Dr. Lesiba George Mollo | Construction Management | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer | Central University of Technology, Free State | South Africa

Dr. Lesiba George Mollo is a Senior Lecturer at the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa, in the Department of Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. He specializes in construction management and health and safety management, teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His research focuses on construction health and safety, construction management, wearable technology applications in construction, and building energy management. He holds a PhD in Construction Management, an M-Tech in Quantity Surveying (Cum Laude), and a B-Tech and National Diploma in Quantity Surveying and Building, complemented by certifications in project management and safety training. Professionally, he has served in multiple academic leadership roles, including Deputy Research Dean, Department Research Chair, Research Cluster Coordinator, Acting Head of Department, and Senior Lecturer, with responsibilities encompassing academic administration, research, innovation, and community engagement. His industrial experience spans diverse construction projects, including wastewater treatment plants, residential complexes, and commercial buildings, enriching his academic insights with practical expertise. Dr. Mollo has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters, and conference proceedings, including the book Training-Within-Industry Job Programs for Improved Construction Safety published by Routledge. He actively contributes to research supervision, journal reviewing, and academic conference organization within his field. His work demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing construction safety, sustainable infrastructure, and digital innovation in the built environment. Dr. Mollo has received recognition for his academic excellence and professional achievements, and his scholarly contributions include 14 published documents, 35 citations from 33 sources, and an h-index of 3.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Mollo, L. G. (2025, March). Evaluating the use of 360° video technology to monitor workers’ unsafe behaviour in the construction industry. In International Civil Engineering and Architecture Conference (pp. 685–693). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Mr. Afaq Rafi Awan | Construction Management | Best Researcher Award

PhD | Zhengzhou University | China

Afaq Rafi Awan is a motivated and detail-oriented civil engineer from Pakistan, currently pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at Zhengzhou University, China. He holds a Master’s in Engineering Science and Management with a focus on Construction Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Sichuan University, China. His academic foundation is strongly built around infrastructure design, structural analysis, and construction management, with a specialized emphasis on Building Information Modeling (BIM) applications for safety management and sustainable construction. He has professional experience as an English and ESL teacher at various institutions in China, as well as prior technical experience as an associate engineer and civil surveyor in Pakistan. His research expertise lies in BIM-based safety management, bridge lifecycle resilience, intelligent construction systems, prefabricated bridge structures, digital twin applications in infrastructure, and the use of advanced materials for structural performance enhancement. Throughout his academic journey, Afaq has demonstrated leadership as Vice President and Director of Sports at Zhengzhou University, received multiple academic and athletic awards, and earned prestigious fully funded scholarships including the Chinese Government Scholarship. His achievements also extend to active participation in international conferences, youth forums, and online professional certifications from globally recognized institutions such as Stanford University, DeepLearning.AI, and Columbia University. Driven by innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation in civil engineering, Afaq aspires to contribute to advanced bridge engineering research and the development of durable, efficient, and safe infrastructure systems worldwide.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

C Yuan, A. R. Awan, & A. Khan. (2025). Construction safety management: Based on the theoretical approach of BIM and the technology acceptance model. Buildings, 15(19), 3444.