CEO Today Africa Awards

23 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Africa Awards 2019 SOUTH AFRICA This contract, his last as an employee, was a turning point in his professional life because the following year, he started his construction project management consultancy. “My strong-minded entrepreneurial spirit and focused dedication forged me and enabled me to bring my unique vision—to create a dedicated construction project management practice—to fruition. My transparency, fairness, due diligence, strong work ethics and being highly regarded by project stakeholders culminated in the opening of the VNA Construction Project Management Consultancy, now simply known as VNA Consulting,” Narsai recalls. His life partner, Anju Prabdial-Narsai, joined him in the business in 2002. However, Narsai found he had to prove himself to clinch new clients and build the brand. He seized the opportunity to work as an independent consultant to the main contractor who built the new KZN Department of Transport offices in Pietermaritzburg in 2003. Through the project, he built a credible track record with the Client by delivering the project within time, cost and quality performance levels.” Despite providing a high-quality professional service, Narsai’s firm endured challenges and he came close to shutting the doors in 2005 when the work opportunities dried up. However, he endured the tough times and went on to experience the strongest growth in 2007 and during the 2008 global recession. One of the firm’s first major breaks came when he submitted a tender for a KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport District Consultant appointment in 2006 and was successful. Always up for a challenge, Narsai was given the most difficult district located in uMzimkhulu. This was a district that was handed over from the Eastern Cape Province to the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. Narsai lists several projects and awards among the company’s successes over the years, which have included: Leading the growth and development of the town of uMzimkhulu, situated in KwaZulu-Natal, for the KZN Department of Transport from 2007 to 2018. Being appointed as the Lead Programme Manager on the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport Contractor Development Programme since 2014. With VNA at the helm, the programme won the 2016/17 national CPSI award for the most innovative Contractor Development Programme. Serving as the implementation agent for Vodacom South Africa (Midrand) since 2013. Assisting the National Department of Transport to achieve standardisation, integration and uniformity of road assets within South Africa in 2016. Being awarded the contract for implementing infrastructure delivery management and road asset management in accordance with the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport in 2018. However, the single biggest success story in the company’s history has been the acquisition, from the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB Group), their Systems and Technology division to create Automated Road Rehabilitation Business Systems (ARRB Systems). His firm secured the acquisition when the ARRB Group decided to divest its research division from the systems and technology, after participating in a highly competitive international procurement process in 2017. “ARRB Systems is now a global distribution network involving established offices in Australia, the USA, India, Sweden and South Africa, including a global distribution network in 23 countries,” Narsai says. VNA Consulting initially partnered with the ARRB Group in 2010 to access the technology to assist local road authorities with quality scientific assessments to check the condition of roads in line with the international standards adopted by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral). “What has helped us is that I have always been intrigued by what goes on globally. I have travelled extensively and picked up ideas by looking at what goes on in Australia, Asia, the United States and India. Australia is similar to South Africa and a lot of the advances that have been made there can assist us at home. “As we believed automated pavement condition testing to be the way forward and in line with global trends, VNA had the foresight to acquire our first falling weight deflectometer trailer in 2009, paving the way for our extensive investment in sophisticated, state-of-the-art pavement strength testing equipment, designed to significantly improve road maintenance solutions in this country,” Narsai says. Introducing the technology was a major turning point for the business, bolstering its reputation as a leading road asset management service provider among transport authorities in SA and the SADC region, yet Narsai says leading the way has drawbacks. “The downside is when you are seen as the first mover, you are seen as a threat to the industry. It goes back to transformation. We are threats to those who have been dominating the industry because with this technology, we are ‘the police, the Hawks, the crime-intelligent busters’ because we can very objectively determine whether a contract is being done correctly. “The sad part is that, with shoddy workmanship on road related projects, Transport Authority Clients don’t have the necessary management tools to determine whether a Consultant and/or Contractor are performing their respective scope of works and/or service appropriately. Our key objective is to ensure Clients always get value for money,” he explains. While this cutting-edge technology is a game changer, which is not only analysing the condition of the pavements scientifically, but exposing sub-standard work on roads, what further sets his team apart is its human- and technical skills and ability to assess the big picture to deliver on a range of projects. “We have a long-held collaborative approach to big-picture planning, coupled with an ever-changing vigour to improve quality and customer value in a simplistic manner while delivering professionally on local and international planes. CONTACT PARK 2000 10 KYALAMI ROAD WESTMEAD 3610 DURBAN KZN , SOUTH AFRICA W: www.vnac.co.za