Dr Cornelius Ruiters has been appointed to the leadership team of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He joined the organisation as Executive Director: CSIR Built Environment on 1 December 2011.

As both a civil engineer and a scientist, Ruiters brings diverse skills and experience to the CSIR. He held the position of Deputy Director-General: National Water Resources Infrastructure at the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) before joining the CSIR. He took over from his predecessor, Hans Ittmann, who retired from the CSIR at the end of November.

Ruiters holds an MEng degree in civil engineering: water and environmental engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and a PhD in natural sciences from the University of the Western Cape and the San Diego State University, USA, where he was an adjunct professor. He furthermore holds an MBA from the University of South Africa.

His career has spanned several sectors, including academia, the private and public sectors. He has engaged with top stakeholders on mega projects. At the DWA, Ruiters managed a budget of over R7 billion and his portfolio of projects before joining the CSIR was worth about R30 billion. He is a member of the International Water Association, the Water Institute of South Africa, and a registered natural scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.

Infrastructure and associated operations are a prerequisite for economic growth and social development. It is a national priority to expand and improve infrastructure such as roads, rail networks, bridges, airports, buildings and other facilities, without forfeiting environmental sustainability. Social development takes place only with proper provision of basic amenities such as hospitals, schools and housing, together with infrastructure for water and sanitation, and electricity supply.

Ruiters has extensive experience in water resources infrastructure and has achieved considerable success in the environmental, built environment and engineering sectors. In addition, he has been closely involved in integrated environmental management and sustainable development.

The CSIR uses its multidisciplinary capabilities to develop innovations and solutions that will enhance and improve the built environment in a sustainable manner. There is no doubt that CSIR Built Environment has a crucial role to play in the planning, management and maintenance of infrastructure in its broadest sense.

Aligned with its mandate, the CSIR aims to improve the quality of life of the people of South Africa, while simultaneously developing appropriate solutions through R&D for assisting the public and private sectors. The organisation thus also assists local industry in strengthening its national and international competitiveness.