Construction World February 2015

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Presented at the 2014 MBA North President Dinner by current
MBA North president, Lea Smith, the award honours the efforts
of Duncan, who was president of the Gauteng Master Builders
Association from 2006 to 2007 before the association changed its name
to MBA North. He has for many years been Honorary Treasurer of the MBA
North and serves on the association’s executive committee, and is also
extremely active in the MBA training initiatives.
The framed ‘Extraordinary Contribution Award’ praises Duncan’s
dedication to the building and construction industry and states that his
contribution and perseverance helped the MBA tomaintain its exceptionally
high standard of both quality and ethics in business.
Commenting afterwards on MBA North’s award to Neil Duncan, the
association’s president Lea Smith, stated: “The Boy Scout’s motto is ‘Be
Prepared’ and this is how I would describe Neil Duncan, who was involved
with the movement for many years. He has been an active member of
MBA North for more than two decades and throughout, when asked to
contribute, he did not provide 100% assistance but 110%. Perhaps his
organisational skills stem from his auditing background – but whatever
the source of his expertise, he always brings his ‘A-game’. All of us at MBA
North believe he is a true, inspirational leader to look up to and respect.”
Smith said the special MBA North Presidential Award was not an
annual accolade but only presented when the association felt an indi-
vidual deserved such an honour. “I can think of no more worthy case than
Neil Duncan who, in his
low-key, self-effacing
manner has been such a
tremendous ambassador
for MBA North for so
many years,” he added.
STALWART HONOURED
Neil Duncan, chief financial officer of Kevin Bates
Albert Carpets, has received a special Master
Builders Association North Presidential award for
his ‘Extraordinary Contribution’ to the MBA.
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Third pillar
“Finally, the third pillar, local authority support, stresses the
importance of good governance and a local support regime by
using indicators such as public capacitation, forming partner-
ships with civil society and mainstreaming good governance,”
she says.
“I believe that sustainability should form the cornerstone of
resettlement as outlined in the guidelines. However, sustaina-
bility could easily be seen as vague due to its broad definition.
The key to effectively integrating sustainability into an early
resettlement planning process relates to measurability and
applicability,” she concludes.
Neil Duncan (left)
receives an MBA North
special award for his
‘Extraordinary Contribu-
tion’ to the association
from MBA North presi-
dent, Lea Smith.