Kiwi engineer behind Rio Olympics takes out top IPENZ Award

Kiwi engineer behind Rio Olympics takes out top IPENZ Award

Engineering’s top achievers were recognised tonight at the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand’s 2016 Fellows’ and Achievers’ Awards in Wellington.

The awards, attended by more than 300 people, were an opportunity to celebrate individual achievement and technical expertise. Awards, Fellowships, Honorary Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships were presented to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

New Fellows included Auckland University Professor Nicolas Smith for his contribution to the progress of engineering knowledge and education, particularly recognising his bio-engineering work on the heart’s coronary circulation.

Beca’s Martin Peat (30), won the IPENZ Young Engineer of the Year award in part for his work in crowd modelling ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics and Paralympics.

Martin Peat, a graduate of Auckland University, was hand-picked for the job in Rio having impressed Olympic organisers with his work analysing pedestrian movement for the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. The award also acknowledges Martin’s community involvement and commitment to the engineering profession.

Martin Peat said it was a huge privilege to be named as IPENZ’s Young Engineer of the Year. He said the 2016 IPENZ awards showcased the diversity and strength of the engineering industry in New Zealand.

IPENZ Chief Executive Susan Freeman-Greene said Award recipients and Fellows were not only technical experts, but local and international ambassadors for engineering.

“Tonight’s awards are about recognising the good work of our peers, as well as sharing our members’ success stories with New Zealanders. For example, The Fulton-Downer Silver Medal was awarded to GHD Structural Engineer Chantelle Bailey, not only for her project management of the Mangaweka Bridge, but for her work mentoring students.

“For IPENZ, recognising best practice in engineering, supporting future leaders and upholding professional standards is about building an engineering profession that New Zealanders can be proud of and can trust,” Susan Freeman-Greene said.

A full list of award winners and fellows from tonight’s awards can be found here: https://www.ipenz.nz/home/news-and-publications

ENDS

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