The election, NaijaAgroNet reports, recognised his
outstanding role in coordinating a committee of 30 Young Water Professionals as
part of the 8th International Young Water Professionals Conference (IYWPC),
held in July in Cape Town.
Fisher-Jeffes
will attend several global meetings where he will have the opportunity to
influence how the IWA engages with young water professionals and contribute to
the IWA’s current activities at an international level. Besides being able to
network with various IWA leaders and committees, he will be able to contribute to best practice frameworks while developing his competencies as a leader
and water engineer.
James Cullis, Aurecon’s Global Service
Leader for Water, says Fisher-Jeffes’
election to the IWA’s Emerging Water Leaders Steering Committee is a reward for his exceptional ability as a
young professional in the water sector, as well as a future leader in the
industry.
“Lloyd did an excellent job as Chair
of the local organising committee of the IYWPC. He is not only a critical part
of our Cape Town water resources team,
but will also be a key player in the future of Aurecon’s water consultancy,”
says Cullis.
“One of the takeaways from the IYWPC
event was the urgent need for Young Water Professionals to have a seat at the
table,” says Fisher-Jeffes. “We need to be more involved in planning the future
of water infrastructure in our countries. I hope that my role as the YWP Specialist
Group Coordinator will allow me to facilitate and encourage Specialist Groups
to invite YWP’s to become involved in their initiatives,”
He also hopes his role will help
inspire other Young Water Professionals to take a more proactive role in infrastructure
planning.
“I want to motivate Young Water
Professionals to get involved in designing the solutions of the future. Water
resource planning typically has a 30-year horizon and the current generation
will either benefit from or suffer the consequences of decisions made in the
sector today. As under 35-year-olds, we will be leaders 30 years from now, so
it’s important to get involved in the decisions that will shape the
infrastructure we will be managing and operating,” says Fisher-Jeffes.
He is currently working on a project advising
the City of Cape Town on its drought response and future water resource
planning. Some of his former projects include flood studies and 2D
modelling.
“As the IWA membership includes
environmentalists, sociologists, activists, scientists and engineers, I’m
looking forward to being exposed to diverse ideas and innovative thinking on
water management. The diverse solutions
that are presented on this platform will help me broaden my competencies and
become a better water engineer,” concludes Fisher-Jeffes.
Nenye Dom/GEE
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
Pix: Lloyd Fisher-Jeffes
