Research Students | Construction Economics & Management

Student Name	Name of Degree	Research Topic	Name of Supervisor	Information
Mr Abie Cader	MPhil	Evaluation of Women’s Lived Experiences in the Built Environment During the Covid19 pandemic in the Western Cape	Dr Krystle Ontong	Abie is the Supply Chain Manager at BBI Solutions a Pharmaceuticals, Diagnostics and Enzymes manufacturing company in Cape Town. He is married with 2 children and a grandson. An avid gardener with about 50 rose bushes and 15 various fruit trees. He believes in the sustainable development of the Built Environment to encompass especially the displaced and the vulnerable. Inspired by his 16-year-old son who makes sandwiches for the homeless on “Bin Day”. He started a “pavement fruit tree project”, planting keiapple, pomegranate, orange, and lemon trees on the neighbours’ pavements so that the homeless could pick what they needed. He is disabled with vision in only one eye; however, this has not stopped him from superbike motor racing, playing piano and recorder.
Mr Ayub Naburi	PhD	An Analysis of Real Estate Portfolio Selection and Allocation Criteria for Pension Schemes in Kenya	Dr Frank Ametefe	Ayub is a registered and practicing valuer, estate agent and investment analyst based in Kenya. He is a Lecturer at Department of Real Estate and Property Management, Technical University of Kenya. In addition, Ayub is the Vice Chair of Estate Agents Registration Board and the Chairman of Property Management Chapter in the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK). He has vast experience in Real Estate Portfolio Restructuring & Return Optimization, Real Estate Investment Appraisal & Modeling, Real Estate Finance, Property Valuation for Various Purposes, Property Management, Feasibility Studies, Market Studies, Real Estate Analysis & Advisory, Real Estate Research, Property Agency and Marketing.
Ms Ann-Marie Ellmann	MPhil	A disquisition on how South African women architects experience gender dynamics during their professional career	Professor Jane Bennett and Ms Karen Le Jeune	Ann-Marie enjoys creating objects whether it is a structure, a painting, a ceramic sculpture, or a research paper. She is in her element when she can implement new things in her everyday life. Her superpower is having vibrant green fingers. When she combines her experiences, interests, and creative expression she is often found in nature, building sustainable structures.
Ms Claire Helsby	PhD	Financing public road infrastructure through Land Value Capture	Associate Professor Kathy Michell and Associate Professor Francois Viruly	Claire completed her MComm in Economics at Stellenbosch University in 2014. Claire’s research for her PhD investigates how land can be unlocked using international land value capture mechanisms, such as tax increment financing and special assessment districts. Claire is an academic at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and holds degrees in both Economics and Education. Her research interests cover land-based financing, land economics, human settlements, real estate, and education. In her spare time, Claire enjoys a game of tennis and spending time with her family.
Mr Fabio Companie	PhD	Evaluation of the whole-life cycle value packaging and catalytic capabilities in public sector urban infrastructure projects	Professor Abimbola Windapo	Fabio is originally from Boland, Worcester, where he was born and raised. He moved to Cape Town to attend varsity, and eventually, through his career, it became his home. He loves spending time with family and friends indoors or outdoors, whichever the weather/mood permits. He enjoys sitting around a fire and having a good braai any day of the week. He loves reading, especially about leadership and psychology, during his spare time. He holds a B-Tech degree in Quantity Surveying, a B-Tech degree in Project Management, and an MSC degree in Project Management at the University of Cape Town. He is currently the Head of Construction Management at the City of Cape Town’s in Urban Development Implementation. He is responsible for an implementation profile by leading and managing a team of project and contracts managers in delivering various urban infrastructure projects and programmes. He is professionally registered as a Construction Project Manager (SACPCMP), Chartered Project Management Surveyor (RICS), Chartered Building Surveyor (SACAP), and a member of Project Management South Africa.
Ms Gillian Friend	PhD	Behaviourial Economics in the Property Development Process	Associate Professor Francois Viruly and Dr Frank Ametefe	Gillian is a property specialist with 20 years’ experience working with large corporate occupiers and significant investors. She has experience in different arenas ranging from facilities management to property finance. She has worked her way up the corporate ladder enhancing her skills and network to become the grounded professional she is today. Gillian has also established a successful property research business leveraging her depth of knowledge and entrepreneurial skills. She is an architect and holds a Master of Business Administration degree.
Ms Irene Cheloti	PhD	Theory and Practice of Real Estate Valuation in Developing Countries: A case study of Kenya	Professor Manya Mooya	Irene holds a Master’s degree in Valuation and Property Management from The University of Nairobi. Her research interests are valuation of all types of real estate including commercial, residential, agricultural, and industrial properties. She believes a better understanding of valuation problems in practice is essential for proper functioning of financial markets and the economy at large. Her research will unveil a holist approach to explaining valuation problems in developing countries by not only focusing on behavioural issues in valuation, but also, valuation environment and training in these nations.
Mr Johnson Adetooto	MPhil	Investigation of the Social Acceptability and Extent of use of alternate building technologies in housing construction in South Africa.	Professor Abimbola Windapo	Johnson graduated from the Department of Building, Federal University of Technology Akure Nigeria in 2018 with First Class Honours. He emerged as one of the top 2% in the faculty with many awards. He is passionate about research and academics; he has two years of experience teaching and researching across reputable universities in Nigeria. He is presently a National Research Foundation (NRF) scholar and a research student at UCT. Beyond academics, He has acquired leadership, advocacy, communication, non-profit management, program implementation, and resource mobilization. He was the President of the Sustainable Development Goals Edo state, Nigeria, Founder of an Educational Development Group, Osun State, Nigeria, and the Coordinator of Nigeria Youth Corpers Fellowship, Edo State, Nigeria, coordinating more than 500 youth leaders towards achieving National Goals. He enjoys watching football, meeting new people (networking), and spending quality time with friends.
Mr Kelvin Kasuba	PhD	Rural Infrastructure development on Copperbelt province: Community-based Facility Management practice and impact on socio-economic livelihoods.	Associate Professor Kathy Michell	Kelvin is the Senior sponsorship program coordinator, Save the Children in Zambia. Kelvin obtained his Master of Science degree in Project Management from Copperbelt University, Kitwe. He is a licensed and certified Project Manager an advocate for community-based facility projects. Kelvin has worked domestically and globally on children’s issues pertaining to domestic violence, sexual assault, immigration, health, nutrition, education, shelter, and WASH facilities. Having worked for Save the Children, USA two years ago. Kelvin supported the country offices of Philippines, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Mali, Mozambique, and USA as the Global Sponsorship Operations Interim Manager.
Mr Kehinde Alade	PhD	Developing a leadership framework for improving construction business organisation performance.	Professor Abimbola Windapo	Kehinde fondly called Kenny, combines a background in Architecture (BSc Hons) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University with Construction Management (Master of Science) from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He has five years of working experience in Consulting Architectural and Contracting firms both in Nigeria and in the UK before joining the academia. He has worked as a lecturer in the department of Project Management Technology in both Privately-owned (Bells University of Technology, Ota) and Public (Federal University of Technology) Universities in Nigeria. He is actively involved in Youth advocacy, National Development, and Nation-building processes in Nigeria and across Africa through the Royal Commonwealth Society, Nigeria Conversation, and the ARUA Centre for Unemployment and Skills Development. He enjoys travelling, public speaking, and spending quality time with his family.
Ms Msindi Yende	MPhil	Challenges and opportunities to the use of alternative building materials in sustainable housing production	Professor Abimbola Windapo	Msindisi is an innovative, meticulous, and solution-driven young woman. She holds a BSc (Honours) in Construction Management from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and currently pursues an MPhil. She represented South Africa at the first African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development- International Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria, where her immense contribution helped her team emerge as 1st runner up of the ARUA Youth Business Innovation Challenge (YOBIC) 2020 International Finals. Msindisi is an aspiring lecturer, and currently works as a research and teaching assistant to her supervisor. She is also a co-founder of GreenoIt, a start-up aimed at converting plastic waste to 3D printed products.
Mr Mxolisi Miller	PhD	Investigating factors influencing willingness to participate in collective governance and management at Public Transport Interchanges in economically depressed areas in Cape Town	Associate Professor Kathy Michell	Mxolisi is very passionate about developmental and transformative programs targeted at the informal sector. He has had the privilege of working in several catalytic projects targeted at broadening the economic opportunities to benefit the minibus taxis operators and the informal traders. He was part of the team that developed the business model that saw the inclusion of the minibus taxi operator as being MyCiTi bus operators. He was also part of a team that concluded the negotiations with the minibus taxi industry for the introduction of the first MyCiTi service, to both Mitchells' Plain and Khayelitsha (called N2 Express Bus Service). He was responsible for developing and maintaining a good working relationship with industry stakeholders (taxi industry and bus industry).
Mrs Reneè Buerger	MPhil	Urban Facility Managers: Examining the influence facility managers exert within the Urban Domain	Associate Professor Kathy Michell	Childhood memories are of working in a hardware which her parents owned, and interest in painting properties they improved for speculation. This naturally led to a career in the Built Environment, and a very keen affinity to the built form. A broad experience base in property management, broking, leasing, valuation, and facilities management with a particular interest in improving precincts to ensure safe, inclusive, and inviting spaces. She is registered as a CFProf. Reneè manages the 89,700 m2 Corporate Headquarters, Strand Concourse public interface and five fountains in the Cape Town CBD. She enjoys cycling, tennis, swimming, gardening, travelling, camping. A lucky wife, mother of 3, blended family of 10 children and soon to be 7 grandchildren. She is a bibliophile and a “building fanatic”.
Mr Sam M. Mwando	PhD	Urban land use regulations and effects on single-family residential property values: Scopping patterns using propensity score matching estimator	Associate Professor Manya Mooya	Sam began his career in the private sector, working for a global property firm and later for an international financial institution. That background exposed him to various aspects of the construction and property sector, from property valuation, facilities management to commercial leasing. In his free time, he enjoys experimenting, developing and testing a digital application for leasing and property valuation. He currently teaches at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Mrs Sylvia Hammond	PhD	A cultural-historical and sociocultural investigation into the dialectics of occupational identity and skills implementation within construction SME's.	Emeritus Professor Paul Bowen, Professor Keith Cattell, and Professor Azwihangwisi Muthivhi (University of Pretoria)	Sylvia’s formal employment career has been in human resource management of manufacturing operations within mainly national and multinational corporates. From 2000, when the skills development and employment equity statutes were introduced, her focus has been on implementation. Her initial interest in occupational identity arose from her interaction with roadside work-seekers displaying tools of construction. When situated within our cultural and historical context, her research interest is in the dialectical interaction between occupational identity, and skills development, for the construction sector SME contractors and workers. She is a jazz fan – particularly African and Latin jazz. She celebrated her 70th birthday by singing ‘My Way’ on the Sunday Me Time programme, in Clarence Ford’s Heart FM radio studio.
Mr Uche Ordor	PhD	Understanding how urban spatial management responds to the production of urban space and the modes of production in an urban precinct: The case of Cape Town CBD	Associate Professor Kathy Michell	Uche is an architect who practised in Maiduguri and Abuja, Nigeria between 1993 and 2003, with Hamada Design Consultants. This culminated in his establishing and running the firm’s office in Abuja from 1996 to 2003, from where he transited into his own practice as a registered consultant architect until 2007. Thereafter, Uche completed an MSc in Property Studies at the University of Cape Town, where he also lectured part-time. He joined the department as a full-time member of staff in 2014. Once a cricketer, who captained his university cricket team, Uche is now a keen observer of global football ‘drama’ from the comfort of his couch. Uche is a husband and father. He is also adventurous with various cuisines and enjoys experimenting with different recipes