Helen Hulett

Role: New business director

Helen Hulett is obsessed with water. She’s also passionate about industry and helping increasingly parched organisations meet their water chall- enges head on.

Water scarcity and insecurity are already having a profound effect on a lot of companies that rely on water in their production processes. This, she says, is only going to get worse with rising population growth and the deepening effects of climate change.

“All of this has seen a rebirth in the water sector so it’s a very exciting place to be – and South Africa is at the forefront.”

The industry, she believes, comes from a background characterised by large infra- structure projects and dated technology.

“Now there’s a race to deveop more effective, smarter solutions that tackle complex issues.”

Hulett and her team help clients understand their emerging and future water challenges and develop holistic solutions with innovation and technology at the core.

“It’s incredible to work with a team of engineers, chemists, ecologists, economists and data scientists for whom no challenge is too great.”

Talbot aims to be industry’s leading water security solutions provider in the next five years, something Hulett believes is firmly within its reach.

“From engineering new treatment and water recovery solutions to developing machine learning algorithms for treatment trains, we’re focused on building a business that makes the complex simple,” she says.

Micole Martens

Role: Associate director Role: Associate – Optimisation – laboratories

Micole Martens grew up on the beach and was well on her way to becoming a marine biologist when she realised that she could make a bigger contribution dealing with environmental contaminants.

This ‘aha moment’ came after Talbot offered her an intern- ship working on a marine pollution project. Twelve years later, Martens is an associate director and heads up the company’s environmental laboratories. “At the lab, we help clients understand their water, waste-water, soil and waste streams at an elemental level so that they can achieve regulatory compliance and improve their environmental performance,” she says.

Added to this, the team works shoulder-to-shoulder with not- for-profit organisations like the Hennops Revival, Adopt a River and the Palmiet River Conservancy to protect and conserve the country’s river systems.

“My job gives me the opportunity to effect change and engaging with clients and helping them to come up with real solutions is more rewarding than I ever could have imagined,” she says.

“I’m constantly driven to do more, do better, do different and love the fast-paced environment I work in. Innovation, breaking boundaries and entering new markets feeds my hunger to continuously grow – and help grow others – to ensure that Talbot is the world-class laboratory we have always envisioned.

Nontando Rambau

Role: Associate – Optimisation and management Project Manager lead

Nontando Rambau works at the forefront of the water sec- tor, leading the implementation of water projects across the African continent.

With a Master’s degree in Applied Science, she’s registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions and relishes every opportunity to help public and private sector organisations use and, more importantly, reuse, their water more efficiently.

“I remember in the early days being one of very few women in the room, so it’s exciting to see more and more of us, particularly at the sharp end of the industry,” she says.

One thing that Talbot gets right, says Rambau, is achieving real diversity in management which, she believes, leads to better decision-making and governance.

The water solutions company is also strong in identifying and developing talent like her.

Rambau joined Talbot as a scientist in training, then moved to a process specialist position, and later became a project manager before being appointed to her current role. She was also recently made an associate.

“It goes without saying that women are just as capable as men, so working in a space that promotes gender equal- ity is rewarding. I see myself moving into the strategic and business development spaces and paying it forward to young graduates with the same kind of mentorship that I received.”

Perina Bridgmohan

Role: Associate director – Optimisation and Management

Perina Bridgmohan and her team manage and optimise water and wastewater treatment plants, helping clients to achieve regulatory compliance while ensuring that they have sufficient water to sustain their businesses’ needs.

“While sustainability, cost savings and compliance are major drivers, clients want the assurance that they have a dependable, reliable and knowledgeable partner,” she says, explaining that her biggest passion lies in ‘orchestrating solutions’.

With a Bachelor of Science Honours and a Masters degree in Biochemistry, Bridgmohan joined Talbot as an intern scientist before trying her hand at medical science. Drawn back to Talbot two-and-a-half years later, she rejoined the company as a junior process specialist.

Hard work, her love of science and a genuine desire to ensure that clients get the best out of their treatment plants, saw Bridgmohan rise up the ranks to her current role and appointment as an associate director.

Having achieved a considerable amount herself, mentoring young professionals is something she takes seriously.

“Being a woman leader I can be a positive and encouraging role model to my team, colleagues, clients and, most importantly, my children.”