In a move the company says “confirms its ongoing transformation”, engineering and management group Aurecon South Africa has appointed former Public Works deputy director-general (DDG) Dr Lulu Gwagwa chairperson.

She has worked as a development planner in various capacities since 1981, including in the private sector, nongovernment organisations, academia and the public sector.

As DDG, Gwagwa’s portfolio included the National Public Works Programme, the transformation of the construction industry and the emerging contractor development programme.

She also occupied the role of CEO of the Independent Development Trust, “transforming” the body from a grant-making to an implementation-management agency. 

Gwagwa has a master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning from the University of Natal, an MSc degree cum laude from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD from University College, in London.

Having 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 as deputy chairperson of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission, Aurecon believed she would bring a deep understanding of the development challenges in South Africa and beyond.

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

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

Aurecon added that Abbas Jamie had been appointed a member of the South African management team, in addition to his current role as transport industry leader for South Africa, Africa and the Middle East.

He had 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.