 No 8

Civil Engineering September 2021 59 O n 22 August 2021 Professor Philip Savage turned 100 years old. Philip qualified in civil engineering in 1943 and started work with the then Transvaal Road Department. He claims to have been a “padmaaker” ever since. Work with consultants and road contractors earned him experience in road building technology, with emphasis on earthworks construction and geomechanics. He was offered and accepted a professorship in geomatics and road construction at the University of Pretoria in 1970 and is still associ- ated with them as an Emeritus Professor. After retiring in 1986 he presented lectures and courses in compaction and soil stabilisation for the South African Road Federation and other organisations and acted a specialist consultant in this field. T he sixth annual SAICE Women in Hard Hats event took place on 12 August 2021, addressing several of the challenges facing women in the sector. Hosted by the SAICE Johannesburg Branch, SAICE Young Members Panel (YMP) and SAICE National Office, the event aimed to celebrate women in the sector and focus on opportunities, entre- preneurship and new developments. The dynamic keynote speaker at the event was Tasneem Motara, MEC for the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management. She provided an overview of the civil engineering sector from a local govern- ment perspective, which she said remains largely male-dominated in terms of in- ternal human resources and contractors. “I believe there are competing priorities which divide our attention, and so it is key for women to be supported in their career journey. We also need to keep put- ting pressure on that glass ceiling, which sometimes feels like it is made of concrete. We have to create the industry which we as young women wish to inherit,” she said. The other speakers included SAICE YMP Chairperson Michael Mhlanga, SAICE Johannesburg Branch Chairperson Zeenat Ghoor, and SAICE President Vishal Krishandutt. Mhlanga coined the acronym JMPDR (jobs, mentorship, pro- fessional development and registration) to highlight the key issues faced by young engineers in the industry. Ghoor pre- sented on the good, the bad and the ugly of starting your own business as a female entrepreneur, and Krishandutt closed off the event by tackling the slow pace of gender inclusivity and transformation in our industry. “Gender inclusivity is not only about being accepted; it’s about being respected. We are seeing a slow pace of gender inclusivity transformation in our profes- sion, and we must focus our efforts on attracting and retaining women,” said Krishandutt. To break away from the typical webinar format, guests were treated to a live performance by a talented band led by female vocalist Jodi Fredericks. The performance was streamed from Selective Live, an events venue in Cape Town. Over 150 guests joined the virtual seminar and despite the Covid-19 restrictions prohib- iting an in-person event, Women in Hard Hats 2021 was a great success. Breaking the concrete ceiling – 6 th annual Women in Hard Hats seminar