Aurecon South Africa's Environment & Sustainability Head wins MIW award

CEO Global has announced the winner’s of this year’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government Awards (MIW), and the Head of Quality, Environment & Sustainability at Aurecon Sonja de Klerk has been awarded the South Africa country winner in the category of Business & Professional Services. 

The Africa edition of MIW was established in 2001, and has since grown into the most prominent platform for the recognition of women’s contribution to business and government across the continent. The initiative is not only aimed at offering greater visibility to women across Africa, but also to allow for networking and collaborative opportunities.

Women in influential positions across the continent can submit themselves for consideration, and can leverage the publicity gained if selected as an effective marketing tool for their respective professions. In keeping with global trends, the awards have also taken on a more sustainable character in recent times.

As a result, the South Africa award for excellence in the domain of Business & Professional Services has gone to the Head of Quality, Environment & Sustainability at South Africa's tenth best engineering consultancy to work for Aurecon, Sonja de Klerk, who is also responsible for similar considerations across the firm’s global profile.

The recognition comes weeks after Aurecon was named an Implementation Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative in South Africa. As part of the partnership, the firm would interact with firms across the world that have adopted best practices in the domain of sustainability, and support others that are looking to implement the same.

De Klerk has been an essential part of this achievement, leveraging her vast experience in the domain of environmental practices. She has been at Aurecon since 2006, when she joined as a Unit Manager for Quality Assurance. In 2009, she was appointed the Quality & Environment Manager for Africa and the Middle East at Aurecon.

Since 2011, de Klerk has been the Head of Quality, Environment & Sustainability at the firm. Throughout her time at Aurecon, de Klerk has worked out of the firm’s Tshwane office in South Africa.

“I am honoured to be recognised as the Country Winner, especially in light of the impressive list of nominees this year. I can attribute this award to my passion for sustainability, innovation and mentoring.” Said de Klerk of her achievement. Managing Director at Aurecon Africa Ferdi Nell added, “It is a testament to the type of leadership Aurecon attracts and the importance of striving for greatness.”