From building Lego cities as a child in Lenasia to leading infrastructure projects in Africa, Imraan Akhalwaya’s journey has been driven by a passion for engineering that has a lasting, positive effect. As principal associate and discipline lead for pavement engineering at WSP, a global engineering and professional services firm, Imraan, 32, oversees complex projects such as highways, rail, ports and mining logistics. His work combines technical innovation with future-ready design, ensuring infrastructure is smarter, more sustainable and built to last. He is completing a master’s in pavement engineering, with research focused on sustainable, performance-based technologies for the sector. A finalist for the Big 5 Construct Impact Rising Star Award, Imraan’s career reflects technical excellence and a dedication to advancing the profession. He is a committee member for the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Transport Division and mentors young engineers. Imraan also supports the TechnoGirl programme, providing mentorship and real-world exposure to high school girls from disadvantaged communities.