Anita Govender
I’m in my 25th year in railway engineering, I am an Engineering Manager with UGL. I have spent my career in rail operations and maintenance, design and construction between South Africa, UK and Australia. I am best known for leading multi-disciplinary technical and commercial teams to deliver flagship projects such as the iconic Moses Mabhida Railway Station (AU$14M) in Durban, South Africa for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup to being the Technical Advisor Lead for the Resignalling of 32 stations and the new Railway Operations Control Centre (>AU$120M) in Kwa Zulu Natal. I am currently managing the design delivery for Sydney Metro’s City and Southwest Linewide Project (>AU$1.4B).
Before moving to Australia, I was Technical Director for 11 years with GIBB Consulting in South Africa. It was an incredible journey growing the rail team from 5 to 80 people to become the largest rail team in South Africa.
Unknowingly becoming the first female railway signal engineer in South Africa and the first cohort of engineers of colour tapped into my key value of fairness and equality. It has been a humbling journey to be part of an industry that would make great strides to progress diversity during my time there. The engineering industry has allowed me the platform to promote the concept of Ubuntu, ‘I am because we are’ – which really underpins my drive to improve diversity, equity and inclusion for lasting and sustainable change. My focus on diverse teams continues in Australia and the Western Sydney Women Program is an exciting program to be a part of.
If I am not living out my engineering dream, I am cooking, baking or painting – tapping into my creative side – and spending lots of time with family and friends exploring Australia!