Historically, city management structures included city engineers offering technical support, capacity and training opportunities for young engineers – a complete and efficient engineering service department aimed at creating, managing and operating engineering infrastructure to serve its constituency.

These structures are no longer the norm. Civilution believes that it is imperative that these structures and systems are restored and engineers are given technical decision-making authority in collaboration with politicians.

Civil engineer Trevor Fowler will present some of the challenges that the City of Johannesburg faces in terms of technical capacity, innovation and its relationship with the private sector on day two of the 2014 Civilution Congress. He will present a clear view of the client’s expectations from the engineering industry in order to allow Johannesburg to live up to its motto of “A world-class African city”.

Fowler has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the public and private sectors, politics, administration and the civil engineering profession. He served as Chief Operating Officer and Acting Director-General in the Presidency from 2004 to 2009. He was also executive director at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange,