FCIOB opens international doors

Phil van der Walt first made his way into the construction sector in 2005 while travelling in England when his original plans to work in the music sector didn’t work out. But the South African’s change in career path has culminated in achieving Fellowship of the CIOB.

Originally starting out as a sub-contractor in demolition and asbestos removal under 777 and EAS, he then worked in carpentry and drywalling on a freelance bases between 2005 and 2006 before becoming a post tensioner in 2006 for Strong Force, then a part of Expanded which was later acquired by Laing O’Rourke. 

After his time working in England, he was offered a role back in South Africa where he has since worked as a project manager on multiple projects, including running his own consultancy and principle contractor construction company. Phil says the varied elements of project management, including the need for efficiency, attention to detail and risk management while ensuring projects run on time and on budget made the industry an attractive prospect. 

“Construction has so many moving gears and it keeps my brain occupied more than any other career,” he says. “I have a passion to create and to make things beautiful and, at the same time, to focus on doing it right [while ensuring it is] safe and to quality. It’s the end result that makes everything worth it, achieve that on time or in budget or in quality.”

But following the decline of the availability of work in South Africa’s construction sector in the lead-up to and during Covid, Phil began researching internationally recognised accreditations that would allow him to find work overseas if he and his wife decided to leave South Africa. This research led him to explore the CIOB, which currently has more than 48,000 members in more than 100 countries. 

Phil originally planned on applying for membership, but was recommended to apply for FCIOB instead via the direct route, which allows applicants who are not already CIOB Members to achieve Fellowship distinction by demonstrating their competence in leading people and organisations within the sector. 

Phil started his application in January 2023, attending a fellowship workshop on 20 February 2023, and says it then took him some time to complete the required paperwork due to his workload, but was able to submit his final application in October 2023. The process involves attending a Fellowship workshop, submitting written assessments and attending a “Viva Voca” panel review which includes a discussion based on the written project, as well as an interactive discussion on a topical issue affecting the industry.

“[The process] was awesome,” Phil says. “The initial virtual meeting was very clear and concise and motivates people to take it on.” He also highlighted the support that was available during the process of developing his written assessment. Overall, he says the process from starting his application to completion was straightforward, leading to him receiving his membership in November 2023. 

FCIOB benefits

While the international recognition was the principal attraction to FCIOB for Phil, he says he has since come to appreciate many other benefits, including networking with other members of the CIOB around the world, the chance to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation, and the access to information and data provided by CIOB through its Academy, Construction Management magazine, Global Construction Review (GCR) and BIM+.

“There's a lot of fresh information that really stimulates and opens your mind towards what's going on in the world and wherever possible to [implement it] if we see a gap in South Africa. Keeping abreast of new developments in AI and BIM, that's the future and if we don't keep up, our industries are going to shrink.”