Eng. Rahel D. Shibeshi | African Expert Database

Professional Summary

Eng. Rahel D. Shibeshi is a highly accomplished Professional Civil and Structural Engineer, registered as Pr.Eng with the Engineering Council of South Africa, with nearly 19 years of diverse and distinguished experience in civil engineering, structural engineering, infrastructure planning, design review, construction supervision, project management, and programme management. She holds an MEng in Structural Engineering and a BEng (Hons) from the University of Pretoria, a BSc in Civil Engineering from Arbaminch University, and advanced project management credentials including PMP and PMI-ACP. Her career reflects a proud journey of technical excellence, leadership, resilience, and professional achievement across Ethiopia and South Africa. She currently serves as Principal Engineer at Dube TradePort Corporation within the Special Economic Zone at King Shaka International Airport, where she contributes at a strategic level to infrastructure planning, engineering design inputs, design review panels, implementation-phase technical support, infrastructure asset management, people management, investor proposal assessment, and major programme oversight. Her work includes chairing bid evaluation processes, acting in gate review responsibilities for high-value projects, reviewing consultant designs and reports, supporting internal project managers, and providing technical leadership on complex infrastructure programmes. Her profile represents a strong example of African professional excellence, combining deep engineering knowledge, practical field experience, consulting experience, academic research exposure, professional registration, and leadership in infrastructure development.

Key Expertise

Civil and Structural Engineering Structural Analysis and Design Concrete Structures Steel Structures Timber Structures Masonry Structures Civil Works Design Stormwater Design Sewer Design Water Infrastructure Building Platforms Earthworks Roads Engineering Design Review Infrastructure Planning Special Economic Zone Infrastructure Construction Supervision Council Submissions Technical Reporting Payment Certificates Tender Documentation Bid Evaluation Bid Adjudication Negotiation Gate Review Committees Investor Proposal Assessment Project Management Programme Management Infrastructure Asset Management Multidisciplinary Engineering Coordination Procurement of Professional Service Providers Cost-Benefit Analysis Reservoir Sizing Warehouse and Industrial Infrastructure Solar Energy Infrastructure Review Public Transport Infrastructure Strategy Structural Loading Analysis Engineering Standards and SANS Codes Civil 3D Civil Designer AutoCAD Revit Architecture Revit Structure Prokon Oasis GSA SAP2000 SketchUp Microsoft Project MATLAB Microsoft Office.

Major Projects and Contributions

Principal Engineer – Dube TradePort Corporation Special Economic Zone
Serves as Principal Engineer within the Special Economic Zone at King Shaka International Airport, contributing to infrastructure planning, engineering design inputs, design review panels, implementation-phase technical and project management support, infrastructure asset management, people management, and strategic programme oversight.
Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Design Review
Provides engineering leadership in infrastructure planning, review of concept and detailed design reports, review of consultant drawings, technical inputs for design panels, engineering support to internal project managers, stakeholder engagement, cost-benefit analysis, and procurement of professional service providers.
Bid Evaluation, Gate Review, and High-Value Project Governance
Has chaired bid evaluation processes and acted in gate review responsibilities for projects above R100 million, applying professional engineering judgement, procurement discipline, regulatory alignment, and project governance principles under major infrastructure development programmes.
Dube TradePort Infrastructure, Warehouse, Energy, and Industrial Projects
Contributed to technical review and engineering input for projects including Durban Logistics Hub, TradeZone and Agrizone infrastructure, warehouses, substations, solar energy farm review, wetlands rehabilitation, waste facilities upgrade, aviation programme planning, GIS project review, and investor proposal assessments prior to leasing industrial sites.
Civil and Structural Engineer – FABB + Partners
Worked as Civil and Structural Engineer on building and civil works projects, including stormwater, sewer, water, building platforms, earthworks, roads, structural analysis, structural design, civil design, design supervision, and review of residential, commercial, warehouse, housing, church, steel, and reinforced concrete structures.
Civil and Structural Engineering Projects – MORAD Consulting
Worked on civil and structural design and supervision for projects including Sipho Mutsi Indoor Sport Centre, school infrastructure, Muldersdrift Reservoir concept design and sizing, and Munsieville Regional Park civil and structural works.
Research and Publication on Steel Truss Railway Bridge Dynamics
Contributed to research, field measurement, mathematical modelling, finite element modelling, and dynamic analysis of a steel truss railway bridge, with publication in the Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.
Early Engineering Career in Ethiopia – Construction, Site, and Office Engineering
Built strong practical engineering foundations in Ethiopia through site engineering, office engineering, tender documentation, supervision, payment certificates, and construction management for buildings, real estate, shops, apartments, hotel apartments, and the New South Africa Embassy construction project.