Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards announce 51 finalists highlighting construction industry expertise, leadership and progression

Cape Town, South Africa | 24 April 2025: Amid great anticipation, the 51 finalists for the 3^rd edition of Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards have officially been revealed. ​ Celebrating excellence across the built environment, Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards honour the commitment, skill and vision that continue to shape cities and uplift communities, championing projects promote sustainable design and construction.

Taking place on 20 June 2025, at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, the awards will celebrate winners across 12 unique categories, including Architecture Firm of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Excellence in Leadership, Rising Star, Leading Woman of the Year, Residential Project of the Year, Commercial Project of the Year, Retrofit Project of the Year, Engineering Consultancy of the Year, Infrastructure Project of the Year and Digitalisation Project of the Year along with the newly introduced Environmental Excellence category. This category recognises individuals, companies and projects leading the way in eco-conscious construction. Finalists include the Thaba Eco Village & Lifestyle Centre project by Boogertman & Partners; the Let’s Be Green Hillbrow Project by Green Thumb Composting Company; and The Main Reef Water Tower by Murray & Dickson Construction Group.

“With the Global Environment Facility committing $49.1 million to environmental projects in South Africa, the industry’s shift toward sustainable development is undeniable (source: Department of Environmental Affairs). This inspired the launch of our new Environmental Excellence award, recognising those leading the way in eco-conscious construction, which was very well received by the nominees. With more than 20% of this year’s finalists being new entrants, emerging players are evidently shaping the future of the built environment,” said Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President – Construction, dmg events.

Another key category, Leading Woman of the Year, recognises the rising stars in the construction industry, highlighting women who have immensely contributed to the community. Finalists in this category include Tshidi Mndzebele from Avenir Holdings, Wendy Cerutti from Turner & Townsend, Nomsa Nhlabathi from Prestige Property Group and Unathi Mboya from Malibose Building Construction.

View a full list of finalists here.

Recognised by an international judging panel

Nominations for Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards were evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts. These judges, all leaders in the construction sector, brought their experience and technical proficiency to the process, carefully reviewing entries from project owners, contractors, consultants, and leading professionals in architecture, project management and engineering.

“Climate change is profoundly affecting the built environment around the world, including South Africa, with rising temperatures and extreme weather events testing the resilience of infrastructure. Through Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards, we’ve observed categories that highlight efforts in sustainability, resilience and environmental responsibility, recognising those who promote excellence, empower communities and create meaningful change. It was a true honour reading through all the impactful work, and I look forward to celebrating the winners soon,” said Dorah Modise, Executive Director, Presidential Climate Commission.

To view the full list of the 51 Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards finalists and to register for Big 5 Construct South Africa, visit: www.big5constructsouthafrica.com/.

About Big 5 Construct South Africa

Big 5 Construct South Africa is the country’s largest construction event bringing together local and international companies to showcase products and services, innovation, expertise and knowledge to the South African construction industry.

Co-located with South Africa Infrastructure & Water Expo, the three-day event will offer 8,500 industry professionals the opportunity to connect with 200 local and international exhibitors to source the latest products and solutions for their upcoming and ongoing projects, as well as earn free CPD points through a curated talks programme.

Big 5 Construct South Africa will take place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 18-20 June 2025. The event is free to attend for industry professionals. Visitors under age 18 will not be permitted.

For more information and to register, visit www.big5constructsouthafrica.com

About dmg events

dmg events is a leading organiser of face-to-face events and publisher of trade magazines and information services. Our aim is to create dynamic marketplaces to connect businesses with the right communities to accelerate their growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

With a presence in over 30+ countries and organising more than 100+ events each year, dmg events is a global leader in the industry. Attracting over 425,000 attendees and delegates annually, we organise events in the construction, hospitality, food & beverages, interiors & design, energy, coatings, entertainment and transportation sectors.

To better serve our customers, dmg events has offices in 10 countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, Canada, and Singapore. By being on the ground, we can better understand market needs and nurture relationships to create unforgettable experiences for our attendees.

Our flagship events include Big 5 Global, The Hotel Show, INDEX, ADIPEC and Gastech. For more information visit www.dmgevents.com. ​ Founded in 1989, dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk).