Each year, the industry organisation acknowledges top engineers from across the country. Fellowship is a special class of membership that “recognises the most highly experienced professionals who have made a huge impact on engineering in Aotearoa."
It’s fitting recognition for Keith, who this month celebrates 50 years of service with WSP and predecessors the Ministry of Works and Opus International Consultants.
Armed with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Canterbury, Keith began his career as special projects assistant in the head office of the Ministry of Works in 1975. He quickly progressed through the department’s ranks to become a construction engineer.
Keith has made a major contribution to the development of Wellington’s state highway network. He has worked on a slew of award-winning transport engineering projects, including the SH1 Wellington Inner City Bypass, Newlands Interchange, SH2/SH58 Haywards Interchange, SH2 Rimutaka (Muldoon’s) Corner, Silverstream to Manor Park 4-laning and Kapiti’s Emerald Glen Connection.
A highlight for Keith was managing the construction phase or taking responsibility as Engineer to Contract for every Opus-led major state highway project in the Wellington region between 1985-2017.
While being Engineer to Contract for 480 contracts has had its challenges, Keith says it's immensely satisfying being able to travel past a range of complex projects that he has played a part in designing, procuring and constructing. Along the way, he has mentored countless young engineers.
In a just published citation, Engineering New Zealand singled out Keith’s “tremendous contribution to the technical health of engineering within WSP in both contract management, cost estimating and risk”.
Engineering NZ plan to honour all its 2022 Fellows and Medal winners' achievements at a gala dinner later this year.
