A quest for smooth transition
Someone once said: “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the leader is a servant.” My ‘thank you’ moment has not truly arrived.
In December 2017, the SAMC leadership and council followed the directive of our constitution and confirmed then vice president, Rob MacKenzie, as the SAIMC president for 2018. However, Rob and the SAIMC subsequently learnt that he will relocate to Switzerland to take up a new function within the management team at E+H. While this constitutes a loss to the SAIMC, it is also indicative of the talent it takes to make SAIMC what it is today. As many others have done, Rob will continue to contribute towards the great work of South African engineers in the global automation community and of course he will continue to promote the values and vision of the SAIMC.
To Rob: A goodbye is not painful unless you are never going to say hello again. Having worked with a great professional like you was a lifetime opportunity. We, SAIMC, would like to tell you that you have left a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come. Like those who have gone before, you have left us with your own unique footprint, which we will endeavour to take to the shore of the unknowns.
Against these key changes, the council wishes to make the following announcements:
New president
Given the quest for smooth transition, the SAIMC council will announce its new president at the AGM on 9 March at the Park Inn, Sandton, starting at 18:00. In the interim, I will continue to serve in his capacity as president.
Strategic planning session 9 March at the Park Inn, Sandton
On 9 March, the SAIMC will hold a strategic planning session to review the existing five-year business plan. This will take place at the Park Inn hotel in Sandton, commencing at 08:30. All SAIMC stakeholders, individual members, patrons and potential patrons and business partners are invited to take part in this strategic session. Given the recent developments within and external to the SAIMC, coupled with the foundational work done thus far, we believe that outcomes of this industry wide business formulation will further SAIMC’s strategic intent and will ensure the continuation of the strong performance trajectory that our stakeholders have come to expect from us.
Yours in automation,
Oratile Sematle.
Response to the SAIMC from Rob MacKenzie
Dear Mr President, council and members of the SAIMC,
Thank you for the kind words, I would like to offer a short response.
It is with some mixed feelings that I have accepted a very exciting post in the Endress+Hauser organisation globally. There are many great things that come out of this – as Oratile has said, it is once again a recognition of the level of engineering expertise and management that we have in South Africa, I am not the first to receive an international post and certainly will not be the last. It is also a great educational and development path for me to follow after having just completed ten years as the CEO of the local Endress+Hauser organisation.
There is of course also the other side – I specifically avoided the words negative or downside as these are not a part of my vocabulary – but, I will leave behind my children who are now at university, of course many friends and colleagues, a South African economy that is showing signs of renewal and opportunity, and last but not least, a committed and skilful team at the SAIMC. We still have many challenges in the automation world in southern Africa, and we have made tremendous strides over the last 60 years that we have been delivering value to the automation community in South Africa. There are many qualified colleagues, I hope that I can call many of them friends, who I leave behind in the council who will continue this path – but I would like to make a special mention of three, Oratile Sematle, Vinesh Maharaj and Johan Maartens. I want to keep this short so I will only say thank you for your friendship, support and camaraderie over these last years I have been on the committee, it has been a pleasure to serve with you.
To all of the committee and branch committee members – keep up the great work. Keep fighting for what we believe in and know that I will always be a member and supporter of the SAIMC.
My last word to all members and automation practitioners: continue to fight to keep southern Africa at the forefront of automation technology. Do not give up on new technology – don’t allow the nay-sayers to tell you “we do not have the skills to implement advanced control systems and networks.” IIoT is the future of automation, even in Africa – lead the way!
With kind regards,
Rob MacKenzie.
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
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