Empowerment, mentorship, and encouraging STEM-education at early childhood development, as well as gender equality and inclusivity in the workplace, dominated the discussions at the South African Institution of Civil Engineering’s (SAICE) inaugural “More than a Woman” breakfast event held in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday, 11 August.
The event celebrated the remarkable achievements of women in the engineering industry and was sponsored and hosted by PPS for Professionals. The event provided an inspiring platform fostering dialogue on diversity, inclusivity, and the role of women in shaping the future of engineering.
The event commenced with a welcome from SAICE CEO, Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, setting the tone for a meaningful discussion during Women’s Month. Phayane-Shakhane welcomed SAICE members, corporates, clients, and partners to the event. This was followed by Ayanda Seboni, Group Executive for Marketing and Stakeholder Relations at PPS, who delivered an engaging message focused on financial wellness providing valuable insights on financial management.
Innocentia Mahlangu, a prominent voice from SAICE’s Diversity and Inclusivity Panel, and Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager at Hatch, shared a compelling message advocating for diversity and inclusivity in the institution and the broader engineering industry: “As SAICE, we are committed to influencing industry dynamics from a diversity and gender equity perspective. We also believe in advocating for inclusion in various ways.”
Another highlight of the event was the dynamic panel discussion, featuring accomplished speakers who have significantly impacted the engineering field. The conversation was expertly guided by Nthabeleng Lentsoane, SAICE’s Head of Marketing & Public Relations. Nombulelo Nyathela, Chief Director: External Relations at Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), provided thought-provoking insights into the alignment of the infrastructure and built environement with the transformational agenda of the National Infrastructure Plan 2050.
She discussed government’s initiatives aimed at supporting women’s influence in the industry, addressing gender equality laws and policies. Refilwe Lesufi, SAICE Vice President and MD at Prana Consulting, shared her experiences and provided valuable advice to women aspiring to thrive in male-dominated working environments. “These included work-life balance and the persistent glass ceiling imposed on young women. Upon entering the industry with hard-earned qualifications, you expect a rewarding career, but you encounter lower-than-expected opportunities. Women often receive lower pay and are overlooked for promotions due to outdated perceptions.” Her insights on the transformative power of mentorship and having role models resonated deeply with the audience.
CEO at MPAMOT, Malani Padayachee-Saman, delved into how critical it is to drive the promotion of STEM-related professions, which traditionally have lacked sufficient representation in terms of females. “I do believe that we all have the responsibility to nurture, encourage and inspire the younger generation to pursue STEM careers, starting from early childhood,” she added. She also examined the private sector’s progress in implementing Sustainable Development Goals 2030, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities calling for cohesion in ensuring that when driving growth and building sustainable infrastructure, transformation and empowerment are also accomplished simultaneously.
Nonhlanhla Sithole, SAICE Future Leaders Panel Representative, shared her unique perspective on being a driving force in civil engineering and discussed strategies for encouraging her peers, and urged experienced industry professionals to become more accessible and relevant to the younger generation. “You need to showcase leadership capability, if people see that you serve in confidence and believe in yourself, then they will surely follow you,” added Sithole.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks and closure by Sibongile Mamatu, SAICE Marketing Specialist. She added: “SAICE is committed to continuing its advocacy for diversity and inclusivity within the engineering community and providing platforms for meaningful dialogue and empowerment.”