Civil Engineering December 2022 | Vol 30 No 11

Civil Engineering December 2022 29 I n Br i ef I nnocentia Mahlangu, SAICE Diversity & Inclusivity Champion and Chair of SAICE’s Education and Training Panel, has authored a book titled Unleash Your Unique Advantage . The book is dedicated to advancing women working in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It is also intended to increase awareness on diversity, equity and inclu- sion in these male-dominated sectors. “As young women transition into the workplace or progress their careers, they are faced with startling statistics relating to the underrepresentation of women in STEM careers. This may cause them to feel like they do not belong, especially if workplaces do not value gender diversity, equality and inclusivity. The book provides encouragement for women and assurance that they are not alone, and that many have walked a similar path,” says Mahlangu, who is an award-winning civil engineer and project manager. Unleash Your Unique Advantage offers a collection of lessons learned from navigating a career in STEM. It is a roadmap of some of the lessons women in the sector have learned to help make the next woman’s unique journey a little bit easier. It provides insights and advice on how to navigate a career, build a network, set goals, face fears, embrace failure in order to grow, and ultimately find a voice as a woman in STEM. It is also a message of hope. There are many challenges that women in STEM careers face, but there is a wave of change coming, and women are encouraged to be part of it. “By the time a reader finishes the book, they may believe that they can achieve their wildest dreams as they learn to unleash their unique advantage,” adds Mahlangu.  The book is available from the SAICE bookstore here . “W hile we’re not facing an immediate water crisis, it doesn’t mean that South Africa is not a water scarce country and that water can be used recklessly,” said Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation, at the recent Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) Biennial Conference & Exhibition. According to Minister Mchunu, the focus of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has so far been exclu- sively on bulk water resources manage- ment, leaving it dependent on the declining capacity in municipalities to deliver water to consumers. “We will now shift our focus and balance our attention to across the entire water value chain,” he said. “As DWS we can’t just point fingers at municipalities because consumers don’t know about and aren’t interested in what the different spheres of government are responsible for; they just want water. So, where there is no water, DWS will assist without disrupting the powers delegated to the municipality.” Dr Lester Goldman, CEO of WISA, reiterated this sentiment: “The time for pointing fingers is over, and we can no longer wait for someone else to come up with a workable plan. We have to do work ourselves and do so collaboratively.” He added, “It is up to each and every individual role player in the water sector to take responsibility for changing the current course and navigate towards reaching Sustainable Development Goal 6: providing clean water and sanitation services for all.” The WISA Biennial Conference & Exhibition is the largest gathering of water sector professionals in Southern Africa. “When we started planning this year’s conference, we recognised that, as the water sector, we found ourselves off course when measured by the lived experience of our passengers – both the residents of Southern Africa and the economic activities that sup- port them. That’s why we chose ‘Navigating the Course’ as the theme for the technical conference programme,” says Goldman. Mchunu remarked that the theme is quite appropriate as, “we need to think about what it takes to navigate the course. As South Africans, we want to lead; it is in our nature to lead and navigate the course and what it may come with. “There needs to be a change of culture in municipalities so that failure to deliver must be seen as an anomaly, not as the norm. In addition, transformation in terms of water rights is still an imperative to ensure that no one is left behind. “We however can’t do this alone; we don’t have the necessary finances, knowl- edge and skills to do it alone. We therefore welcome the private sector to partner with us,” said the Minister.  Advancing women in STEM Minister of Water and Sanitation calls for prudent water use Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu at the 2022 WISA Biennial Conference & Exhibition (Credit: Johnosea Media) Unleash Your Unique Advantage by Innocentia Mahlangu