Aurecon has announced two significant appointments that confirm the company’s on-going transformation through the appointment of high calibre leaders.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Aurecon South Africa

Dr Lulu Gwagwa has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Aurecon South Africa. In this role, she will contribute directly to the strategic leadership of the company.

Gwagwa has a master’s degree in town and regional planning from the University of Natal, an MSc (cum laude) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD from University College, London.

She has worked as a development planner in various capacities from 1981, including the private sector, non-government organisation sector, academia and public sector.

As a Deputy Director General in the national Department of Public Works, her portfolio included the National Public Works Programme, the transformation of the construction industry and the emerging contractor development programme. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), she transformed the Independent Development Trust from a grant-making to an implementation-management agency.

Having also served on various commissions, including the Commission for the Delineation and Demarcation of Provincial Boundaries and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Local Government Transformation, and currently Deputy Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission, Gwagwa brings a deep understanding of development challenges in South Africa and beyond.

“Given the central role of infrastructure as a catalyst for growth and development, Aurecon is well placed to continue making a significant contribution in this continent,” she says.

Gwagwa is currently also the CEO of Lereko Investments, and serves as non-executive director of FirstRand, Massmart and Sun International.

 

Member of the RSA Operations Management Team

Abbas Jamie has been appointed as member of the RSA Operations Management Team, in addition to his current role as Transport Industry Leader for South Africa, Africa and the Middle East.

Jamie, who holds engineering, project management and business management degrees, is a seasoned businessman and corporate executive with a strong track record of over 20 years in consulting and business development.

A registered professional engineer, he has operated at a senior level within the local and international engineering consulting environment and is a certified master coach who is registered with the International Coaching Council.

To his credit, he was a founding member and CEO of Gibb. He also served on the board of Facility Management Africa, a subsidiary of Rand Merchant Bank, and has been involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions as well as project initiation teams for major infrastructure projects in South Africa, including the Gautrain project in Gauteng and the N2 Gateway housing project in Cape Town.