A Full-Circle Journey with EFG Engineers: Welcoming Back Liesel Maakal

EFG Engineers is pleased to welcome Liesel Maakal back to the team, marking a full-circle professional journey shaped by long-term professional growth and shared experience.

Liesel began her career with EFG Engineers in March 2010 as a Candidate Civil Engineer, where she gained hands-on experience in traffic and transportation engineering. During this period, EFG provided the technical exposure and mentorship required for her to achieve professional registration with ECSA in 2012, a milestone she recalls clearly through the commissioning of her first set of traffic signals.

In 2013, Liesel was promoted to the role of Associate, expanding her responsibilities beyond technical delivery to include management exposure aligned with King IV principles. Her professional development was supported alongside personal growth opportunities, including participation in the Cape Argus Cycle Tour and the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Her technical experience continued to broaden through the compilation of reports for the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town, as well as extensive involvement in Traffic Impact Studies and traffic signal design projects. During this time, she also served on the SAICE Transportation Committee and attended numerous industry-related events, with EFG consistently encouraging professional engagement.

In 2016, Liesel stepped away from EFG Engineers to explore new opportunities. Following a short sabbatical and time in the private sector, she spent eight years in the public sector, gaining further technical and managerial experience at Provincial Roads Western Cape and the City of Cape Town. This period significantly broadened her perspective and strengthened her understanding of government processes and decision-making, complementing her private-sector experience.

In August 2025, Liesel returned to EFG Engineers at the Durbanville office. While the team had evolved since her initial tenure, she found that the firm’s high standard of work and positive office culture remained unchanged. In her current role as an Associate, Liesel continues to uphold and carry forward the Traffic and Transportation expertise that EFG has become well known for. She is also a company shareholder, bringing valuable insight from both public and private sector experience into her work. In addition, she is actively involved with the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, where she serves as the South Africa country champion.

EFG Engineers recognises Liesel’s journey as a reflection of the supportive environment and long-term professional relationships the firm continues to foster. Her return represents a meaningful full-circle moment and reinforces EFG’s ongoing commitment to its people and expertise.