For the second year running, the CESA Young Professionals Forum hosted its annual CESA YP Imbizo on a virtual platform. The YP Imbizo provides a unique and dynamic platform for built environment and engineering young professionals (YPs) in the public and private sectors to discuss pertinent issues relating to all aspects of delivery and maintenance of infrastructure and engineering projects. It also seeks to establish and maintain structures for YPs to become role models for school learners as well as providing coaching and mentoring opportunities for YPs from senior infrastructure professionals.

The 2021 event took place on 17 and 18 August with a powerful line-up featuring distinguished speakers across different industries. Welcoming attendees to the Imbizo was the former national chairperson of the CESA YPF, Amanda KaMasondo Mkhize, who also welcomed the newly elected national chairperson, Renee Petersen. In her remarks, Petersen stated they would like to focus on closing the skills gap in the workplace. “Using platforms made available to young professionals like this one, we would like to influence the engineering environment,” said Petersen. She also mentioned that joining the CESA YPF opened up her world, and this has provided opportunities for both her personal and professional growth.

Following up was CESA vice president, Olu Soluade who provided information on his professional journey in the engineering field through a video presentation. Soluade’s talk included advice for young professionals when he mentioned that a person without a vision goes nowhere, the team you work with, and the people you associate with will determine where you go. Soluade also said young professionals need to decide whether they want to pursue excellence or mediocrity. “When you perform your duties with diligence, you are going to be well taken care of, and if you do something for the sake of getting it done, your employer will take notice.”

Neelam Parbhoo, CESA YPF Gauteng South Branch, ushered in session 2 of the Imbizo as moderator. Nwabisa Nontenja, an economist and associate researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED), presented the topic 'Why Inequality – challenges & solutions'. In her presentation she said in South Africa, female workers earn approximately 30% less, on average than male workers.” The largest contributor to overall income inequality came from the labour market at 74,2%,” stated Nontenja. Joining in the discussion Professional and chartered engineer, Shilpi Jain also joined the discussion with her presentation on ‘Systematic inequalities in engineering'. In her presentation, Jain mentioned that they are looking for is a culture shift, where they can make engineering interesting, local and relevant.

Function manager for planning and traffic engineering in the KZN region at SMEC South Africa, Yolan Pillay provided a presentation on ‘The role of engineering and engineers in reducing inequality in South Africa’. Pillay said you need to have an appropriate development plan that is measured on a regular basis. “Invest in your own future, it is not only the responsibility of your employer,” he stated.  Following up was Tshireledzi Rammutla, Manager of the Project Management Unit (PMU) at Dr J.S. Moroka Local Municipality. She said urban authorities are increasingly being held accountable for their inability to provide services to poorer communities. “Current legislation for infrastructure development is to be reviewed to empower infrastructure development planning to strategically reduce inequality by accommodating poorer residents in the development of modern industrial cities,” stated Rammutla.

Refilwe Lediga, youth president of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBC BE), was also a speaker at the YP Imbizo with his topic touching on ‘Work-life balance from the Young Professional Perspective’. In his discussion, Lediga introduced his organization and mentioned the benefits of young professionals joining them. He was followed by Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) vice president, Refilwe Buthelezi discussing ‘Work-life balance from another perspective’. Buthelezi also spoke about ECSA and the road to registration as a professional engineer.

The keynote speaker was Dr Ngao Motsei, Leadership Emporium managing director who provided an insightful presentation on ‘Influencing humanity in the workplace’. Dr Motsei talked about the multiple faces of bullying/inhumanity in the workplace. “We need to take it upon ourselves to humanitise the workplace, leadership is about caring for your employees, recognize their personal life circumstances not just their professional lives,” she stated.

CESA partner Aon South Africa was represented at the YP Imbizo by Zamani Ngidi, client manager for cyber solutions discussing ‘Technology and engineering innovation’. Ngidi mentioned that embracing digital transformation creates new and unanticipated risks. IoT is everywhere and it is creating more risks than organizations realize. Knight Piésold’s Kissandra Bridgmohan also joined in as a speaker discussing ‘Is the South African young professional ready for digital engineering?’ She stated: “Digital engineering has already shown to have numerous advantages. First world countries are already integrating DE into AEC tertiary courses, these efforts are being driven by government and engineering bodies”.

CivilChem Engineering Services' Zama Mhlanga was one of the speakers discussing ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution -Applications in Construction Project Management in South Africa’. The final speaker of the Imbizo was Aspire Consulting Engineers' Praveer Parbhoo discussing the topic 'Is The adoption of the gig-economy in the South African Construction industry'.
Outgoing CESA YPF national chairperson, Yankho Banda brought the Imbizo to an end by providing the closing remarks.