Portraits of Women in Mechanical Lifting Discipline – ISABELA RUBUNGA’S STORY

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

From an early age I had dreams of being either a pilot or an engineer. As I grew older my schooling dictated to becoming an engineer.

What and where did you study?

I studied Civil Engineering at Ardhi University here in Tanzania.

Tell us about your career from the beginning until now.

On completion of successfully passing my engineering degree I began work as a site engineer for the Sumitomo Mitsui construction company building the Mfugale bridge and flyover. From there I have held other site engineer roles in construction before becoming the trainee lifting engineer for Besix Ballast and Nedham.

What training did you complete to become a Lifting Supervisor or Engineer?

Along with my engineering degree I have also studied with NSL and just recently completed the advanced rigging and subsea lifting modules.

Have you always been interested in mechanical lifting?

I first got a taste of mechanical lifting while working as a site engineer on the basics of working with cranes, so when my current role was advertised, I applied for it.

What qualities should a lifting supervisor or engineer have?

• Technical knowledge (understand to lifting equipment, rigging accessories, safety regulation, mechanical principles & structural Eng.)
• Problem solving skills (to analyze complex situation, make critical decisions,
• Attentive to details.

How do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see myself having gained enough technical and practical knowledge to be able to run a similar project or at least acting as a lifting engineer.