Local Engineers Encouraged to Enter Awards

7th May 2009

Local Engineers Encouraged to Enter the 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards

Local Engineers are encouraged to enter the 2009 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards to highlight the achievements of local engineers and their organisations at a national level.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards (NZEEA) is the profession’s most prestigious awards event of the year and they shine the national spotlight on the engineers and their organisations that have played key roles in addressing national goals through engineering innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of infrastructure.

On behalf of founding partners and contributing organisations, the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Chief Executive Dr Andrew Cleland says the fifth annual New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards acknowledges innovation in the engineering profession.

“This is a great opportunity for engineers to put their hands up and tell us about the great work they or their colleagues have done over the past few years”, says Dr Cleland.

The awards are presented in two major areas - Individual Awards and Category Awards. The Individual Awards recognise leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, journalism and our young engineers. Engineers can also enter any one of eight group categories, which include Building, roading, electrical, mechanical, Information and Communication Technology, Food, Bioprocess and Chemical, and Sustainability and Clean Technology.

“The awards celebrate the achievements of the profession and acknowledge engineers who have contributed to their community by advancing engineering through entrepreneurial ship, innovation, and leadership”, says Dr Cleland. “We will also salute the New Zealand media and young engineers for their input”.

Awards up for grabs are:

2009 Individual Awards

• William Pickering Award for Engineering Leadership 2009.
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Last year’s winner was Kevin Thompson, Chief executive and Managing Director of Opus International Consultants, who has lead Opus with the company enjoying profitable growth and on-going success in a global market.

• New Zealand Engineering Entrepreneur of the Year 2009
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Last year’s winner was the team from Windsor Engineering, who developed innovative timber-drying kilns used throughout Australasia.

• New Zealand Innovator of the Year 2009
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The 2008 winner was the team from Whisper Tech who developed a combined heat and power WhisperGen generator that is selling fast in European markets.

• New Zealand Young engineers of the Year 2009
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Last year’s winner was Toby Collett and innovative robotics engineer who set up Inro Technologies.

• Award for Excellence in Engineering Journalism 2009
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This award has a $5,000 cash prize and last year’s winner was Simon Collins for his article “Raising Standards” published in the New Zealand Herald.

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2009 Category Awards

• Supreme Award for NZ Engineering Excellence 2009
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Last year’s winner was the Arapuni Dam Foundation Remediation Project – won by Brain Perry Civil, Damwatch, Mighty River Power and Trevi S.p.A

Building and Construction 2009

Last year’s winner was Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner for their University of Auckland Business School construction project.

• Utilities, Networks & Amenities 2009
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• Arapuni Dam Foundation Remediation Project – won by Brain Perry Civil, Damwatch, Mighty River Power and Trevi S.p.A
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• Roads & Transport 2009
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Last year’s winner was the Wellington Inner-City Bypass project won by Fulton Hogan, NZ Transport Agency, Opus International Consultants and Wellington City Council.

• Information & Communication Technology 2009
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Last year’s winner was Kordia for their Digital Terrestrial Television “Freeview” project.

Food, Bioprocess & Chemical 2009

Last year’s winner was GHD for their Carnes Agromar Lamb Processing Plant in Chile

• Mechanical & Manufacturing 2009
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Last year’s winners were Avalon Engineers, Fonterra and JMP Engineering for their Lights Out automatic packing system that packs milk power with robotics.

Electrical & Systems 2009

Last year’s winner was MWH New Zealand Ltd for their Dunedin International Airport Groundwater Heat Pump Energy System.

• Sustainability & Clean Technology 2009
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Last year’s winner was Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner and Christchurch City Council for the Burwood Landfill Gas Scheme.

Entries close on 1 July 2009.

The winners will be announced in November 2009 at a gala dinner at in Wellington.
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