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.
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.
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.
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 Swan 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.”
Fellowship recipients are:
Auckland - David Leong,Tonkin + Taylor Group; Dr Gregory De Costa; consultant, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand; Julie Raine, Downer New Zealand; Dr Kelvin Walls, built environment and public health, particularly building safety in relation to wind, earthquake and fire-safety design. Lisa Roberts, infrastructure asset management and lifelines disaster planning; Murray Robertson, Downer New Zealand; Richard Cuthbert, Spiire NZ; Rosalind Archer, Head of Department - Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland; Shayne Cunis, Watercare; Dr Tony Enright, performance-based fire engineering.
Wellington - Joe Pott, Hydropower Engineering; Phil Gaby, Holmes Group; Simon Fleisher, Wellington Cable Car and Waipa Networks.
Christchurch - Dirk Pons, Dean (Academic) College of Engineering, University of Canterbury; John Mackie, Three Waters & Waste, Christchurch City Council. Onno Mulder, Citycare Group; Richard Holyoake, Beca.
