Young Engineer of the Year Sachin Ravjee wants to build more than bridges - IOL

Sachin Ravjee, SAICE’s 2026 Young Engineer of the Year, is helping shape South Africa’s infrastructure future through bridge engineering, mentoring and developing the next generation of civil engineers.

For Sachin Ravjee, some of the most important structures an engineer can help build are not made from concrete and steel, but from the knowledge and confidence passed on to the next generation.

The 33-year-old bridge engineer, who was named the South African Institution of Civil Engineering’s (SAICE) 2026 Young Engineer of the Year, wants mentoring young professionals to be as much a part of his contribution to South Africa as the infrastructure projects he works on.

Ravjee, an associate bridge engineer at Zutari, received the award at the SAICE National Awards in Sandton on 3 September, where young professionals, engineers, mentors and project teams were recognised for their contribution to the profession.

Originally from Secunda in Mpumalanga and now based in Pretoria, Ravjee said growing up in a smaller town gave him a grounded upbringing and an appreciation for the people and opportunities that shaped his journey.

Engineering was also close to home. His father is an engineer, which made the profession feel like a real possibility from an early age.

His father’s influence introduced him to engineering, but Ravjee found his own path within the profession.

“I was always fascinated by structures, particularly bridges, not only because of how they work, but because of the access they provide and the connections they make possible.”

Sachin Ravjee receives the SAICE 2026 Young Engineer of the Year award.

He went on to study civil engineering at the University of Pretoria before pursuing a career in bridge engineering.

“What continues to draw me to the profession is the connection between technical problem-solving and practical purpose. A bridge can be an extraordinary engineering challenge, but its value ultimately lies in what it enables people to do.”

Few projects illustrate that better for Ravjee than the Senqu Bridge in Lesotho, which has been part of his professional life since his first year as a professional engineer.

His involvement has extended from design and construction support to structural health monitoring, where the bridge’s measured behaviour is compared with design predictions.

The project has also become part of his academic development and forms the basis of his ongoing PhD research at the University of Pretoria.

The bridge forms part of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, helping communities maintain transport connections while supporting a programme that contributes to regional water security.

“I am proud to have played a small part in that broader purpose, alongside an exceptional team,” Ravjee said.

The project itself was named SAICE’s 2026 Technical Excellence International Project of the Year.

But as Ravjee’s career has developed, so too has his view of what makes an effective engineer.

“One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that engineering is ultimately a people profession.”

He said engineers did not all think, learn or approach problems in the same way, and taking on leadership and mentoring responsibilities had required him to listen more carefully and adapt the way he communicated.

“Technical knowledge is essential, but so is the ability to work with people, develop talent and help others succeed. Effective leadership starts with understanding the person, not simply assigning the task.”

That focus on developing people has taken on added importance as South Africa renews its focus on infrastructure.

SAICE chief executive Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane said the way young engineers are developed now would have long-term consequences for the profession and the country’s infrastructure.

“The young professionals in our institution today will be making some of the country's most important infrastructure decisions tomorrow, so how we develop, support and inspire them now will determine the quality of what South Africa builds.”

Ravjee believes young engineers can bring curiosity, fresh perspectives and a willingness to question familiar ways of doing things, particularly when their ideas are combined with the knowledge and judgement of more experienced professionals.

One obstacle, however, is fear of failure.

He said being afraid of getting something wrong could stop young engineers from asking an important question, offering an idea or accepting unfamiliar responsibility, even though those situations were often where much of their learning took place.

“The solution is not to lower standards. Safety and professional accountability remain essential. Instead, we need to provide meaningful work, appropriate supervision, constructive feedback and increasing responsibility as competence develops.”

For Ravjee, being named Young Engineer of the Year was both a personal honour and an opportunity to make a wider point about the profession.

He credited the people who had supported, challenged and trusted him during his career, while saying the recognition also showed what young engineers could achieve without necessarily looking outside South Africa for opportunity.

“South Africa and Africa have world-class engineering talent, and we should not underestimate our own capabilities.”

International exposure remained valuable, he said, but his own career had allowed him to contribute to significant infrastructure projects, pursue advanced research and collaborate internationally while remaining based in South Africa.

Ravjee now wants his contribution to extend beyond the structures he designs.

Through mentoring at Zutari, supporting professional registration and his involvement with the University of Pretoria, he is already helping younger engineers develop independent thinking, sound judgement and the confidence to take responsibility and lead.

“Ultimately, I would like my contribution to extend beyond the projects I work on personally. If engineers I have mentored go on to deliver meaningful infrastructure, lead capable teams and mentor others in turn, that impact continues to grow. For me, helping develop people is an important part of helping build South Africa's future.”