Empowering Women: Our Continued Commitment to Gender Equality

As we conclude August, a month dedicated to honouring women in South Africa, I am filled with pride as I reflect on Faolan Consulting’s enduring commitment to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women in our industries. This Women’s Month has been particularly momentous for us, with our Director, Michelle Beeslaar, spearheading several initiatives that highlight Faolan’s advocacy for women’s empowerment.

One of the standout moments was Michelle’s participation in PMI South Africa’s Women’s Month Webinar, where she shared insights on achieving SDG 5: Gender Equality within the mining sector—a historically male-dominated industry. Her presentation, titled Empowering Women in Project Management Professions: Lessons Learned from the South African Mining Sector, resonated deeply with professionals across industries and reinforced Faolan’s position as a leader in driving inclusive practices within project management, cost controls, and planning.

Moreover, Michelle’s appointment as the Junior Achievement Programme Coordinator and mentor for second-year African Leadership Academy students, both initiatives of PMI South Africa, is a testament to her leadership and commitment to nurturing the next generation of female leaders. Faolan’s continuous support of initiatives like this ensures that young women in project management and related fields have access to mentorship, resources, and guidance, further solidifying our mission to bridge the gender gap in STEM and project-based professions.

To cap off this significant month, we will participate in the Women’s ImPACT Innovation & Sustainability in Africa (WIISA) 2024 event, where Michelle will again represent Faolan as a speaker. She will highlight her contribution to the newly published book Women and Finance in Africa, shedding light on the socio-economic consequences of mismanaging COVID-19 funds in South Africa and driving home the importance of responsible financial governance in empowering women economically.

As we reflect on these milestones, it’s clear that Faolan is not just observing Women’s Month—we are actively contributing to the empowerment of women across sectors. From mentoring programmes to thought leadership, we remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for women in project management and beyond.

In line with this, I’m pleased to announce that our strategic partnership with UK-based Nodes and Links continues to grow, enhancing our AI-driven project management capabilities. Together, we’re setting new standards in project controls and planning while upscaling our work across African markets, especially in mining and infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Faolan Consulting is preparing for the Project Controls Expo in London this November, where we’ll showcase our future scenario planning skills, adeptness at keeping abreast of, applying, and customising cutting-edge generative AI and technology tailored for the controls domain, plus our in-depth knowledge of the built engineering and construction industries as we engage with the built environment and AI 2050. We invite our partners, clients, and collaborators to join us on this journey as we contribute to setting the present standards and shaping the future of the mega-project controls and planning landscape.

I encourage you to sign up for our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media to stay informed about our activities and the many ways we’re making a difference.

Until next time, wishing you all continued success.

Best,
Morné JF Beeslaar
Managing Director, Faolan Consulting