Water touches everything: A conversation with Keynote speaker Refilwe Buthelezi
Refilwe Buthelezi, President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, discusses the critical need for climate-resilient water infrastructure in Africa. She emphasizes that engineers must move beyond historical data to incorporate modern digital systems and professional standards to ensure long-term water security.
Why it matters
As climate change disrupts traditional weather patterns, the professionalization and modernization of engineering standards are vital for preventing infrastructure failure in vulnerable regions.
Refilwe Buthelezi sits at the intersection of engineering, regulation, operations, and infrastructure leadership.
As President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, having led the Engineering Council of South Africa, and a senior figure at Rand Water, she brings a wide-ranging perspective on the continent’s water challenges. Ahead of WISA 2026, she shared her views on climate resilience, professional standards, digitalisation, infrastructure investment, and Pan-African collaboration.
Q: As President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, how do you see water security shaping engineering priorities across the continent, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions?
A: Water security is now a central engineering priority because climate change has made past assumptions less reliable. Engineers can no longer depend only on historical rainfall and weather patterns when planning infrastructure. They need better foresight, stronger data systems, and technologies that help them respond to changing conditions.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in