The 2018 Annual SAICE Durban Branch Awards took place on Friday 22nd June at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, and is a prestigious event attended by clients and leading consulting firms within the region. The Awards celebrate the industry as a whole, and recognise achievements made by project teams for Technical Excellence and Community Based Projects, as well as individuals within the industry who have given whole-heartedly to the growth and achievements of individuals, companies and the industry.
SMEC South Africa won the Technical Excellence category with the Mount Edgecombe Interchange Upgrade project. This is considered to be the largest interchange project in South Africa currently, and boasts one of the longest incrementally launched bridges in the southern hemisphere at 947 m long. The project team had to overcome numerous challenges throughout the project, which is a testimony to the skills possessed within the SMEC South Africa team.
Regional Manager KwaZulu-Natal, Kresen Manicum, was nominated for the Technologist of the Year award which he won on the evening. This award recognises professionals who have displayed leadership and played an outstanding role in the encouragement of personal and professional growth and development of people within the industry. Kresen’s nomination contained a message from a colleague who Kresen has mentored:
“Kresen has displayed a unique aptitude to identify and develop people to reach goals quicker and larger than what they could have done without his mentoring, inspiration and support. He has mentored and supervised many Pr Tech and Pr Eng candidates into top class professionals, but perhaps the true testament to his contribution is his selfless availability as a personal and professional coach and mentor to young talent.”