Arup appoints new Owner’s Engineer & Project Management Consultant (OE & PMC) Lead for Energy in Africa

His appointment strengthens Arup’s integrated approach to combining technical assurance with project management expertise, supporting clients in addressing the need for increased access to reliable energy and the expansion of transmission networks to enable the growth of renewable energy across Africa.

It also supports Arup’s priorities to grow its Owner’s Engineer and detailed design work, while positioning the firm for the Independent Transmission Projects programme.

Drawing on over 16 years of experience in South Africa’s transmission sector, Dershin joins Arup from Eskom, where he served as Portfolio Manager (Project Development). Prior to this, he held senior advisory roles in Transmission Project Development, including Chief Advisor and Senior Advisor.

Dershin’s early career as a substation design engineer provided a strong technical foundation for his later project development and leadership roles. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Electrical Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr Eng).

Dershin Govender, OE & PMC Lead for Energy, comments: “Strengthening transmission networks will be key to supporting more reliable and sustainable energy systems within Africa.  

“I'm excited to join Arup at a pivotal time for energy infrastructure across Africa, and I'm looking forward to working with clients to deliver projects that drive long-term impact across the continent.”

Kavitha Singh, IMEA Energy Lead, comments: “We are excited to welcome Dershin Govender to Arup. His extensive experience in transmission project development and deep understanding of South Africa’s energy landscape will be instrumental in strengthening our support to clients across Africa. Dershin’s ability to combine technical expertise with strategic project delivery will help us respond to the growing demand for resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure in the region.”