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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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PROFILE: My journey to Professional Registration - Innocentia Mahlangu

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 Senior Civil Engineer & Project Manager Innocentia Mahlangu tells us about MY JOURNEY TO PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION.



Give us a brief summary of your career:

I am a Project Manager & Senior Civil Engineer at Hatch and hold a Bachelor of Science Degree as well as Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. I have more than 9 years’ experience in project delivery with experience across the various stages of project development including, concept, pre-feasibility, feasibility, detailed design and execution. My technical background is in railway infrastructure projects, where I have fulfilled various roles including design engineer, resident engineer as well as roles in project and construction management. In my current role, as a project manager I oversee projects in the mining, metals and infrastructure sectors. 

What is your current Professional Status?

I am registered as a Professional Engineer with ECSA. In terms of project management qualifications, I am a certified project management professional (PMP®) with the Project Management Institute (PMI), I am also a Certified Agile Project Manager (AgilePM®). 

What were your views  on Professional Registration before and after your journey?

When I entered the workplace as a graduate engineer, I realized that I had to embark on a new journey to acquire experience to be eligible to register as a professional engineer. I was unaware of the necessary requirements when completing my engineering degree and my awareness increased as I engaged with experienced professionals in the industry. There is undoubtedly a shortage of registered engineering professionals in our country, and the gap is even wider for registered female professionals.  

Why should Built Environment Professionals aspire to be  registered Professionals?

I registered to gain credibility as a professional and confidence that my competence has been assessed by other professionals, knowledgeable in my field of expertise. Furthermore, being a registered professional improves marketability as more and more employers are requiring registration with ECSA as a prerequisite for appointment to certain engineering projects/positions.

ALSO READ: MY JOURNEY TO PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION - Rudzani Muthelo

How long did it take you to register after obtaining your qualification? 

I  submitted my application after 6 years of experience. The timeline for registration varies and can be influenced by a number of factors, including the following: 

  • The type of experience and nature of problems solved
  • Your role and extent of responsibility during the training and experience period 
  •  Mentorship and support you receive during the training and experience period 

What would your advice be to aspiring Professionals in the Built Environment?

Start today, start now! Start by reviewing the requirements on the ECSA website and download the documents/templates. 

I was part of a professional development programme, where I was assigned a mentor when I started my career. I maintained a professional development file and scheduled regular meetings with my mentor where we discussed areas I needed to focus on and/or improve on. I began working on my training and experience reports early in my career and updated the reports as I completed projects. One tends to forget the details/specifics overtime as they acquire more experience. So, I continuously worked on the reports and reviewed/updated them as I gained experience. The reports were never intended to be final, but rather to capture content that I could review when I was ready to submit my application.

You could also share your journey whether you had good or bad experience  send us the details here

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