Full Name: Dr Ralph Heath

Position: MD of Golder South Africa and VP of Golder in Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Providing consulting, design and construction services in the company’s specialist areas of earth, the environment and the related area of energy

Date and Place of Birth: July 14, 1957, Johannesburg

Education: University of Cape Town, BSc, 1979; University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), BSc (Hons), 1981; UPE, MSc, 1985; Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg), PhD, 1999

First Job: Research officer at the Port Elizabeth museum

Career History Prior to Current Position: I lectured at the University of the North in biological sciences before becoming a senior researcher: water technology at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and a catchment planner at Rand Water. I later joined the Pulles Howard & de Lange consultancy

Size of First Pay Packet: R410 a month

First Job with Present Group: Divisional leader: water resources

Value of Assets under Your Control: A net assets value of R85-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 340

Management Style: Trusting the people/lead and setting a vision for the future for them to follow

Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a Christian

Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed MD of Golder in Africa

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your life: My father

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dr Danny Walmsley – a friend and informal mentor

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Harry Oppenheimer

Philosophy of Life: Life is full of opportunities – you need to recognise them and not be afraid to take them

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current position at Golder Associates

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not getting to know my mother better as she was killed in a car accident when I was 15

Hope for the Future: That Africa is recognised for its people rather than its natural resources

Favourite Reading: Holiday books – John Irvine, Bryce Courtney

Favourite TV Programme: CSI

Favourite Food/Drink: Slow-fusion meals – every meal should be a celebration in the Italian style: slow, noisy and washed down with good wine

Favourite Music: Anything from 1970s underground to the latest top 40

Favourite Sport: Bokke

Favourite Website: Supersport

Hobbies: Being outdoors, being under the stars, being close to a fire and body surfing

Car: Renault Megane 1.9 TDI

Pets: One small maltese poodle and tough tropical fish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who are continually negative about South Africa

Favourite Other South African Company: South African Breweries

Favourite Foreign Company: BHP Billiton

Married: To Tracy Langmead since November 2005

Children: Jessica, 16

Clubs: Old Edwardians – playing water polo