Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa), representing 600 consulting engineering firms across South Africa, has announced Dr Vishal Haripersad as its new president and Jabulile Msiza as its vice president.

Both were elected at the Cesa AGM on November 25, marking a smooth transition in the organisation’s leadership and reaffirming Cesa’s commitment to advancing the consulting engineering profession in South Africa.

Haripersad has over 25 years of experience in business leadership and industry advocacy. As MD of Knight Piésold Africa, he has been instrumental in supporting initiatives that promote transformation, ethical leadership and professional development and led numerous sustainable infrastructure projects across Africa, combining technical excellence with meaningful community impact.

As a dedicated leader within Cesa, he has actively contributed to the organisation’s education and training, marketing and communications, and quality and risk portfolios, and he is also currently a board member and served as vice president for the past two years. His academic achievements, including a Doctorate in Global Leadership and Management, complement his practical experience, reflecting a commitment to lifelong learning and leadership.

“As I step into this role, I welcome the opportunity to build on the foundation laid by my predecessor David Leukes. Our profession stands at a critical moment in South Africa’s development journey. Engineers have an enormous responsibility, not only to deliver quality infrastructure, but to do so ethically, sustainably, and with purpose.

“My focus at Cesa will be on strengthening collaboration across the sector, expanding opportunities for young professionals and ensuring that consulting engineering remains a trusted pillar in building a better South Africa. Working together, with our members, branches, partners and affiliates, we can drive innovation, develop skills and create long-lasting impact for communities across the country,” Haripersad comments.

“We welcome Dr Haripersad as the new president of Cesa. We value his extensive experience and leadership in also driving our vision to advance our profession and contribute to the sustainable development of infrastructure across the country. We are confident that under his guidance, Cesa will continue to strengthen its role as a catalyst for innovation, engineering excellence, and industry collaboration. We look forward to working closely with him,” adds Cesa CEO Chris Campbell.

Campbell also welcomed Msiza as Cesa’s vice president. She brings nearly 20 years of experience, including almost 15 years as an Engineering Council of South Africa-registered professional engineer and leads a dynamic team driving sustainable waste management solutions across South Africa and other African regions.

Msiza is also chairperson of consulting engineering firm Jones & Wagener.

Meanwhile, Campbell further extended his appreciation to Leukes, who is also the MD of BVi Consulting Engineers, for his leadership over the past two years. “His dedication strengthened the organisation and left a solid foundation for continued growth.”

“The path forward requires relentless collaboration, a steadfast commitment to excellence and dedication to ethical practice. These are the values that define Cesa and its members and we must continue to carry this mantle forward with renewed vigour.

"As my tenure concludes, I do so with confidence that Cesa is in capable hands. The foundation we have built together - rooted in collaboration, innovation, and integrity - will support continued leadership in infrastructure development for years to come,” comments Leukes.