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Background and Introduction to EPABy 1978, the forthcoming independence of South West Africa / Namibia from the South African colonial regime became a strong prospect. With a view to the regulation of the engineering profession in accordance with the laws of an independent Namibia, engineers established EPA to ensure both a continuing high degree of professional competence in the engineering profession and the protection of the interests of the public. Towards this end, EPA was instrumental in the promulgation of the Engineering Profession Act, 1986 (Act 18 of 1986). After Independence, the Act was subsequently amended by the Engineering Profession Amendment Act, 1991 (Act 25 of 1991). The Act, as amended, provides for the Engineering Council of Namibia to register members of the engineering profession in the categories of professional engineer, engineer in training, incorporated engineer, incorporated engineer in training, engineering technician and engineering technician in training, in the various engineering disciplines. EPA is governed by a constitution providing for corporate members with voting rights and non-corporate members without voting rights – the latter encompassing associates, retired members and students. Any engineer, incorporated engineer or engineering technician who is registered with the Engineering Council of Namibia is eligible for corporate membership. The grade of associate member exists for foreign members, graduate members and persons closely involved with the engineering profession who do not qualify for corporate membership. The constitution of the EPA allows it to be organised, depending on members’ demand, into four divisions: one each for civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, and one for Incorporated Engineers and Technicians. Each division may have its own committee and serve the more specific interests of members of each division. A council is elected annually by the corporate members of EPA. Office bearers normally serve for two years to ensure a strong continuity. The council comprises: The filling of posts representing the various divisions on the council would be dependent on the establishment of such divisions; however, none have been established at present. After election, the newly elected EPA council takes office after the incumbent council has been relieved of office at an annual general meeting, which is held towards the end of each calendar year. Council meetings are normally scheduled monthly. Office bearers of the 33rd EPA Council, 2009/10President: Dipl-Ing Ako Al-Jaf Pr. Eng.Vice-President: Mr Günter Leicher I. Eng.Past President: Jan Abram Cilliers Pr. Eng.
Honorary Treasurer: Mrs Sophia Tekie Pr. Eng.
Civil Discipline: Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Helmich Pr. Eng.
Andreas Helmich is a qualified Civil Engineer and Project Manager with 12 years experience in road construction, contract administration, and project management. He obtained his Dipl.-Ing. (Civil) degree at the University of Hannover, Germany, in 1997, and also holds an MSc (Project Management) degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Andreas started his career as Contract Manager at a construction company in Germany, and became Project Engineer for the Roads Authority in 1999, where he implemented numerous projects throughout the entire country. In January 2008, he started his own consulting company, HPM, based in Windhoek, with its main field of expertise in the design and construction of roads, as well as project management. Mechanical Discipline: Mr Frederick Muketi Pr. Eng.Co-opted Members:Mr Rianus Gonteb Pr. Eng. Mr Tinashe Kadandara Pr. Eng. Administrative Secretary to the EPA: Mrs Ricki Wilson
Past EPA Councils
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Copyright © 2007
Engineering Professions Association of Namibia
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Braam
is a qualified Civil Engineer with 16 years experience in road design,
construction, project administration, and asset management. He started his
career with Spoornet in the Western Cape, and thereafter the construction unit
of the Free State Provincial Government, whereafter he returned to Namibia in
1997, consulting in his field of expertise of geometric, road drainage and
pavement design. He holds a B. Com. (Law) degree with Business Accounting and
Contract Law, and a Master’s degree in Transportation and Pavement Engineering,
and is registered as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of
South Africa (1995) and the Engineering Council of Namibia (2002).
Sophia
is originally from Ethiopia, but now a Namibian citizen. As a graduate of Addis
Ababa University, she joined the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication
as an assistant Engineer in 1990. After partaking in the Ministry's road sector
reform from 1995 to 2000, she joined the Roads Authority at its establishment in
2000 as the Manager of the Road Management System. In this position, which she
has held since then, Sophia has been part of the team who developed a
state-of-the-art Road Management System for Namibia, which has "put Namibia on
the map". Sophia served on the EPA Council since 2000, starting as Civil
Discipline Representative, and as President from 2003 to 2006. Her hobbies
include music, reading and watching movies.
Qualified
as a draughtswoman, Ricki has worked in that field for altogether 22 years for
several architectural firms in Windhoek and freelance from home, with an
interruption of a few years to raise a family. During that time she also
expanded her skills into bookkeeping and secretarial work. Since July 1998, she
has been the Executive Secretary of the Construction Industries Federation
(CIF), managing this office in the mornings. To fill the afternoons - no more
Mom’s Taxi - she took over the EPA office administration in January 2004 and
moved it into her office at home.