AAD: Aurecon bringing its African ideas to life

Aurecon was at AAD for the first time to highlight its engineering capabilities and products. “We want to become a true African business,” explained managing director, Africa, Ferdi Nell.
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The engineering and infrastructure advisory company has been operating since 2009 and has hubs in Australia/New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It has worked on programmes including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, and the development of Johannesburg Airport.

“We have co-created clever, innovative solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges,” said Nell.

 

The company has recently announced plans to expand advisory services in the South African defence market, following increased demand for optimisation and management of assets.

 

“We have been collaborating with market leaders in South Africa and Australia,” said Nell. “We have a long heritage of designing and executing many defence infrastructure projects, including air force base runways, aircraft hangars, navy bases and ports.”

 

It is currently working with the department of defence for the rehabilitation of the housing estates.

 

We have worked here at Waterkloof Air Force Base upgrading the engineering services, including the hangars, as well as sinkhole repairs,” said Nell. “We are also working at a new airport in Rwanda called Bugesera International Airport, as well as airports in Namibia.”

Nell said the company especially likes to help the youth in South Africa: “South Africa is now in a deep economic recession so our challenge is to find new work and, importantly, to make sure we transform our business into a true African business,” said Nell. “We also believe in the investment of the youth of this country.”

The company currently has 80 students at university enjoying one of its bursaries. 

Nell said: “We try and entice the students with exciting new technology to stay with us, as well as entice our clients with new ideas and new ways of thinking, hence our slogan: ‘bringing ideas to life’.”

Aerecon managing director, Africa, Ferdi Nell.