The role of consulting engineers in today’s society is increasingly vital, but not always fully understood. Considering South Africa’s need for improved infrastructure amid a growing and urbanising population, consulting engineers play an important role in ensuring the rollout of high quality and safe infrastructure projects.
Consulting engineers go beyond the definition of an engineer; they are registered experts in the planning, design, and construction of both public and private infrastructure.

Chris Campbell, CEO of CESA, explains that the true value of an engineer lies not just in their qualification, but in their years of practical experience. “Engineering is an applied science. With career options such as engineering researcher, lecturer, contractor, manufacturer, or engineering consultant, it is the practical experience in these fields which determines competence.” For example, to become a Consulting Engineer, one must first acquire theoretical knowledge through university and then apply this knowledge to solve real-world infrastructure challenges. After a few years, one can then be deemed competent as an engineering consultant. Then it is necessary to register as a Professional Engineering Practitioner with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

But why are these consulting engineering professionals so important to our society? “It comes down to the quality of work, technical innovation and duty of care that such professionals must exercise,” says Campbell. “Consulting engineers offer a level of efficiency and best practice which ensures that the infrastructure projects they work on are built to last. Their expertise is applied to solve infrastructure-related challenges in a way that is safe, clean, efficient and cost-effective,” concludes Campbell.

Chris Campbell
CESA CEO