Leading from the front

David-Fredrick Leukes, Managing Director of BVi

Leading from

THE FRONT

Life shapes us all in profound ways, and the path to excellence is never an easy one. With passion and determination, though, the possibilities are endless. IMIESA talks to David-Fredrick Leukes, Managing Director of BVi, about his experiences, and how this has influenced a series of successful milestones at BVi.

In our competitive world, what’s your personal recipe for success in the South African and broader international consulting engineering field?

DL It’s important as a dynamic built environment practitioner to always broaden your skills, push to widen the boundaries of your knowledge, stay passionate, and wake up every morning with a positive attitude. In the engineering environment, we are well equipped to identify engineering challenges, simulate various possible solutions, and optimise to create economically sustainable infrastructure. We do this to improve lives within our communities.

Where did your passion for engineering begin?

For me it was a calling from an early age – a fascination with the infrastructure environment surrounding me. I wanted to know more and to understand how roads are built, where electricity comes from, and how water can flow from a tap on demand.

How did it evolve from there?

1992. Clearly, that was an important step on my path. In 1993, I started my studies at the then Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology). With BVi’s study assistance, I completed my National Diploma in Civil Engineering. During this time, I also completed my in-service training with BVi.

Subsequently, I was awarded a study bursary by BVi to complete my BTech degree on a part-time basis in Bloemfontein at the then Free State Technikon (now Central University of Technology). Further down the track, a BVi bursary also assisted me to complete an MBA degree at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (Bellville Campus).

A highlight of my career was when I registered as a Professional Technologist through the BVi Mentorship Programme in 2002. Upington Magistrate’s Court, Irvinsdale Housing Project in Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia-West Eradication of Buckets, New Bulk Sewerage and Oxidation Ponds in Loeriesfontein, and the Upgrading of Jooste Eiland District Road under the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Concurrently, I served as the Upington Branch Chairperson of SAICE from 2004 to 2011 and was also a member of the SAICE National Council.

What were the steps leading up to your current leadership role?

What are some of your major development milestones?

Each progression in life is a stepping stone; it’s important to read the signs and to seize the opportunities. Born and bred in Upington in the Northern Cape, I attended Simbrüner Primary School in Upington’s Morning Glory Township. Later, I attended Carlton-Van Heerden Secondary School in Progress Township, also in Upington. There, I matriculated in 1992 with exemption. My widowed mother could not afford to send me to study further, but I was fortunate to receive a bursary from BVi at the end of At BVi, I was exposed to various projects as a Design Technologist and was responsible for managing them. These projects included (but are not limited to)

I bought shares in BVi in 2003 and became a Director in BVi’s Northern Cape Branch in Upington. In 2013, I relocated to Bloemfontein to take over from Ben Grobler as the Regional Manager for the Free State Region. I am currently a member of the BVi Operational Committee and serve on the BVi Board of Directors in the capacity of Managing Director of BVi. In 2018, I became a Board Member at Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) and was elected on 24 November 2021 as the incoming Deputy President for 2022 and 2023.

How has BVi made a difference in transforming South Africa’s built environment?

From my earliest experiences, I know first-hand that talent and opportunity do not logically follow each other. In my view, that’s why it’s especially important that business leaders ensure that previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs) and communities get the social infrastructure they deserve to better their lives.

For BVi, that process starts internally – through our recruitment, mentorship and management development programmes

– to ensure our personnel are equipped to deliver excellence.

What is BVi’s BBBEE status?

BVi is proud to have put its transformation vision into action. We’ve made big strides over the last six years, and we continue to improve every year!

Testimony to this, on 18 October 2021, BVi was once again certified as a Level 1 BBBEE Contributor by verification agency Renaissance SA Ratings.

With the appointment of Alfredo Malgas as the Transformation Manager and Board Member of the BVi Group, the Group’s transformation efforts are now better planned and coordinated between the different subsidiaries, plus we have the full support and buy-in of the top management structures in the Group.

Our BVi National Employment Equity Committee has been mandated to ensure a planned and equitable appointment process. The members are Alfredo Malgas (Chairperson), Stefan de Meillon, Malcolm du Plessis, Werner de Lange and Khuselwa Ntlonti. Our thanks to Stefan for coordinating this effort for the past 10 years.

What are some of BVi’s key BBBEE initiatives?

Achieving a Level 1 BBBEE scorecard is not an isolated event, but the result of all the programmes undertaken by BVi. These include: - Ownership: PDI ownership is currently around 55%, with more than 50% of

BVi’s shareholding owned by professional employees in management. All BVi shares are owned by South Africans citizens, which makes BVi one of the largest black-owned consulting engineering firms in South Africa. - Employment Equity: BVi’s workforce is more than 50% black, and we’re close to reaching our target of 50% black degreed employees. - Skills Development: BVi is running an extensive Mentor/Learnership programme to fast-track career paths for youth. In addition,

BVi has numerous bursaries and studyassistance agreements, which contribute to young employees gaining knowledge. - BVi BEE Employee Trust: There are currently nine individuals on the BVi BEE Trust receiving additional support in terms of their career development. Over the last five years, 10 Trust beneficiaries were offered Director or Associate positions in BVi, which says everything about the programme’s success.

These include two Regional Managers (Deon Govender, Regional Manager of BVi KwaZulu-

Natal, and Malcolm du Plessis, Regional

Manager of BVi Northern Cape). - Supplier Development: BVi runs various supplier development programmes that assist small black companies to become sustainable. - Social Responsibility: BVi supports its local community by committing to support individuals and needy organisations over a three-year cycle. We find that a structured approach to corporate social responsibility can add more value than ad-hoc donations. - BVi Visionaries: To celebrate our 50th anniversary, in 2017 we launched the BVi

Visionaries project. There were seven BVi

Visionaries winners nationally – each of them qualifying for a bursary and educational support for the duration of their studies.

Does the BVi Academy provide a competitive edge?

BVi is very excited about this new programme: the BVi Group appointed seven high-performing PDI degreed engineers, with less than two years’ experience, in different offices throughout South Africa on an internship programme designed to fast-track their training and experience over a two-year period. The commitment to these deserving students is part of BVi’s contribution to developing young people in South Africa and investing in the future of BVi. Andre Greyling runs this programme very successfully with Alfredo Malgas, and we are excited to welcome our new candidates for 2022.

And in closing?

Our healthy pipeline of new work going into 2022 underscores the value of BVi’s capabilities and operating philosophies since our founding in 1967. In addition to this, we appreciate prestigious recognitions from industry that include winning the Business Excellence category at the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2021.

We understand the importance of a shared vision and a common purpose, benchmarked against local and international best practice. As Managing Director, I’m proud to lead and be part of such a dynamic and committed team.

www.bvi.co.za