Twenty New Zealand engineers have been recognised for their significant contributions to the engineering profession being named as Fellows and Distinguished Fellows by Engineering New Zealand.
In total, seventeen engineers have been awarded Fellowships, and three have been made Distinguished Fellows, demonstrating their significant contribution and role in advancing the engineering profession. The new Fellows’ work spans a broad range of engineering practice, from innovative new techniques such as using artificial intelligence to extract information from microscopic images or improving the nation’s seismic resilience by advocating for better earthquake engineering.
Peter Smith, Bob Hodgson and Janis Swan have been made Distinguished Fellows.
Peter Smith was recognised for his outstanding contribution to structural engineering, particularly his with the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, as an independent specialist for the Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes and as the public face of the Kaikoura earthquake, explaining technical subjects simply and clearly to media.
Bob Hodgson is a recognised expert in image processing, information, human factors and systems engineering. His academia career includes a strong record in research and development, interaction with industry, scholarship and teaching, and administration and academic leadership in engineering and technology.
Janis Swan has been a champion for quality engineering education and the engineering profession. She has held leadership roles with the Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand and the University of Waikato, becoming the first woman to be appointed Associate Dean Engineering in 2005. She sits on the Earl Fellowship Trust Board and runs the trust’s scholarship programme to attract young women into engineering. In 2009 Janis received a Royal Honour for her service to engineering.
Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Susan Freeman-Greene says this year’s new Fellows and Distinguished Fellows have a wealth of expertise and knowledge in the industry.
“This year’s cohort are the top of the engineering profession, and are being recognised for their contribution to the industry. These talented leaders of the engineering sector work tirelessly to make New Zealanders’ lives better for our communities through their contributions to infrastructure and technology.”
Distinguished Fellowship recipients
Peter Smith – Wellington
Peter Smith has made an outstanding contribution to structural engineering and engineering practice. He has held leadership roles in the Structural Engineering and Timber Design Societies, and is currently President of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering. He has represented Engineering New Zealand and the profession on numerous Standards Committees and advisory bodies. During 2011 and 2012, Smith was engaged by the Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes to provide independent specialist structural engineering advice, and has subsequently been on Engineering Advisory Panels for MBIE. He has also contributed to engineering practice through his work with the Consulting Engineers Advancement Society (CEAS), the Association of Consulting Engineers, and had a six-year term on the Board of Engineering New Zealand.
During his 40 years in private practice, Smith has mentored a large number of young engineers, both within Spencer Holmes Limited and the wider Engineering Profession, many of whom are now engineering leaders in New Zealand and internationally. Smith has been an unselfish advocate for the Engineering profession consistently throughout his career. He became the public face for engineers following the Kaikoura earthquake, engaging with the media and explaining complex technical concepts simply and clearly.
Bob Hodgson – Wellington
Bob Hodgson is a recognised expert in image processing, information, human factors and systems engineering. Hodgson’s impressive academia career includes a strong record in research and development, interaction with industry, scholarship and teaching, and administration and academic leadership in engineering and technology. Hodgson served as the Head of Institute Information Sciences and Technology at Massey University from 1998 to 2005, and as Director of the Massey school of Engineering and Technology from 2005 to 2007. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans.
In addition to his academic work, Hodgson was involved in a start-up science and engineering company that has won worldwide recognition for using AI to extract information from microscopic images. He has made an outstanding contribution to Engineering New Zealand, having served on numerous Boards and committees, Engineering New Zealand and NZQA accreditation panels, and six International Washington Accord Panels. As the New Zealand representative and then President of the Association of Engineering Educators in South East Asia and the Pacific, Hodgson revitalised that organisation. He has also worked with the University of the South Pacific, in an unpaid Adjunct Professor role, to support its work towards engineering accreditation.
Janis Swan – Hamilton
Janis Swan has been a champion for quality engineering education and the engineering profession. Swan has held leadership roles with the Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand and the University of Waikato. She helped lead the development and promotion of Waikato University’s School of Engineering, successfully bringing together different disciplines to ensure a comprehensive engineering programme, with a strong culture of professionalism and momentum. In 2005, she was the first woman to be appointed Associate Dean Engineering. Working with quiet perseverance and vision, Swan has made a significant contribution to our next generation of engineers. She has served on the Standards Accreditation Board, the Ministerial Science Task Group for Crown Research Institutes, the committee of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch of Engineering New Zealand, and MBIE’s Science Board. Swan chaired the Marsden Fund Panel for Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences, and was on the Board of the Society of Chemical Engineers. She sits on the Earl Fellowship Trust Board and runs the trust’s scholarship programme to attract young women into engineering. In 2009 Swan received a Royal Honour for her service to engineering.
Auckland – Fellowship recipients
1 David Leong
A former director of the Tonkin + Taylor Group, David Leong is currently the Group’s principal water resources engineer and a leading expert on hydrology, hydraulic structures, and dam break hazard. He has presented expert evidence many times and has also led design teams on large infrastructure projects. He is particularly recognised for his groundbreaking work on a risk-cost approach for optimising Auckland’s bulk water supply system.
2 Dr Gregory De Costa
Dr Gregory De Costa is currently a consultant at the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. He is also Vice President of the Executive Council of the International Association for Hydro Environmental Research Asia Pacific Division. He has led many international research teams investigating climate change, sea level rise and its impact on coastal water resources and adjacent land.
3 Julie Raine
Currently Bid Manager – Transport Services for Downer New Zealand, Julie Raine has managed a wide range of transportation engineering projects throughout the United Kingdom, Middle East and New Zealand. She has been a driving force behind the National Association of Women in Construction and champions diversity. Raine has been recognised as one of New Zealand’s Top 50 Women of Achievement, and was a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Diversity category.
4 Dr Kelvin Walls
Dr Kelvin Walls is internationally recognised for his expertise on the built environment and public health, particularly building safety in relation to wind, earthquake and fire-safety design. He has made a significant and sustained contribution to Engineering New Zealand, including serving on the Board, the Auckland Branch committee and Investigating Committees, and developing the PS1 Practice Note.
5 Lisa Roberts
Lisa Roberts’ career so far has focused on infrastructure asset management and lifelines disaster planning. She is nationally and internationally recognised for her expertise in organisational resilience, and has developed widely used guidance on best practice asset management. She is an acknowledged lifelines expert and has helped share and grow knowledge to develop New Zealand’s capability and resilience.
6 Murray Robertson
Murray Robertson commenced his career in geotech and surveying, moved to civil design, and then into contract and project management. In recent years, Robertson has excelled in senior business management and strategic planning. Currently General Manager Transport Technology at Downer, he has an unrelenting can-do attitude and takes an innovative approach to problem solving.
7 Richard Cuthbert
Richard Cuthbert’s early career focused on planning and feasibility of transport schemes in England and internationally. He went on to senior management, leadership and governance roles with Atkins and then Mouchel – both large, multi-discipline, international engineering consultancies. On relocating to New Zealand in early 2013, he was appointed General Manager of Spiire NZ (originally Duffill, Watts & King). He is also chairman of Ergo electrical engineering consultants.
8 Rosalind Archer
Rosalind Archer’s career combines technical expertise in geothermal and petroleum engineering, and leadership roles in academia and industry. She has served for five years as Head of Department of the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Auckland. She holds a professorial chair supported by Mercury and a non-executive directorship of New Zealand Oil & Gas. Archer has been a key part of teams raising research funding from the Government and from international sources.
9 Shayne Cunis
Shayne Cunis is a recognised leader in the water services sector in the Auckland region. Currently General Manager – Service Delivery at Watercare, he has improved the quality and resilience of service, and developed a significant number of young engineers into future leaders. He has been on the Board of Water New Zealand and is currently an international representative on the Board of the Water Research Foundation.
10 Tony Enright
Dr Tony Enright is at the forefront of international performance-based fire engineering. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer in both Australia and New Zealand and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Enright has delivered major projects across the building and advisory sectors: most notably as lead fire engineer for the new AUD2.1 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital. He has won project-based and academic awards, most notably the inaugural National Fire Protection Association international scholar in fire science.
Wellington – Fellowship recipients
11 Joe Pott
Joachim (Joe) Pott specialises in hydraulic turbines, plant performance and dam safety. He is a partner in Hydropower Engineering, and has been involved in a wide variety of projects in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Laos, Nepal and the United Kingdom. He is a regular presenter on hydropower technology and dam safety courses, and a mentor to younger engineers.
12 Phil Gaby
In his 37 years of experience working in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Singapore, Phil Gaby has made a significant contribution to a portfolio of high-profile, award-winning infrastructure projects. Currently Project Director at Holmes Group, he enjoys mentoring and training, and shares his knowledge and expertise through academic papers, presentations, guest lecturing and an active involvement in industry bodies and societies.
13 Simon Fleisher
Simon Fleisher served as marine engineer in the British and New Zealand navies before changing sectors to the electricity supply industry. In 2013, he became Chief Executive of Wellington Cable Car and has overseen several complex technical projects. He is also a Director of Waipa Networks and a Member of the Institute of Directors. In 2014, Fleisher became a Wellington City Council Civil Defence Controller. He has served on a number of Engineering New Zealand-related committee and boards.
Christchurch – Fellowship recipients
14 Dirk Pons
Currently Dean (Academic) College of Engineering, University of Canterbury, Dirk Pons has persistently encouraged engagement between the profession and the teaching institutions. Through his research and Engineering New Zealand committee work, he has contributed to developing a constructive alignment between pedagogy and practice.
15 John Mackie
John Mackie relocated to Christchurch following the Canterbury earthquakes and is currently Head of Three Waters and Waste for Christchurch City Council. He has been the city’s representative on the Board of SCIRT and acted as a Civil Defence Controller during major emergencies. Mackie is the Chair of the Northern South Island branch of IPWEA, and is on the boards of IPWEA and Water New Zealand.
16 Onno Mulder
Onno Mulder has more than 30 years in the engineering construction and maintenance industry. He is CEO of Citycare Group, a role he has held for 12 years. Under Mulder’s leadership, Citycare Group has grown from a small regional contracting organisation to one of New Zealand’s largest maintenance companies, providing services to many of New Zealand’s largest councils and private organisations.
17 Richard Holyoake
Richard Holyoake is a Senior Principal in Beca, leading the Infrastructure Business in the South Island. He has delivered major projects including large scale demolition, land development, irrigation schemes, feasibility for ports and hydro-electric and feasibility through to construction of many airport runway rehabilitation projects. Holyoake is passionate about engineers contributing to society and is actively involved in public art, health and safety forums, the New Zealand Airport Association, a school Board and chairs a community association.
