WSP appoints new Technical Directors and Principals

WSP in New Zealand is pleased to welcome three new Technical Directors and ten new Technical Principals as part of its latest tranche of technical appointments, career advancements and promotions.

Tuesday, 2 August 2022 - New Zealand

Wellington-based Roger Burra has been promoted to Technical Director Transport. Christchurch-based Roger Cudmore joins as Technical Director Environment from Golder, a global earth sciences and environmental consulting firm acquired by WSP in April. In a new external appointment, Auckland-based Arnaud Deutsch joins as Technical Director Transport.

The two Rogers and Arnaud join at least thirty other Technical Directors at WSP, who work collaboratively with clients and relationship managers to deliver technical excellence on design and infrastructure projects. Combined, the three have over 60 years’ professional experience.

Roger Burra has worked in transportation planning and engineering for the past 24 years and is nationally recognised for his expertise in developing transport strategy. Roger Cudmore has been a consultant in air quality management for over 20 years, working for industry, regional councils and the Ministry for the Environment. Arnaud has over 20 years' experience as a multi-disciplinary engineer – advising on large infrastructure projects in New Zealand and overseas.

WSP's ten new Technical Principals join their colleagues in providing technical direction on projects and setting best practice. They are:

Wendy Hoddinott – Technical Principal, Landscape Architecture
Christchurch-based Wendy is a registered landscape architect with 16 years’ experience in professional practice. She specialises in heritage related projects and sites of cultural significance and has written landscape conservation plans for some of Aotearoa’s most important landscapes.

Lewis Thomas - Technical Principal, Civil Structures
Christchurch-based Lewis has 16 years’ experience in civil structures. Over the past several years at WSP and predecessor Opus he has been structural design lead on several major infrastructure projects, including the Ruakura and Renwick reservoirs.

Jason Hobman - Technical Principal, Bridge Asset Management
Wellington-based Jason specialises in bridge and civil structures asset management. A nationally recognised leader, technical advisor and reviewer with over 30 years’ industry experience, he has led WSP’s involvement in a range of Waka Kotahi projects and contracts.

Sam Thornton - Technical Principal, Transportation
Wellington-based Sam has 16 years’ experience with small, medium and large-scale transport projects for public sector clients including Waka Kotahi and Let’s Get Wellington Moving. His area of expertise is transport planning, design and safety.

Rob Bond - Technical Principal, Geotechnical Engineering
Alexandra-based Rob has worked at WSP and predecessor Opus in New Zealand and the UK for nearly 30 years. He specialises in geotechnical engineering risk and resilience – working on civil, structural and geotechnical projects across the South Island.

Andrew Hart - Technical Principal, Environmental Science
Auckland-based Andrew is an environmental scientist focussing on contaminated land management. With 16 years’ experience, he joins WSP from just-acquired Golder and is well recognised nationally for his technical and scientific approach to solving contaminated land issues.

Hock Yeo - Technical Principal, Water and Wastewater
Christchurch-based Hock specialises in water and wastewater design and construction management. A 34-year industry veteran, his recent track record includes stints as programme and project manager for new water and infrastructure projects in Hawke’s Bay, Ashburton and Selwyn District.

Daniel Johnson - Technical Principal, Water Asset Management
Christchurch-based Daniel brings 24 years of hydraulic water modelling and asset management experience to his new role. He is heavily involved in solving complex water issues for a range of clients, including central government agencies, local authorities and council-controlled organisations.

Mark Groves - Technical Principal, Stormwater and Flood Risk Management
Christchurch-based Mark’s specialist area is civil and environmental engineering. With 23 years’ experience, he is WSP’s go-to expert on emergency stormwater and flood protection advice – also serving as WSP expert witness for Council and Environment Court hearings.

Chris Hardy – Technical Principal, Water and Wastewater
Hamilton-based Chris is an experienced civil engineer with 25 years’ experience working in the private and municipal water engineering industry. Three waters infrastructure, sustainable development, and hydrology / hydraulics are his specialities.