As featured in Engineering News & Mining Weekly
This Women’s Month, we celebrate the women behind Talbot’s integrated industrial water security solutions, whose expertise helps businesses across Africa secure a more resilient water future.
For Nontando Rambau, leadership is about creating lasting impact. As Talbot’s business lead for Optimisation & Management, she oversees strategic initiatives and drives operational excellence to help industries strengthen water security. Becoming a registered Water Resource Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP stands among her proudest achievements and reflects her commitment to professional excellence and lifelong learning. She believes water is more than a resource – it is life – and that every solution contributes to stronger industries, healthier communities and a more sustainable future. Passionate about developing people and creating positive change, she believes success is most meaningful when it uplifts others contributing to the greater good. Her message to women is to embrace their authentic voice, lead with courage, and never underestimate the value of their contribution.
Behind every successful project is someone willing to turn an idea into reality. As Implementation Manager, Jutta Dedekind leads engineering teams through the commercial, technical and financial complexities of EPC projects while mentoring the next generation of engineers – a role she says is as much about learning as it is about leading. Having lived with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of two, resilience has shaped both her career and outlook on life. Inspired by Steve Jobs’ belief that you can “poke” life and change it, she encourages others to intentionally create their own path. For Jutta, the greatest reward is seeing an idea become a successful project through careful planning, collaboration and risk management. Her advice to women is simple: “Own your strength”.
For Denise Naidoo, excellence begins with the systems behind the science. As Senior Associate: Laboratory Quality, she oversees the quality management systems that ensure consistency and reliability of Talbot Laboratories’ services. While she considers being a devoted older sister one of her greatest personal achievements, she is equally proud to have been named Talbot’s Brand Ambassador for the second quarter of 2026 in recognition of her contribution to achieving accreditation at the company’s new Durban laboratory. Guided by gratitude and inspired by Nelson Mandela’s reminder that “it always seems impossible until it is done,” Denise finds fulfilment in knowing that strong quality systems create lasting value for clients. Her advice is to keep your own cup full of happiness, health and well-being so you can overflow with purpose.
Every generation of engineers builds on the work of those who came before them, and Siddhi Birjanund believes it is our responsibility to continue that legacy. As a Process Engineer, she develops engineering solutions through process design, optimisation and consulting to improve water management and protect one of the world’s most valuable resources. She is passionate about creating meaningful impact through both individual actions and collective effort, finding fulfilment in knowing her work contributes to a more sustainable future. Her message to women entering engineering is to honour those who paved the way by embracing every opportunity and creating new pathways for the next generation.
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