24 August 2023:
Fulton Hogan Laboratory team members at our Canterbury and Manawatū Labs have been recognised for their outstanding work in the 2023 CETANZ (Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand) awards.
Shown after the awards in Hamilton is Field Testing Supervisor, Ahurei Manukau-Papa; Canterbury Lab Business Development Manager, Steven Franc; Manawatū Lab Technician, Samantha Higgins; Manawatū Lab Manager Brenden Muir; Canterbury Binders Technical Expert, Rachel Smith, and Canterbury Lab Operational Manager, Liam Brennan.
Canterbury’s Rachel Smith won CETANZ’s Technical Excellence award. In addition to two decades of environmental and aggregate testing, Rachel has been instrumental in the manufacturing and blending of bitumen at the Lyttleton plant, following the move to direct bitumen importation.
“With extensive expertise in emulsion testing, rhealogical properties, performance testing and E2 calibrations, Rachel has created long-standing loyal relationships with the business,” says Canterbury Lab Operations Manager, Liam Brennan.
“She is a valued member of many bitumen teams, always willing to share her knowledge and pass on skills.”
Manawatū Lab‘s Field Testing Supervisor Ahurei Manukau-Papa was runner-up in the Technical Excellence category and, in another success for Manawatū, Technician Samantha Higgins won the Emerging Technician award for her work on the Te Ahu a Turanga:Tararua Highway project.
Manawatū Lab Manager, Brenden Muir, says the team is proud to have two team members honoured nationally, reflecting how quickly Samantha and Ahurei have grown into their roles after coming to the industry without civil construction experience.
National Pavement Engineering Manager, Emile van Zyl, and Waikato Lab Manager Stacey Walker presented at the conference, and three Lab leaders were appointed to the CETANZ committee – Canterbury’s Steven Franc, Reliable Way’s Ben Warne and Brenden Muir. Stevenson Lab Manager, Trevor Whitmore, stepped down from the committee after a number of years’ service.
