It is common knowledge that talent in emerging markets is scarce, expensive, and hard to retain. On the flip of the argument, talent is pivotal to a firm’s competitive advantage. GIBB, one of South Africa’s leading black-owned engineering firm’s prides itself on not only recruiting the best people talent but also benchmarking its talent with global standards and practices.

Ron Tluczek, Senior Associate – Geotechnical Engineer at GIBB has been recognised by his peers on an international podium for his contribution to the geotechnical engineering sector. His hardened efforts resulted in his appointment as Vice-Animateur for Working Group 2 (Research) at the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), in San Francisco, USA.

ITA was founded by the initiative of nineteen nations, currently comprising of 71 member nations and 310 affiliate members, with a common objective to utilise  subsurface for the benefit of public, environment and sustainable development, as well as to promote advances in planning, design, construction, maintenance and safety of tunnels and underground space.

“I am very thrilled about the next three years and look forward contributing to the success of my working group in ITA. As a Vice-Animateur, my role entails provision of leadership as well as instilling team spirit and enthusiasm in my working group,” said Tluczek. Tluczek is an active contributor to his group and over the last couple of years has contributed to research papers that the group has produced.

“In the past year, my working group produced a research paper that focussed on site investigation requirements during the life cycle of any tunnelling project. The research paper’s objective was to enable the client to appreciate the benefits of a well planned and executed site investigation. It is hoped that this will help improve how tunnelling projects are accepted across the world,” added Tluczek.

He remarked that contributions to his working groups are multi-lingual. “My working group is comprised of diverse representatives from different countries which then means that I have the task to translate all their contributions in different languages towards our research paper into the universal business language of English,” said Tluczek.

Tluzcek is also the Chairperson of the South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) which was formed in 1973 during a phase of extensive infrastructure development in South Africa, in particular the construction of the  Orange-Fish tunnel.

Both ITA and SANCOT have been instrumental in the geotechnical landscape, improving tunnelling across the continent. “Tunnelling is evident in every part of people’s lives from water supply and sewerage, road and rail transportation, power, and even underground cabling for communication and internet coverage. The quality of life is enhanced through tunnelling,” concluded Tluczek.