SESOC Emerging Structural Engineers Network – Wellington Launch “Things I learnt the hard way”

SESOC is excited to announce the Wellington launch of the Emerging Structural Engineers Network.

This follows successful launch events held in Auckland and Christchurch.

Tuesday 14 May 2019
Opus Presentation Room – Level 10, Majestic Centre, 100 Willis St, Wellington

There will be an opportunity for networking with pizza and drinks from 5.30pm, the presentations will start at 6pm. 

We’re fortunate to have four leaders in the structural engineering industry sharing on “things I learnt the hard way”. Whether it be technical challenges in design or construction projects, building relationships with clients and colleagues or the development of professional skills, the transition from university student to professional engineer can be tough – come and learn from the experiences of those that have been there.

Our four panellists are:

Anna Philpot
Anna graduated from Canterbury University with a BE(Hons) in 2010 and started work at Holmes Consulting in Wellington two weeks before the February earthquake in Christchurch. While a large part of the New Zealand structural engineering sector focused on the Christchurch aftermath and rebuild, Wellington building owners and tenants initiated a more urgent and focused review of the seismic performance of their properties. This lead to opportunities for Anna to work on several interesting and challenging projects including The Majestic Centre, Wellington Railway Station, Wellington Museum and Wellington Town Hall. The challenges presented by these projects often required unique approaches and solutions and were fantastic for developing Anna’s engineering fundamentals and problem solving skills.

Steve Kemp
Steve is a Technical Director with Beca, focussing on buildings and more recently airport terminal buildings.  Steve spent his early career in the UK working in both private and public sectors.  In 2007, he moved to New Zealand to take a position with Beca as a senior structural engineer.  Projects included a variety of sectors such as power generation, schools and rail. Steve returned to the UK briefly to lead a structural engineering regional office and was responsible for finding and winning work as well as delivering it.  Returning to New Zealand in 2014, Steve has led a number of projects, most with an aviation focus, such as the terminal south extension project at Wellington Airport.

Susan Temple
Susan graduated from Bradford University in the UK with MEng, and worked for a small consultant Engineering firm before making the switch to main contracting. For the following 4 years, she was the Structural Engineer for their in-house design department, before coming to New Zealand in 2005. Susan is an integral part of the on-site and pre-construction team at Hawkins where she carries out all temporary works designs and reviews, develops and manages construction programmes and methodologies, carries out coordination reviews to pre-empt site problems, and ensures structural and civil QA processes are implemented and controlled. Susan’s roles at Hawkins have included Temp Works Engineer for the Supreme Court, (Construction) Project Manager in Vanuatu, and now Senior Engineer. She has recently undertaken a series of nationwide presentations with SARNZ, WorkSafe and the TWf regarding scaffold design and installation.

Paul Campbell
Paul is a Technical Leader for WSP Opus, and a Past-President and life member of the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC). Paul is passionate about structural engineering and believes that we need strong advocacy and leadership in the profession. His focus is giving structural engineers the tools and support they need to practice their profession.  After the Canterbury Earthquake sequence of 2010 and 2011 Paul held various technical and leadership roles seconded within Christchurch City Council, Civil Defence and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA). Subsequent to the earthquakes he has given evidence at the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission, put submissions to the New Zealand Government on Earthquake legislative matters and spent time working on improving the resilience and preparedness of New Zealand to respond to the next big event. 

The event is free but registration is essential, Please RSVP below by Friday 10 May.