THE ENVI.ED JUDGING PANEL.

2023 ENVI judges

Our judges have a broad range of diverse backgrounds and expertise. Two judges are allocated to each award category, with the final decision being made by the wider judging panel.

Sarah Lang

Sarah’s current role as Business Director – Government Advisory and Strategic Relationships at Beca includes strengthening relationships with Central Government clients, supporting the establishment of Beca’s Te Ao Māori Advisory Services and the Beca Pasifika Network, and leading Social Procurement and Broader Outcomes within the organisation.

In 2016 Sarah established the New Zealand Women’s Infrastructure Network and has led the growth of the WIN network to over 2,000 members spread over seven chapters nationwide. In 2018 she received the Women of Influence Diversity Award and was a nominee for the 2019 New Zealander of the Year Award. She has also contributed to the establishment of many Māori employment initiatives. In addition Sarah has her own company, Lang Consulting, where she specialises in policy and strategy work, and working with government and iwi on post Treaty Settlement initiatives.

Charlotte Downes

Charlotte Downes is the Programme Director for The Diversity Agenda, the award-winning movement committed to helping engineering and architecture firms become more diverse and inclusive, through awareness, empowerment and action.

Charlotte has led talent acquisition teams around the globe and previously led the Diversity and Inclusion programme at Air New Zealand before moving to Auckland Transport to lead the mahi in people experience and internal communications. Charlotte is passionate about building strong foundations and growing momentum to ensure our industries in New Zealand are inclusive for everyone.

Dane Hart

Chief Executive of Engineers Without Borders New Zealand. Dane is passionate about making sure that access to engineering capability and leadership is universal across New Zealand and the South Pacific. Since starting in the role, he has led change within the organisation to focus on delivering opportunities for engineers to learn the skills required to take a people-centred, strengths-based approach to improving community health, well-being and opportunity.

Alan Coulson

With a high performing technical background, Alan has a passion for creating and delivery innovation – be that business strategy, process or technical. He has worked with a variety of sectors, clients and stakeholders in the broader New Zealand research, science and technology system to identify, create and implement innovations which make a real difference.

His experience spans electronics and software engineering in commercial product development and service delivery contexts, through to research leadership and management. His current role is Manager Contestable Investments at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, in which role he manages a $300 million portfolio of investments in New Zealand research, science and technology.

Priti Ambani

Priti is the Director of New Business and Innovation at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in digital, IT and business services, where she is helping to grow and support New Zealand businesses and communities through Tata’s global capability.

An engineer by education and training, Priti has held various roles, globally, across engineering, business, strategy, consulting and education. Prior to joining TCS, Priti was the Director of Innovation at Tech Futures Lab in Auckland, where she launched, built and grew their Corporate Innovation Practice enabling innovation capability within large New Zealand businesses, teams and boards. Priti is co-founder and host of Moonshot:City, a podcast and blog exploring the big questions around what makes a resilient and regenerative city. Priti sits on the Boards of Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Super-diverse Women.

Tania Williams

General Manager – Member Services at Engineering New Zealand. Tania joined Engineering New Zealand in 2017 after a long career at engineering and management consulting firm MWH (now Stantec), where she was New Zealand General Manager, Water and Waste. Tania is passionate about the engineering profession, increasing diversity, supporting health, safety and wellbeing, fulfilling our obligations to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and advancing engineering and innovation for the benefit of our current and future generations. Tania was made a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand in 2017 in recognition of her contribution to the profession.

Alistair Cattanach

Director of Dunning Thornton, Wellington with over 25 years’ experience consulting in New Zealand and the UK. He has a passion for heritage buildings and challenging architecturally expressive structures, and is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand. He has been an innovator in PRESSS and other Low Damage Design techniques in concrete, steel, timber and masonry in New Zealand, and has held advisory/professional consulting roles in many of his areas of interest.

Craig Price

Chief Technical Officer for the Beca Group, Craig is responsible for leading the professional practice and guiding the development of their technical capability across eight countries, 23 offices and more than 3,500 staff. In addition to overseeing the development, implementation and execution of Beca’s project delivery systems Craig is accountable for the project risk framework for the business.

Richard Templer

Richard has been the Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand since November 2020. He is an experienced leader who has developed good relationships with mana whenua and key stakeholders and has delivered results for the customers and communities. He holds a PhD in engineering and has a background in science and innovation. Richard was formerly CEO of Manawatu District Council and has held senior leadership roles at Industrial Research, Meat & Wool New Zealand, the Ministry of Science & Innovation and Callaghan Innovation.

Steve Mutton

Steve Mutton has significant experience in critical infrastructure, including electricity, gas and roading networks. At Waka Kotahi Steve has held several senior roles, including leading the maintenance of New Zealand's state highway network and the reinstatement of the South Island transport system after the Kaikōura earthquake. Steve is currently the Director Regional Relationships for Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau. Steve is passionate about people and businesses collaborating in partnership to provide a better future for people and communities.

Kēpa Morgan

Dr Kēpa Morgan DistFEngNZ is Pou Hautū for Mahi Maioro Professionals Limited. Kēpa’s team combine mātauranga Māori, science and engineering technologies to evaluate ecosystem impacts using the mauri0meter. Their focus is the creation of monitoring systems for communicating changes in the mauri of freshwater bodies, and the holistic assessment of impacts resulting from municipal infrastructure and other environmental engineering challenges.

Derrick Adams

Derrick is a civil engineer with more than 35 years’ experience in the engineering and construction sector. He was CEO of HEB Construction for the last thirteen years and continues to play a significant role as Chairman of the Board. During his time as CEO, HEB completed many major projects including the Hobsonville Motorway, Kopu Bridge, Cambridge Bypass, Tauranga Eastern Link, Huntly Bypass, Mangere BNR with HEB currently working on Northern Corridor Improvements, Port of Napier Wharf, Manawatū Bypass and Transmission Gully.

Sina Cotter Tait

A proud graduate of the University of Canterbury, Sina has over 18 years' experience in consulting engineering as a Chartered Professional Engineer (Civil). She also holds an MBA and has recently completed a PhD in construction management. A former member of the Engineering New Zealand Governing Board, she's currently serving on the board of the CEAS, the Engineering NZ Foundation and the Engineering New Zealand Competence Assessment Board – she is passionate about giving back to the profession. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and ACE New Zealand.

Wharehuia Dixon

Wharehuia is a civil engineer with 15 years’ experience in airport infrastructure across New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. He works for Beca but is currently supporting Ngāti Awa by managing projects on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.

Andrew Read

Andrew is the Director of Pedersen Read Ltd, a consulting electrical engineering firm based in Christchurch. He’s been a consulting engineer for over 30 years and is a Fellow and Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand, and a Chartered Professional Engineer. He is presently Chair of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Business Practice Committee.

Matt Bishop

Matt is an engineer and entrepreneur, and has been working in New Zealand's construction industry for 11 years. He is an expert in interiors construction and construction technology, and is currently combining these to create New Zealand’s leading interiors engineering firm.

Brett Williams

Brett has been a General Manager at Engineering New Zealand since 2005. His team has a key role in setting and maintaining standards for entry to the profession through Engineering New Zealand's qualification accreditation programme and the operational support that they provide to the International Engineering Alliance and Vocational Engineering Education New Zealand.

A key part of Brett's role is to strengthen international linkages and ensure that New Zealand's standards for qualification accreditation, competence-based membership and registration meet international standards.

Annette Sweeney

A qualified and experienced Environmental Engineer and Resource Management Planner, Annette specialises in the consenting and delivery of infrastructure projects for local authorities and industry. She is experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams, providing an integrated approach across the design, consenting and construction phases of projects.

Annette is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand with just under 20 years’ experience in consulting to local authority clients. Her experience includes detailed design of water and wastewater schemes, water conservation and management strategies, design and implementation of compliance monitoring programmes including reporting on environmental effects, resource consenting and community consultation and communications.

Cameron Chapman

Cameron is the Market Leader – Distribution, responsible for a team of design engineers delivering substation designs to Mitton ElectroNet’s electricity network customers.

He was named the Young Engineer of the Year by the Electricity Engineers Association in 2022 and represented NZ at the IEC Young Professionals workshop. He is the treasurer of the Canterbury Branch, and has previously been chair of Canterbury and Waikato Branches.

Steven Goh

AProf Steven Goh is a seasoned executive, highly credentialed engineer, and highly awarded academic.
He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Chartered Professional Engineer, and Engineering Executive, recognized in the practice of Mechanical Engineering, and Leadership & Management. He served as 2012 QLD President, non-executive director of National Board in 2015, and on Mechanical College Board, and National Congress of Engineers Australia. He currently serves as the Editor (Strategic) for the Australian Journal of Mechanical Engineering and is the current President of Australasian Association of Engineering Education.

Penny Kneebone

Dr Penny Kneebone is Chief Executive at Tonkin + Taylor New Zealand. She’s an environmental scientist specialising in environmental management, a field that’s all about preparing well for a thriving and resilient future. She has a particular interest in fostering belonging and new leaders in our industry, and is delighted to be an ENVI judge in 2023.