Autodesk’s 40 Under 40
Champions of Construction
Jacques Erasmus: South Africa’s digital visionary among Autodesk’s 40 under 40 Champions of Construction
South African excellence on the global stage. Congratulations to Jacques Erasmus from Abcon Developments, named one of Autodesk’s 40 Under 40 Champions of Construction 2025!
South Africa’s digital visionary
When Autodesk announced its 40 Under 40: Champions of Construction 2025, one South African name stood proudly among global leaders shaping the future of the built environment - Jacques Erasmus, Head of Projects at Abcon Developments.
His inclusion is more than personal recognition. It signals how South Africa’s construction and property sector is embracing digital transformation with purpose, impact, and confidence.
A vision for digital change
Under his leadership, Abcon has transitioned from traditional, fragmented workflows to an integrated, cloud-based delivery environment powered by Autodesk Construction Cloud. This shift has dramatically increased transparency, reduced inefficiencies, and improved collaboration across design, construction, and operations teams.
- 30–40 % reduction in lost time on coordination and approvals
- Thousands of square metres of design reviews managed digitally within weeks
- Seamless collaboration between consultants, contractors, and clients - all in real time
Leading with purpose
What sets Jacques apart is not just his technical vision, but his belief that innovation should lift others.
He’s been instrumental in opening access to digital tools for Abcon’s wider ecosystem – from consultants to subcontractors – fostering a culture of transparency and shared progress.
As Jacques puts it, “Transformation is not about replacing people with technology – it’s about empowering people through technology.”
A global spotlight on South African excellence
Being recognised by Autodesk among peers from across the world is a powerful moment for Abcon – and for the broader South African built environment. It shows that local innovation can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world when driven by clear vision, leadership, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Abcon’s journey demonstrates what’s possible when a developer treats digital transformation not as a project, but as a mindset – one that sees data, design, and delivery as parts of a single, intelligent ecosystem.
A partnership built on progress
Behind the scenes, Modena AEC & Infrastructure has had the privilege of walking this journey with Abcon – providing technical guidance, BIM expertise, and implementation support to help bring Jacques’s digital vision to life.
This collaboration reflects the shared belief that technology and human imagination together can reshape the built environment. For Modena, Jacques’s global recognition reinforces what we already know: that South Africa’s construction leaders are setting new benchmarks for innovation and excellence.
Inspiring the next chapter
Jacques’s inclusion in Autodesk’s global “40 Under 40” list is both a celebration and a challenge – a reminder that digital leadership is not defined by scale, but by mindset.
It’s a recognition of courage: the courage to question old ways of working, to invest in digital capability, and to build organisations ready for a data-driven future.
Transformation is not about replacing people with technology – it’s about empowering people through technology.