Arup has appointed transmission infrastructure specialist Dershin Govender as Owner’s Engineer and Project Management Consultant (OE & PMC) Lead for Energy in Africa, reinforcing the firm’s push to expand its role in the continent’s rapidly evolving energy sector.
The appointment comes as African governments and utilities accelerate investment in transmission infrastructure and renewable energy integration, placing growing emphasis on large-scale project delivery, technical assurance and programme management capability.
In his new role, Govender will lead the growth of Arup’s Owner’s Engineer and project management consultancy services across Africa, focusing on complex energy infrastructure programmes and strengthening relationships with key public and private sector clients.
The move also aligns with Arup’s strategy to expand its detailed design and Owner’s Engineer services while positioning itself for opportunities linked to Africa’s Independent Transmission Projects programmes and wider grid modernisation initiatives.
Growing pressure on transmission delivery
Transmission infrastructure has become one of the most critical delivery challenges across Africa’s energy transition.
While renewable energy investment continues to accelerate across the continent, many countries still face grid constraints, ageing infrastructure and limited transmission capacity, creating a significant project pipeline for engineering, advisory and programme management firms.
Arup said Govender’s appointment strengthens its integrated approach to combining technical assurance with project delivery expertise, supporting clients as they expand transmission networks and improve access to reliable electricity.
Govender joins Arup from Eskom, where he served as Portfolio Manager for Project Development. Over a career spanning more than 16 years in South Africa’s transmission sector, he also held senior advisory positions focused on transmission project development.
His experience spans substation design engineering, project development and strategic infrastructure delivery, providing a blend of technical and programme leadership expertise increasingly required on large-scale energy projects.
Focus on long-term energy resilience
Commenting on his appointment, Govender said transmission investment would play a central role in strengthening Africa’s long-term energy resilience.
“Strengthening transmission networks will be key to supporting more reliable and sustainable energy systems within Africa,” he said.
“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.”
The appointment reflects a wider industry shift toward integrated project delivery models within the energy sector, where clients increasingly expect engineering partners to provide both technical oversight and strategic project management support throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.
Rising demand for Owner’s Engineer expertise
The Owner’s Engineer model is becoming increasingly important across complex energy and infrastructure programmes, particularly where governments, utilities and investors seek independent technical assurance, delivery oversight and risk management support.
As energy programmes grow larger and more interconnected, project governance, interface management and delivery coordination are becoming just as critical as engineering capability itself.
Kavitha Singh, IMEA Energy Lead at Arup, said Govender’s background would strengthen the firm’s ability to support clients navigating increasingly complex energy delivery environments.
“We are excited to welcome Dershin Govender to Arup,” she said.
“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.”
Energy transition creating major project pipeline
Africa’s transmission and grid infrastructure market is expected to see substantial growth over the next decade as countries seek to expand electricity access, integrate renewable generation and improve energy security.
This is creating growing demand for programme management capability, project controls, technical assurance and delivery governance across both public and private sector infrastructure portfolios.
For project professionals operating in the energy sector, the appointment highlights how transmission delivery is becoming increasingly central to Africa’s wider energy transition agenda — and how engineering and consultancy firms are evolving their capabilities to meet the scale and complexity of that challenge.
