Redefining the role of Future Leaders through Ctrl+Alt+Delete Jeshika Ramchund, South Africa Jeshika Ramchund has 12 years of experience in the planning, design and implementation of water, wastewater and integrated developments projects. She has extensive experience in working with infrastructure development in informal settlements in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. She has been involved in the planning and concept designs of several large private developments in KZN. She is currently involved in growing Bosch Projects’ involvement in the smart, sustainable and integrated developments space. Jeshika serves as an Executive Committee Member of FIDIC Africa, a member of the FIDIC Future Leaders Steering Committee, Chairperson of Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) Gender Diversity Committee, a member of FIDIC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, immediate past Chairperson of FIDIC Africa Future Leaders, past Chairperson of CESA’s YPF, a CESA Council and Board Member. Jeshika was recently appointed to the University of Kwazulu-Natal’s Industry Advisory Board for the School of Civil Engineering. Jeshika serves as Bosch Holdings Group Co-ordinator for the Bosch Interact Young Professional Development programme, an in-house initiative for empowering Bosch’s young professionals. She represented FIDIC at COP25 in Madrid, Spain on adaptation of infrastructure to climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic has set in motion an unprecedented rate of change globally. The consultancy and engineering industry, however essential, has not been immune to the challenges experienced as a result of the global economic recession and the shut-down and subsequent “reopening” of the world for business as a result of Covid-19. Over the past few months, whilst many firms looked to technology and creativity to maintain business and mitigate job losses, the dire need for the redefinition of the role of future leaders in the infrastructure development value chain has become increasingly important and vital, particularly in developing countries. Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed several vulnerabilities in firms of different sizes, the issues were showing albeit in the background for some time. Some of these challenges included: • • • •
An acknowledgement of the critical role of engineers to the infrastructural aspirations of countries and the multiplier effect of infrastructure development on a country’s economy. The need to improve the wider procurement of professional services, including the improvement of skills across the supply chain. The commoditization of quality and professional engineering services on a cost basis and the heavy reliance on the tendering system for work. The use of improper project structures and financial mechanisms and project implementers resulting in unmatched priorities of various stakeholders particularly in basic infrastructure projects in developing countries.
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