Chemical Technology March 2015

Chemical Technology • March 2015

Re-launch of Western Cape Branch

Just over two years ago, The Western Cape

Branch had ceased to exist, but has been re-

cently re-constituted under the chairmanship

of HamiedMazema, a once branch chairman

and past longstanding committeemember. A

committee was formed out of volunteers and

local members who were invited to participate

in re-establishing a presence in the Western

Cape. This area is an important industrial hub

where many chemical engineers reside and

where there are three tertiary institutions that

teach chemical engineering.

This was further confirmed by the wide-

spread and unanimous support for the

initiative across the spectrum of academia

and industry. The present committee con-

sists of: Hamied Mazema (Chairperson), Prof

Eugene Cairncross (ex-CPUT), Ashleen Mar-

shall (CPUT), Dr Adeniyi Isafiade (UCT), Adri

Uys (UCT), Ronald Gunda (City of Cape Town)

and Adrian Rudolph (CSIR).

On the 22

January 2015 the Western

Cape Branch had the honour of a very special

and magnanimous re-launch, at which the

President of IChemE and his team were in

Cape Town and ran a very successful work-

shop on “Chemical Engineering Matters”. The

programme, by all standards, was well patron-

ised with over 50 persons attending.

Proceedings commenced with the chair-

man’s address welcoming the distinguished

guests and all attendees. This was followed with

an address by Dawie Van Vuuren, President of

SAIChE-IChemE, who elaborated on the SAIChE-

IChemE collaboration. Thereafter, Neil Atkinson

(IChemE) expounded on the ubiquitous nature

of chemical process engineering and, in doing

so, set the tone for the workshop.

The unique format of the workshop was very

productive and stimulating with the audience

participating in contributing to the various

vistas of “Chemical Engineering Matters” that

were presented by IChemE President, Geoff

Maitland, and facilitated by Neil Atkinson and

Alana Collis, both of IChemE.

At 21:20 the chairman closed the event by

thanking everyone for attending and for making

the event such a memorable and resounding

success. Thereafter everyone gathered for an-

other round of refreshments and snacks whilst

networking. In summary, the event was enjoy-

able, interesting, stimulating and a resounding

success: a given, attested to by the fact that

the event surpassed the set closure time by

almost one-and-a-half hours.

Written by Hamied Mazema

SAIChE contact details

PO Box 2125, NORTH RIDING, 2162

tel: +27 11 704 5915;

fax: (0) 86 672 9430;

email:

saiche@mweb.co.za;

website: www saiche.co.za

Left to right: (C= W Cape Committee and M= Member). Eugene

Cairncross (C), Hamied Mazema (C-Chair),Geoff Maitland (Presi-

dent, IChemE), Philip Lloyd (M), Ronald Gunda (C), Neil Atkinson

(IChemE), Adrian Rudolph (C), Alana Collis (IChemE).

(Left to Right) Hamied Mazema

(Chair; 80s and present), Geoff

Maitland (President, IChemE),

Philip Lloyd ( Ex-Chair 70s).

(Left to Right) Manoj Chhiba

(attendee), Attendee, Geoff

Maitland (President IChemE),

Hamied Mazema (Chair).

IChemE visits UKZN

On the 21

January 2015 the Discipline of

Chemical Engineering at the UKZN hosted a

visit by Dr Alana Collis, Senior Technical Policy

Officer of IChemE.The discussion focused on

the challenges facing chemical engineers in

South Africa and the role that IChemE could

play in supporting and facilitating engagement

of stakeholders in the region on some of the

most pertinent issues involving the profession.

After meeting with the major research

groups in the department, Alana proceeded

with an interactive presentation based around

five questions:

• What does chemical engineering look like

in your country /region / sector / industry /

company right now?

• What challenges do you face?

• What opportunities can you see?

• What actions would you prioritise?

• What can IChemE do to support you, your

colleagues and your employer?

She highlighted the existence of special interest

groups within the IChemEmembership and en-

couraged all to take advantage of this platform

to promote research and create networks. Com-

ments from the audience were invited. The visit

was rounded off by a tour of the research and

training facilities at the Discipline.

Written by: David Lokhat

IChemE SAIChE NEWS

Professor

Randhir

Rawatlal, Head

of Chemical

Engineering at

UKZN and Dr

Alana Collis,

Technical Policy

Manager at

IChemE.