CESA participated at the Residential Investment and Development Conference, which took place on 12 and 13 July, at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event is a platform that brings together the residential value chain to share knowledge, collaborate and enable business networking. 

CESA marketing and communications manager Bonolo Nkgodi and education and training manager, Brenda Lacey-Smith, welcomed delegates who visited CESA’s exhibition stand enquiring about various matters, including the benefits of being a member of CESA and about the School of Consulting Engineering (SCE).

Our CEO, Chris Campbell, joined distinguished panelists at conference on 13 July, where they dissected modern construction methods and technologies, sustainable building materials, techniques and eco-friendly interior design and décor. The segment was titled: ‘Transforming Housing Through Innovation, Technology, and Sustainable Living.’ The session was moderated by Marius Muller, managing director of Soho Properties, an included Campbell; Dr Heather Dodd, SAIA Representative and owner of Savage & Dodd Architects; and Lorraine Jenks, chief executive officer of Hotelstuff. 

Responding to a question on innovation and the use of technology for sustainable infrastructure, Campbell said while there is generally an appetite for innovation, the constraints are often with the regulators. “We have the appetite, knowledge and the technology required, but it is not always readily accepted especially in the public sector.”

Campbell also highlighted how the challenge of a lack of maintenance of the country’s existing infrastructure continues to impact service delivery. “A classic example is the water issue in Johannesburg, where we have entities responsible for providing continuity in terms of water supply, With the adoption of new technologies, such entities continue to be on the backfoot as they are years behind in playing catch up – it is a never-ending conundrum of looking after what we have first because there is no point in us trying to fly when we are not even crawling properly,” said Campbell.