New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Queenstown woman takes on the lads for New Zealand Young Engineer of the Year title

September 2007

Queenstown-based Louise Jones was announced a finalist in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence (NZEE) Awards Young Engineer of the Year.

The New Zealand Young Engineer of the Year Award is awarded to a young engineer, aged 35 years or under, who is judged to have made the most excellent contribution as an engineer and leader through their professional role and community involvement. The winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of $2,000.00. Two runner-up winners will each receive $500.00

As Network Programme Manager, Louise has worked for MWH New Zealand Limited, since immigrating from the UK three-years ago. From her Queenstown base, she has overseen projects locally and throughout the South Island. As Banks Peninsula Programme Manager, Louise pulled together an integrated programme managing the Banks Peninsula District Council’s assets. This approach meant projects across the peninsula were better planned and prioritised, limited resources were maximised and emphasis placed on community consultation. Louise is involved with her local Women in Engineering Group, mentors younger engineers and has quickly become regarded as MWH’s most knowledgeable expert in New Zealand water supply legislation.

Louise is competing against three other finalists and is required to will present at Auckland’s Parnell Rose Gardens on Wednesday, 26 September 2007 from 6 pm.

The judges have already marked 80 per cent of the finalists’ scores from their applications; the final 20 per cent will be determined by an audience of judges, family, friends and peers at the live presentation.

“The high standard of entries for this award signals that the future of New Zealand engineering is in very good hands”, says Steve Gentry, Convenor for the NZEE Individual Awards judging panel. “These finalists represent the crème of the professional engineering crop”.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are staged by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing organisations. The founding partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).

Media enquiries contact Verona-Meiana Putaranui, IPENZ Media Co-ordinator:

Email: media@ipenz.org.nz

Phone: 04 473 2028 / 021 479 885