Umvoto Africa was founded in 1992 by hydrogeologist and MD Rowena Hay primarily as a water resource development and management consultancy, with particular emphasis on groundwater.
Umvoto has subsequently expanded into other earth science areas and is now active in integrated water resource management, contamination/remediation studies and geoinfomatics, based on its in-house GIS capability. In addition, ecological risk management or georisk prevention studies are undertaken to evaluate the risks associated with natural disasters such as earthquakes, flooding and landslides, and their containment .
The company adopts a holistic and scientific approach in seeking environmentally acceptable and sustainable solutions and is committed to maintaining technological excellence in its chosen niche. The company has formalised its environmental management procedures and followed the South African National Standard SANS 140001:2005 guidelines. It has an Environmental Management Systems manual with clear guidelines both for the office and site workers. Umvoto is BEE-compliant and is fully ISO9001-compliant in terms of quality management procedures.
The company and founder have won several awards: Umvoto Africa was a finalist in the most innovative sector of the continental Africa SMME Awards, an annual competition that acknowledges the achievements of small, medium and micro enterprises. Together with its project partner SA Rock Drills, the company was a finalist in the prestigious 2009 National Science and Technology Forum Awards.
MD Rowena Hay was a runner-up in the 2008 Achiever Award for a Woman Scientist in Industry, and the 2009 Cape entrepreneur winner in the ninth annual Businesswomen's Association Regional Business Achievers awards.
