Bigen recognised at CESA AON Engineering Excellence Awards
Leading and trusted African engineering and infrastructure development group, Bigen, was recognised for engineering excellence at the annual CESA AON Engineering Excellence Awards held on Wednesday, 28 September 2022.
Apart from submitting the winning entry in the Young Engineer of the Year category, Bigen also achieved second place overall in the Best International Project category for its Palapye Water Treatment Works Expansion Project in Botswana. Bigen, appointed as EPC lead designer on the Palapye project which resulted in the provision of potable water to an additional 500 000 people, was recognised for quality engineering design, innovation, responsiveness to client’s needs, ingenuity and environmental, social and economic sustainability amongst other strict criteria, and received a commendation amongst stiff competition in the Best International Project category. Bigen has also previously been the proud recipient of the CESA Best International Project Award for its North South Carrier Water Transfer Project in Botswana.
“Bigen places a high premium on well considered and continuous investment in its most important asset – its people – and we recognise the business benefits of building the skills and capacity of our employees,” says Bigen CEO, Luthando Vutula. “We are particularly proud of our young electrical engineer, Saiuree Nayager, who walked away with top honours in this highly contested category. This is indeed a reflection of the calibre of expertise we have on board, adding tremendous value to our clients in both the public and private sectors in Africa!”
Saiuree is a valuable member of the Bigen Group’s Real Estate Directorate and has been involved as engineering representative, project manager and design engineer in numerous major projects. Her exceptional project management skills compounded with her expertise in electrical planning and design as well as civil works, has distinguished her as a rising star at Bigen. Saiuree has been responsible for complex long term projects with large project teams and has been successful in delivering work packages for developments such as the major Leeuwpoort Housing Development situated in Ekurhuleni, the East London ID2 Bulk Capacity Upgrade project as well as the ESKOM electrification project in Limpopo. Saiuree also played an instrumental role in designing and delivering the MUNIFITT (Municipal Infrastructure Finance Implement Train and Transfer) solution package to the Govan Mbeki Municipality – a first of its kind municipal infrastructure solution developed by Bigen.
Through its prestigious awards, CESA – which has served the industry for more than 6 decades – celebrates innovation, quality, outstanding workmanship and professionalism in the industry, and provides an effective platform for showcasing the important role that infrastructure plays in the sustainable development of our country. The focus is on consulting engineers and their clients who participate in or initiate projects that promote the advancement of South Africans as well as people of the greater continent.
“Bigen is continuously receiving industry recognition for its strategy to develop infrastructure sustainably in Africa – where the company has an expanding footprint – and in such a way that its use emanates socially desirable developmental outcomes, including access to services, reduction of poverty, capacity building, empowerment and the creation of employment opportunities. We are immensely proud of Saiuree and our Palapye Water Team and pleased to be adding these latest two awards to our impressive track record of more than 50 awards over the past ten years!” concludes Luthando.
