Margariet Lumgair

Principal Industrial Engineer

Margariet was born in Pretoria, but her family moved around quite often to various mining towns, and she lived in Kathu, Durnacol, Rosh Pinah, and Thabazimbi. 

Before venturing into Industrial Engineering, Margariet dreamt of becoming a fashion designer.  She lives out her passion for fashion design at home, where she creates beautiful dance costumes for her daughter.  Margariet jokingly shares, “I can really create art with fabric and a sewing machine.”

So when it came to deciding on her career path, Margariet says that her parents raised her to be brave, to pay attention, and to question the world around her.  She really enjoyed High School Maths and Science, and she wanted to challenge herself by applying her mind to solving problems. 

Within the VBKOM setting, Margariet gets to transform something strong into something superb alongside a team of individuals who collectively strive for excellence.

Margariet shares that the most satisfying part of her career is “being able to create something original of great quality and value which really makes a difference in a client’s world.”

Margariet is the proud mother of two boys and one girl, and she and her husband like taking the family rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking where they can appreciate the beauty of nature.

Dr Tsietsi Moremi

Senior Industrial Engineer

Growing up in Mamelodi and Soshanguve, Tsietsi dreamt of becoming a medical doctor, but hearing the late Mr. Roberts, Operations Management Lecturer, speak so passionately about Industrial Engineering, Tsietsi knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Tsietsi has earned the nickname “Superman” from his peers and co-workers because he always gets things done. Tsietsi enrolled for an Industrial Engineering degree at Wits University, went on to complete an Engineering degree in Technology Management at the University of Pretoria, and obtained his Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineerin from the University of Stellenbosch.

He is passionate about new technology and coaching others, and has turned around a non-performing team at a previous employer by channeling his knowledge through mentoring. He shares that the best compliment he’s received from a team member is that he is a great leader, he is an inspiration, and he has the ability to change a person’s perspective.

Tsietsi’s hidden talent is cooking and trying out new recipes on his wife and daughter. He admits, “I always try a new recipe, even if most of the time it ends in a disaster.” Tsietsi’s favourite foods include Mala Mogodu (tripe), Chicken Licken’s hot wings, pork ribs, and potjiekos.

Pieter Olivier

Industrial Engineer (Associate)

I am led by my future view of having a meaningful impact on businesses' viability and sustainability and finding new opportunity and business potential. My focus and involvement take place on multiple levels of the functional layered model, from the development and alignment of strategy within the environment being operated in, down to the functional level where productivity, optimisation, innovation, quality and human capital sits at the core of product delivery.

My passion and areas of motivation cover innovation, process management and optimisation, human capital productivity and development. This is expanded into business improvement, business rescue, capital excellence, conceptualisation and business case development. I have a profound enthusiasm for project and functional team relationships and team symbiosis, business fundamentals, risk/value design and decision making, concept, pre-feasibility, feasibility studies (FEL1,2,3), and facility planning.
I build understanding of real and sustainable value creation vs short term advancement destroying long term value. This I look for in evaluating a total system in contrast to the improvement of individual parts.

My industry operating space is diverse through business and technical acumen, industrial engineering intuition, managerial insight, project thinking, applying fundamental system approaches to problems and solutions. I am comfortable operating in areas such as mining, mineral to market value chain, iron making, manufacturing, logistics, transport, technology, facility layout, aerospace, engineering, asset management, management consulting, small business and information technology.
I am a confident communicator with strong interpersonal and analytical skills who thrives on team interaction and shared purpose. I am an adaptable, relentless and articulate project manager with a broad knowledge base, comfortable in interacting with all professional disciplines, across different industries.

Strauss Oosthuizen

Industrial Engineer

Strauss was born in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal but grew up in Polokwane, Limpopo.  His childhood dreams have always been to become an engineer, or if all else failed, a doctor.

Engineering is such a diverse field of study and when Strauss had to make decisions on his career path, he relied on what comes naturally to him, and shares, “my passion is to instill structure and optimize any environment in which I may find myself.”   This led him to study Industrial Engineering at the University of Pretoria, where improvement of processes is key.

Strauss has a ‘never quit' attitude to any problem he is faced with, and one of the lessons he learned at a young age was that with tenacity and determination, anything can be achieved by breaking it down into achievable steps.

Strauss is a family man, and he says, “I believe that balance is the fuel that drives my engine, and I, therefore, place my family as my first priority.”  Strauss enjoys spending time with his wife and two beautiful children as often as he can.

He is very passionate about sport, and he appreciates watching a game of rugby.  When taking some time out, he also likes to play a bit of tennis and golf and has taken part in a few of the VBKOM 4-ball golf games that he has been invited to.

Tiaan Ackermann

Industrial Engineer

Tiaan visited the University of Pretoria during an open day, knowing he wanted to venture into engineering, but not yet sure in which field.  A presentation on Statistics and Business by Professor Paul Kruger was the final tip of the scale for Tiaan to pursue a career in Industrial Engineering.

He joined the VBKOM-family in 2014, and shares, “I am utterly euphoric about the work I do as an Industrial Engineer because it allows me to support and improve businesses.”  One of the most satisfying aspects of Tiaan’s career is being able to work with inspirational people using simplistic tools, like Excel, to solve complex problems.

Apart from being a solution finder, Tiaan loves the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over.  He has the ability to rally excitement and enthusiasm in others with the ideas he has for a better future.

At home, Tiaan is husband to his lovely wife, Andrea, and father to his precious little girl, Adeleine.  Becoming a father has been one of the most joyous moments in his life.  Tiaan’s family welcomed another bundle of joy, a son Edrich, in 2020.

Tiaan is a self-confessed ‘Foodie’ who enjoys tasting the cuisines from places he travels to and appreciates events where food and wine are paired that enhance the dining experience.

Andy Masenya

Industrial Engineer

Growing up in Bapong (Brits) in the North West Province, Andy dreamed of becoming a pilot, a geologist, a civil engineer, or a minister. No matter what Andy eventually chose as a career, she is determined to become a better version of herself in all aspects of her life.

Andy ventured into Industrial Engineering and obtained her honors degree from the University of Pretoria in 2019. As Andy puts it, “I like to say Industrial Engineering chose me since I was very much determined to study Civil Engineering to improve the roads where I come from. Due to my background, there were no funds to study the field; however, by the grace of God I got a bursary opportunity from a prominent mining company to study Industrial Engineering instead.”

Andy regards having a good attitude as half the battle won, and that every challenge is an opportunity to learn. She shares with a great sense of pride her greatest achievement being able to complete her first project, where she had to build a simulation and see the value that was brought to the project.

To unwind, Andy revels in dancing, writing, or tutoring Maths for grade 4 to grade 12 pupils. She enjoys activities that help her think more about life, like reading thought-provoking books, hiking, or self-reflection time.

Jako du Plessis

Senior Industrial Engineer

Pretoria born and bred Jako has always known that he wants to venture into the engineering field.  His brother has been the most influential when it came to making the decision on Industrial Engineering.

He is a big believer in measuring twice, and only cutting once, and he shares, “Never take shortcuts, because that just leads to problems later on.  Rather do something right the first time.”

Jako has a great drive to ensure client satisfaction and to add value to each project he takes on.

Outside of the office, Jako is the proud father a little boy and girl with his beautiful wife Sune.  They share their home with two golden retrievers, which form an integral part of his immediate family.