Dr Oswald Franks, the Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, has been appointed as the CEO of the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa), as from October 1.

He would succeed the current acting CEO of Ecsa, Professor Hu Hanrahan, who took up the post after former CEO Professor Ravi Nayagar passed away in August last year.

Franks is a registered professional engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Science, a first degree in Mechanical Engineering, an Honours degree in Business and Administration, and a Government Certificate of Competency (Mines and Works).

Before starting his 25-year academic career, he had been a project engineer at Rio Tinto’s Rossing uranium mine, in Namibia, and had had a six-month secondment to Eskom’s Koeberg nuclear power station.

Franks had also formerly spent two four-year terms as an Ecsa Council member.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead Ecsa, along with the newly appointed Council, in fulfilling its legislative mandate and ensuring that Ecsa contributes to the wellbeing of both the South African public and the professions which it represents,” Franks said in a statement on Thursday.

He noted that an area Ecsa could improve on, was to strengthen and build relationships with key stakeholders, including all spheres of government, organised business and industry, voluntary organisations, professionals, educational institutions and the public.

Last week, Ecsa announced that Chris Campbell had been appointed as president, succeeding Trueman Goba.