Steel Construction NZ (SCNZ) Chair’s Award

Mike Klemick, Technical Specification Manager for Dimond Steel, is the 2023 recipient of the prominent Steel Construction NZ (SCNZ) Chair’s Award. The annual award recognises individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to New Zealand’s structural steel industry.

SCNZ Chair and Grayson Engineering Managing Director David Moore presented Klemick with the award at a gala dinner in Queenstown on 27 October.

Moore notes Klemick’s selfless service to SCNZ over many years. “Mike has served on the executive council for three separate terms. He hasn't done so for personal gain or for the benefit of the organisation he works for; Mike is purely focused on playing his part to help advance the industry as a whole. He is a true ambassador for steel.”
 

Best apprentice in New Zealand’s structural steel industry for 2023

Red Steel employee Caleb Ireland has been recognised as the best apprentice in New Zealand’s structural steel industry for 2023. It’s the second year in a row that Napier-based Red Steel has produced an Apprentice of the Year, and the third time since the award was introduced in 2016.

Red Steel is committed to building a pipeline for tomorrow’s skilled workforce. “Training apprentices is a must-do,” says Bob Hawley, Managing Director of Red Steel. “You can’t just leave it up to other companies to train. We’re all finding it difficult to get skilled labour.”

When awarding Ireland the title, the judges noted that he possesses maturity beyond his years and is a leader of the future.

Red Steel was impressed with Ireland’s passion to develop himself. “Caleb has become a diligent and dependable employee who inspires others with his ability to learn quickly and collaborate,” says Alister Varcoe, Workshop Manager of Red Steel. “He maintains a high level of quality and requires little motivation to achieve agreed deadlines, even on the most challenging of projects.”
 

New Zealand’s top young achiever in the structural steel industry

Grayson Engineering employee Bridget Young was recently recognised as New Zealand’s top young achiever in the structural steel industry. It’s the second year in a row that Manukau-based Grayson Engineering has produced a Young Achiever of the Year.

Steel Construction New Zealand’s (SCNZ’s) Young Achiever of the Year award celebrates those whose skills, drive and willingness to learn has helped them to achieve outstanding outcomes. It recognises well-rounded people who demonstrate not only talent, but display traits important to the industry – commitment, innovation and agility.

Young earned a degree in mechanical engineering and joined Grayson Engineering as a junior engineer in 2021 with little confidence or know-how. Today, she has grown to become a confident and valuable member of the project team and manages multiple jobs, says David Moore, Managing Director of Grayson Engineering and Chair of SCNZ.

“Bridget takes the time to familiarise herself to a high level of detail with every project that she is allocated and is able to problem solve in a pragmatic and equitable way with the client. She is prepared to do whatever is necessary to achieve outcomes and meet deadlines,” says Moore.

Growing up, Young loved building things; she loved trainsets and puzzles and Lego. “I still love Lego,” she says.

Working in a traditionally male-dominated industry has had its challenges and Young has worked hard to overcome them. “If you are passionate about something, don’t let anybody tell you what you can or cannot do. You are only as good as you believe you can be.”

Young says being able to think outside the box and come up with practical solutions is important. Currently, Young manages about eight projects and she loves it.

“It has been such a challenge but I am so grateful to have had this opportunity,” says Young. “I have learnt so much since I started this role, but there is infinitely more that I don’t know and I am so fortunate to be around people who are helping me grow and develop my skills as both an engineer and a project manager.”

Caption for Image Bridget Young accepts her award from Craig Taylor of award sponsor Infrabuild (left) and Steel Construction NZ Chair David Moore