PEOPLE
OUR TEAMOur people make us the business we are today. We are built on the success of our human capital who are at the heart of our business. While we share ambitions as a collective, we pride ourselves on the strength and depth of our skills, with teamwork at the heart of everything we do.
NEIL GRAHAM
CO-FOUNDER & CEO – ORIGIN
CO-FOUNDER & CEO – ORIGIN INTERNATIONAL
NHD (Civil) PMP (Unisa) PrCPM MACPM
Having started his career in the Consulting Engineering field and then as a Contractor, Neil moved into the field of Project Management in 1988, constructing the likes of Southgate Mall, Embassy Tower and the peripheral works surrounding the Alusaf Hillside Smelter Project. Founding the company in 1992 (originally as Neil Graham Associates and then GHC Africa), Neil remained at the helm as Managing Director until the transition into ORIGIN Project Management in 2015 where Neil’s role became that of Group CEO.
Neil has completed projects across the African continent, living and working in Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to name a few. Passionate about Project Management, Neil served initially as a Board Member and eventually as Vice President and President of The Association of Construction Project Managers and was actively involved in the development and adoption of:
- PM & DM ID of Work
- PROCSA
- Fee Scales (as adopted by the SACPCMP)
Neil maintains his passion for Project Management, instilling his credo of ‘Responsible Sustainability, Diligence, Collaboration, Integrity and Professionalism’ daily.
IVO RIVA
CO-FOUNDER & COO – ORIGIN
CO-FOUNDER & MD – ORIGIN International
NHD (Arch) PrCPM MACPM
Ivo started his career in the mid-90s in the Architectural field administering the implementation stage 5 of projects for several architectural practices. Ivo joined NG & Associates in 1996, moving into the Project Management field and became a partner at NG & Associates in 1998. Ivo’s 26 years’ experience includes greenfields and refurbishment projects across South Africa within the retail, commercial and hospitality fields. In addition to completing numerous projects in South Africa, Ivo also has an extensive portfolio of projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, completing projects for both South African and international developers. Ivo served as a Board Member of the Association of Construction Project Managers in 2015/6.
MLUNGISI TSHANGELA
CO-FOUNDER & MD – ORIGIN
NTC 6 (Engineering Studies) Diploma (Project Management) PrCPM MACPM
Mlungisi began working in 1992 as a construction trainee supervisor, and later working his way up to Contracts Director and shareholder. Mlungisi was then recruited by Amdev to start his Project Management career working on prestigious projects like Gold Reef City Casino, The Glen Shopping Mall and Golden Horse Casino. Mlungisi joined DPA in 2002 as a Senior Project Manager working his way up the ranks to become a Director and a shareholder. Under Mlungisi’s purview projects like the Intercontinental Hotel, Kivu Lake Hotel in Rwanda, Sun Coast Casino and Accra Mall were successfully completed. Mlungisi co-founded ORIGIN in 2015 and has 30 years of experience in the project and construction management field.
MICHAEL WOODRUFF
DIRECTOR – ORIGIN
Bsc Building MBA PrCPM MACPM
Originally from the United Kingdom, Michael joined Bovis Construction Management Ltd as a Project Management Trainee immediately after leaving university, gaining experience on commercial and industrial projects in the UK. Michael gained further experience in Project and Construction Management, working for Woolf Construction Management Ltd and then Capital Project Consultancy Ltd on a wide variety of projects. Michael was the Project Manager responsible for office, industrial and retail developments in the West End and City of London.
In 1996, Michael moved to South Africa where he continued working in the Project Management field, joining GHC Africa in 2002.
Michael’s emphasis as a Director and Shareholder has been on major retail projects such as Norwood Mall, Sandton City Reconfiguration and the Mall of Africa.
As an Executive Committee member of the ACPM, Michael is actively involved in promoting the interests of his profession and represents them at the SACPCMP Voluntary Association meetings.
Michael has remained in the Project Management and Construction Management fields for his entire career and he is able to focus this wealth and variety of experience on every project he undertakes.
NOMVULA RAKOLOTE
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – ORIGIN
PORTFOLIO HEAD: EDUCATION
BA (Ed) Adjunct Professor: Built Environment
Nomvula’s career began as an Academic in Kimberly, Northern Cape having transitioned into the Built Environment 12 years ago. She has served on various Boards within the public and private sector and is currently a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA). Nomvula is a certified Leadership and Performance Coach through the Leadership Academy of South Africa. Nomvula is the former CEO of the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and is currently the CEO of the Association of Construction Project Managers (ACPM).
Nomvula joined ORIGIN in 2020.
Mark Ferreira
DIRECTOR: Planning – ORIGIN
BSc (Hons) Property Studies (UCT), PMP, PrCPM
Mark, presently serving as the Head of Planning, boasts a distinguished educational background, holding a BSc (Hons) in Property Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and certifications in Project Management Professional (PMP) and Professional Construction Project Management (PrCPM).
His professional journey commenced in 2007 when he assumed the role of Project Manager, during which time he discovered his innate aptitude for project planning and programming. This propelled him toward a specialization in this domain, culminating in the acknowledgment of his expertise in forensic delay analysis. As a result, Mark has been summoned as an expert witness in numerous arbitration cases, a testament to the credibility and depth of his knowledge.
In 2013, Mark embarked on an entrepreneurial venture, establishing his own Project Management firm. This bold step not only afforded him the opportunity to cultivate invaluable experience in business ownership, but also enabled him to effectively oversee multifarious projects across diverse sectors. His unwavering passion for project planning and programming remains a cornerstone of his professional repertoire.
Mark’s enduring commitment to excellence is exemplified by his decade-long collaboration with ORIGIN, which culminated in formalising our partnership in 2023. This enduring partnership underscores his dedication to delivering exemplary results and maintaining enduring relationships within the industry.
Katleho Nakeli
DIRECTOR: Planning – ORIGIN
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
Katleho embarked on his professional journey in Project Management in 2008, diligently pursuing a structured training programme to cultivate and refine his skill set. With the passage of time, he honed his expertise in various facets of Project Management, encompassing Tenant Coordination, Time Management, and ultimately advancing to the role of a comprehensive Project Manager. Furthermore, he acquired a profound proficiency in Construction Programming across a spectrum of project scales.
Subsequently, Katleho forged a strategic partnership with Mark Ferreira, culminating in the establishment of their own enterprise. It was during this entrepreneurial endeavour that he first crossed paths with the ORIGIN team.
Katleho initially chose to align with the public sector, where he became deeply engaged in an array of projects, notably including the establishment of a special economic zone. This unique chapter in his career furnished him with invaluable insights into the art of Project Management within the public sector, enabling him to adeptly navigate its distinctive challenges and intricate dynamics. Following his tenure in the public sector, Katleho made the considered choice to return to the private sector, reuniting with Mark Ferreira. This strategic pivot ushered in a further opportunity for a renewed collaboration with ORIGIN in 2023, cementing the course of his remarkable journey.
OUR COMMITMENT
At ORIGIN, we strive to generate superior value and service for our clients.
We continually assess our performance and the evolving needs of our business and client base. We adapt and improve our processes and performance accordingly to ensure that we continue to deliver a service that exceeds the needs and expectations of our clients and the industry at large. Consistent with this policy, we establish quality objectives aimed at enhancing customer satisfaction and improving the effectiveness of our quality management system.
Technology is revolutionising the way we learn, work, communicate and perform a multitude of daily tasks. Design is moving from 2D and adopting 3D modelling including various innovations, such as 3D photorealistic renderings and immersive VR experiences.
ORIGIN has embraced digital transformation. Our Project Managers are experienced in facilitating Building Information Management (BIM) systems on projects, particularly the industry standard BIM 360, as well as Information Management Software to both track and archive information.
We believe these systems contribute to the success of a project through:
- Better co-ordination and collaboration between the professional team and the contractor
- Better time management and fewer delays by reducing clashes and re-work on site
- Increased productivity and faster delivery of information to site
- Reduced risk of information losses as the system is Cloud based
- Efficient handover of information to the asset owner on completion of the construction phase
- Tracking of information issued for construction including drawings, programmes, notices and general administration
ORIGIN has the experience and expertise to ensure these benefits are fully realised on our projects. We assist our clients in achieving success by developing ground-breaking property assets and services. We conduct our activities for the benefit of the client first, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity we can command.
That said, technology takes us only so far and we cannot lose sight of the fact that people build projects, people who need to be interacted with, people who require direction and motivation. Building is personal to us. Relationships are essential to us. Trust is a cornerstone in building successful projects.
Get in touch
Johannesburg (Head Office) Origin House
68 Wessel Road, Rivonia, 2128
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
+27 (11) 706 0615