Page 19 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Principal and Market Segment Leader: Urban Drainage conversations and allows us to slow down and assess what
is required before attending to the details. On top of budget
and Sanitation, Royal HaskoningDHV
D OMINIC COLLETT is a professional engineer constraints we now find ourselves in a position where we
have limited water and energy resources. The challenge
whose career has been driven by the desire to
is to design projects in a way that takes advantage of the
participate in initiatives that enhance society.
to the environment and other stakeholders,” says Collett.
Collett matriculated from Beachwood available resources but not in a manner that is detrimental
High School in Durban North, followed by a series of He added that he obtains his greatest joy in delivering
qualifications at the then Technikon Natal (now DUT), cutting edge technology to engineering solutions. “I have
which led to a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology in been fortunate to have private sector clients that have the
Civil Engineering. same vision and a highlight of my career has been that I
He says that during his 18 years as a professional have been able to have work with many of these forward
engineer he has been fortunate to have strong mentors. thinking clients that value development which is different
Collett said, “They guided and assisted me during and innovative.”
difficult career decisions and also kept emphasizing Collett’s passion for development is in keeping with
the importance of getting involved with voluntary Royal HaskoningDHV’s ethos, which is to enhance
organisations that enhance society.” society together through new technologies, engineering
Engineers have the ability for problem solving and are innovation and human spirit.
invaluable in assisting organisations in delivering on their He says, “Royal HaskoningDHV are responding to
mandates. He added that there is seldom a ‘cut and paste’ four global trends that the world is addressing and the
scenario to solve challenges, which makes life ‘interesting’.
opportunities these changes bring, to create an enduring
Consequently, in the early years of his career, Collett future for society and our planet.” These trends include:
became a member of the Young Professionals Forum as Urban: Creating cities of the future, which provide a
well as the Institute of Engineering, which he enjoyed. In happy and healthy environment for all
the spirit of giving back to the community, he has been
involved with the iLembe Chamber of Commerce Tourism Water: Ensuring clean water and effective sanitation
and Industry from its inception and currently sits on its is available to all and protecting people from flood and
Board. He also served as President for two terms. He chairs drought
the KwaZulu-Natal Business Chambers Council (KBCC) and Transport: Moving people and goods all around the
represents this organisation on the KZN Economic Council. world, in a cleaner and safer way
Collett worked through his training years for Bradford Industrial: Transforming the use of technology and
Conning and Partners (BCP) and after a short stint of two resources, allowing industry to contribute to the
years with BKS returned to BCP Engineers where, at 35 wellbeing of people and the environment
years old, he was invited to join the Board of Directors. One of the advantages of working for a global company
BCP than merged with SSI now Royal HaskoningDHV. is that it opens up opportunities to work on large projects

He says that his main strengths came from the in and outside South Africa. Each country have their
support of the mentors and the teams that he has own unique environments but still have the same global
worked together with on many successful and exciting concerns of urbanisation, water supply, transport and
projects. Collett commented that a noteworthy project industrial development. “Although the South African
was supervising the initial Tongaat Hulett La Lucia Ridge economy is in recession, our clients are still developing
design and development in 1991. He says that seeing high quality projects. The focus, however, is even more
the sugar cane fields evolve and the infrastructure taking critical in terms of cost effective design, says Collett.
shape was very fulfilling.
A current project that is giving him much enjoyment
Collett says, “Time, cost and people are the key inputs is the Blythedale Coastal Resort development, which
to successful projects. I enjoy motivating a team to work embraces the global trends. Collett and his team are able
efficiently. Without motivated teams, it is impossible to offer a number of solutions to the resource limitations
to achieve success and I would think my strength lies that the homeowners would have faced using gas
in being able to motivate people and allow them to reticulation, a desalination plant, solar energy, and grey
achieve their personal goals. When team members feel water recycling among other innovations.
comfortable approaching you with difficult issues, these
can be resolved at an early stage before they become a Collett says, “I enjoy the support of a wonderful family.”
crisis.” He added that his leadership style is that of respect He has been married for 18 years and has two teenage
and honesty. sons. In his free time, he plays the Double Bass in the
Durban City Orchestra and recently returned to sailing a
As a project director, the challenge is always to provide Flying Fifteen.
the engineering services required with an often limited
budget to have a maximum impact for the community. He concluded by saying that you have to push yourself
“It is important to look at the big picture, which guides to make a difference and add value to society.

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