Engineering Excellence Award Winners Announced
25 November 2010
The winners of the 2010 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards were announced in Wellington this evening. A gala dinner hosted by MC Linda Clark and attended by more than 350 people was held at the Duxton Hotel. The evening began with a moment of silence in recognition of the Pike River tragedy.
The Winner of the 2010 Supreme Award for Engineering Excellence is the Coronet Peak Ski Area Snow-making Infrastructure and Reservoirs by Hadley Consultants Ltd, NZSki Ltd and TechnoAlpin.
The Queenstown economy has been significantly strengthened through this collaborative project which enhances the ability of the Coronet ski field to open and remain open as planned for a lengthened and more predictable ski season. The flow-on benefits are evidenced by significant increases in incoming international flights.
Whilst conceptually simple – capturing and using as much as necessary of the water that naturally falls as snow or rain on the ski field region, or is available through groundwater springs – the practical complexities to be overcome were considerable. The mathematical modelling of the water harvesting, storage and use was very detailed. The scale of the pipework and reservoirs necessary, and the need to provide reliable services across a rugged, steep and sometimes unstable landscape and in a highly variable mountain climate were significant. The challenge of storing large volumes of water safely at high altitude was successfully addressed through detailed geotechnical analysis of the land geology. Narrow windows of available construction time demanded a well-planned work programme. This included detailed protocols in regard to vegetation re-location or reinstatement.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Fyfe took the premier individual title, The William Pickering Award for Engineering Leadership.
Rob Fyfe completed his studies in mechanical engineering whilst with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He entered the commercial world in 1987 and held a number of management roles in New Zealand before moving to senior management roles with ITV Digital PLC in London in 2000. On his return to New Zealand he joined Air New Zealand, becoming Chief Executive in 2005.
In 2010, Air New Zealand was awarded the title of Airline of the Year at the Air Transport World Global Airline Awards, testimony to the reputation it enjoys as an innovative industry leader despite its relatively small size. This is in large part due to the transformational leadership and vision of Rob Fyfe.
The application of an engineering mindset as a core part of Air New Zealand’s business is very evident in increasing the fuel efficiency of the fleet, including trialling bio-fuels; improving the fleet through well-timed replacement purchases; humanising the interface at terminals; and rewriting cabin design – initially in business class and more recently in the lie-down economy seat.
As well as creating the environment in which so many technical successes occurred, Rob has transformed the face of the airline – through working directly with staff one day a month, his visibility to customers, and by empowering staff to adopt new business approaches embracing technology and social media. The dignified manner in which the tragic events at Perpignan were managed, and his willingness to step up in response to the earlier Erebus tragedy are the mark of a great leader.
Initiated in 2005, the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for the engineering professionals of New Zealand. The awards are presented in two major areas: Awards Recognising People, that recognise leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and our young engineers; and Project and Product Awards, which recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme Award for the best of the Project and Product winners.
Awards Recognising People
William Pickering Award for Engineering Leadership
Sponsored by the IPENZ Foundation
This is the most prestigious of the Awards Recognising People and recognises an engineer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, and is a role model for other engineers.
Rob Fyfe FIPENZ
New Zealand Engineering Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by AECOM
This award recognises an engineer, engineering technologist, or a team engaged in engineering activities who, through entrepreneurship, has created or developed a new business opportunity.
Ian McCrae
New Zealand Engineering Innovator of the Year
Sponsored by Beca
This award recognises an engineer, engineering technologist, or a team engaged in engineering activities, who has demonstrated a commitment to innovation in engineering.
Dr Keith Alexander FIPENZ
New Zealand Young Engineer of the Year
Sponsored by URS New Zealand Ltd
This award recognises a young engineer who is judged to have made the most excellent contribution as an engineer and a leader, and through community involvement.
Matthew Lander MIPENZ
Award for Excellence in Engineering Journalism
Sponsored by the IPENZ Foundation
This award recognises a journalist who has most improved the public’s understanding of the contribution that engineering industries and professional engineers make to society. The award is open to print, radio, web-based publications, news media and television journalists.
Sheridan Gundry
Project and Product Awards
Supreme Award for New Zealand Engineering Excellence
Sponsored by Standards New Zealand
The recipient of this award is selected from the winners of each of the Project and Product Awards. The award recognises the project which stands out from the others in terms of its eminence and contribution to engineering and New Zealand.
Coronet Peak Ski Area Snow-making Infrastructure and Reservoirs
Hadley Consultants Ltd, NZSki Ltd and TechnoAlpin
Building and Construction
Sponsored by the Department of Building and Housing
This award recognises outstanding activities associated with the design and construction of buildings.
Stamford Residences
Aurecon New Zealand Ltd
Chemical, Bioprocess and Food
Sponsored by IPENZ
This award recognises outstanding activities associated with the development of improved or new bioprocess technology involving chemical processes, biological processes, food processing, storage and specialised transport and materials handling.
SLN Shaking Baghouse Project
Beca
Energy Systems
Sponsored by the Electricity Engineers’ Association
This award recognises exceptional activities or projects associated with the development or implementation of improved or new products or services for generation, transmission, reticulation or use of gas or electricity, including motor and engine technology.
FasTec 1to3 Electric Motor Starter
FasTec Ltd
Information, Communication, Electrical and Electronic Technology
Sponsored by A J Park
This award recognises exceptional activities associated with the development of improved or new communications, hardware and/or software, embedded systems, broadcasting, telecommunications, electrical or electronic products and controls.
ORC400
KiwiRail and Xworks NZ Ltd
Mechanical and Manufacturing
Sponsored by Industrial Research Ltd
This award recognises outstanding activities associated with the development of improved or new products, processes or services using mechanical engineering, mechatronics, or which arise in the manufacturing sector.
Log Bolster Attachments
Log Transport Safety Council
Sustainability and Clean Technology
Sponsored by Meridian Energy Ltd
This award recognises outstanding activities associated with world’s best practice in minimising non-renewable resource use and waste, or improvements in sustainability.
NZi3 New Zealand ICT Innovation Institute
Beca
Transportation Infrastructure
Sponsored by the New Zealand Transport Agency
This award recognises exceptional activities associated with the development or operation of any form of land, sea or air transport infrastructure assets.
Northern Gateway Toll Road
The Northern Gateway Alliance Partners: New Zealand Transport Agency, Fulton Hogan Ltd, Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, URS New Zealand Ltd, Tonkin & Taylor Ltd and Boffa Miskell
Water, Waste and Amenities
Sponsored by Watercare Services Ltd
This award recognises outstanding activities associated with reliable supply of services to communities and/or their distribution networks in respect of any of water supply, water storage, wastewater, flood works or community amenities.
Coronet Peak Ski Area Snow-making Infrastructure and Reservoirs
Hadley Consultants Ltd, NZSki Ltd and TechnoAlpin