Effective 1 July, Portia Derby will take on the role of Executive Director: Clients Africa at the global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon. This follows her appointment as Senior Regional Director for Gauteng in 2017, which marked the first black woman appointed to a senior management position involved in the operations of the company.

 

In her new role, Derby will be responsible for the leadership and performance of key Aurecon projects across Africa. She is passionate about manufacturing and infrastructure development on the continent and is well-known for being proactive in building strong diverse teams that work across multiple disciplines and sectors.

 

Her new role is part of a larger strategic move to reshape Aurecon’s African business to further enhance its service to clients. Derby will lead the organisation to achieve its goal of partnering with African clients to design their future, determine their responses to industry and digital disruptions, and develop innovative pathways that will enable them to thrive in increasingly dynamic economies.

 

“I have always been a feminist, in everything I do, women are always a key consideration. Believing that the empowerment of women has not kept pace with the broader development agenda, I would like to participate in the creation of an environment that facilitates more women to take up positions of influence in the economy,” says Derby.

 

Within Aurecon, as well as the wider corporate sector in South Africa, Derby is a vocal supporter of initiatives that empower women: she actively promotes mentoring and the transfer of leadership skills to younger women within the business. She feels that there is far more that South Africa should be doing to ensure that the gender diversity gap, particularly in the private sector, is narrowed; and that there is a sufficient pool of women in strategic leadership positions contributing meaningfully towards economic growth and employment creation in the country.

 

Planting leadership seeds where they matter

“We need to start planting leadership seeds from developmental stages in our communities. Parents need to move away from dolls for girls and Lego for boy’s mentality, as it means that from a very young age, boys are expected to think strategically, learn to solve problems and build things from the ground up, while girls are occupied with dolls and embroideries. We need to teach boys and girls to take risks and to adventure boldly, and go where no woman or man has been before, so we can all work towards a better future” says Derby.

 

Companies need to commit to targets

Companies must do much more to empower women by committing and demanding accountability in achieving targets for women in strategic positions throughout their organisations – the same way sales and other targets are set, explains Derby.

 

The responsibility of female role models

“I hold the strong belief that women who occupy senior leadership positions should be role models and embrace the responsibility to actively cultivate the next generation of female leaders who will take the baton from them,” concludes Derby.

 

About Aurecon

 

Aurecon is an engineering and infrastructure advisory company, but not as you know it. We’ve reimagined engineering.

 

Our clients’ ideas and aspirations drive all that we do. We work alongside them like no other firm to co-create clever, innovative solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges, adding value across the project lifecycle through deep technical and advisory expertise. We serve our clients across a range of markets, in locations worldwide. Hardwired in our DNA are engineering, design and the deep need to leave a legacy. We are as diverse as we are dynamic. As curious as we are clever.

 

Drawing on our deep pool of knowledge, we bring vital engineering experience, technical capability and design expertise to the table. Then we listen deeply and intently. We see the opportunities, possibilities and potential that others don’t. Through a range of unique creative processes and skills, we collaborate with our clients to re-imagine, shape and design a better future.

 

We believe humanity depends on engineering; and we recognise we have a broader stewardship role to play. A deep responsibility to hold. As we continually strive for a life in balance, Aurecon clients will be both future ready and engineered for life.

 

Think engineering. Think again.

Aurecon: Engineering, re-imagined.

 

To find out more about what we have been up to visit our newsroom, or take a glimpse into the future on our Just Imagine blog. 

 

Privately owned by employees, Aurecon formed in 2009 when Africon, Connell Wagner and Ninham Shand announced the formation of a new global group.

 

Please visit www.aurecongroup.com for further information.