EEA Awards celebrate meritorious service, safety and engineering excellence and our next generation of engineers

Initiatives utilising location technology, best practice instructional design and te ao Māori values were celebrated today at the annual EEA Conference and Technology Exhibition awards ceremony.

The EEA Awards are given in recognition of outstanding contribution to industry and to showcase, reward and celebrate excellence and innovation. Three project-based awards were announced alongside several individual awards and scholarships.

The judges noted how this year, a significant factor in each of the winning entries was the level of stakeholder and staff engagement they included, with each project achieving success by working closely with others.

EEA Chief Executive and judge Peter Berry said: “It was fantastic to see such a broad and inclusive approach to achieving success. We know that across industry, the only way we will deliver a net zero carbon energy future is by working collaboratively and that includes with our communities.

“This year’s winning projects show our industry is committed to this level of collaboration.”

Northpower won the Engineering Excellence award for their initiative ‘Enabling te ao Māori values to guide construction of a resilient power supply for Whangārei’.

The transmission tower replacement and relocation project provided examples of excellence in how engineering challenges were addressed, the emphasis given to reducing risk to flora and fauna, and how significant stakeholder engagement was managed.

Powerco’s ‘Car verses Pole’ initiative won the Public Safety Award for its use of extensive data modelling and stakeholder engagement to first identify high risk power poles and then implement change to prevent serious harm incidents and fatalities.

In 2023 Powerco embarked on a 10-year programme to eliminate or mitigate the risk of vehicles versus poles at all 845 identified locations, now part of Powerco’s Asset Management Plan.

The Workplace Safety Award was won by WEL Networks’ initiative ‘Improving workplace safety on low voltage assets for our industry’.

The team used best practice in instructional design and significant staff engagement to transform the EEA’s Guide to Low Voltage Works Management for Distribution (Network) Infrastructure Assets, into practical, visual guidelines to improve safety across the industry.

They adopted a ‘field-up’ approach to deliver an outcome that was firmly based on worker needs and was welcomed by staff.

In other awards, Northpower’s Shaun Brown was selected for the Professional Development Award, while Ventia’s Harsharan Singh was celebrated for picking up the Young Engineer of the Year Award, announced earlier this year.

As part of his award, Shaun is off to Geneva to attend the CIRED 2025 – Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution, while Harsharan will attend the IEC Young Professionals in Edinburgh, next month.

The EEA’s University Scholarship Award winners were also acknowledged at Conference having been awarded earlier in the year.

Scholarships were awarded to Sammy Soud from the Auckland University of Technology, the University of Auckland’s James Davison and Julio Romero and the University of Canterbury’s Treasa Glubb, Alison Murray and Alice Fahy.

In the final award of the Conference, Alison Andrew, former CE of Transpower and Peter Berry, outgoing CE of the EEA, were honoured with a Meritorious Service Award.

EEA President Josie Boyd said the Meritorious Service Award recognises a visionary leader who has brought significant benefit to our electricity supply industry, and to New Zealand.

“It is a rare accolade and so it gives me great pleasure to announce Alison as our 19th and Peter as our 20th recipients.

“In 2018 Alison brought a vision of change to industry with the publication of Te Mauri Hiko, which explored potential future scenarios for New Zealand’s energy future. This report was the first of its kind. It forced us to take a second look at our assumptions of what the future would bring.

“Today, we continue to reference and quote this work led by Alison.

“She has also been a staunch advocate for women in engineering, women in leadership, diversity across the industry and for the promotion of STEM subjects in schools through Transpower’s commitment to Engineering New Zealand’s Wonder Project.

“Alison has earned the respect of many for her vision, her bold leadership and her commitment.

In the second Meritorious Award of the day, Peter Berry was honoured for his remarkable service and unwavering commitment to the success of the EEA and the electricity supply sector.

“Peter has led the EEA for the past 31 years and has turned it into what it is today, supporting our people to ensure they meet the engineering, technical and safety requirements of the day while also preparing for the future,” said Josie.

“He has navigated the dynamics of a continually changing sector with calm assurance and his knowledge of the industry is second-to-none. His achievements are many and include the establishment of the conference where we are thrilled to now honour him with this award.”

The EEA Awards were announced on day two of EEA2024, the Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition being held in Christchurch. More than 1000 delegates, exhibitors and visitors attended the event.

COMPLETE LIST:

1. Meritorious service awards: Alison Andrew and Peter Berry
2. Engineering excellence award: Northpower, Enabling te ao Māori values to guide construction of a resilient power supply for Whangārei
3. Public safety award: Powerco, Car verses pole
4. Workplace safety award: WEL Networks, Improving workplace safety on low voltage assets for our industry.
5. Professional development award: Shaun Brown, Distribution Engineering Manager, Northpower.
6. Young engineer of the year award: Harsharan Singh, Operations Manager, Ventia
7. University scholarships:

PROJECT DETAILS

Engineering excellence award, Northpower: Enabling te ao Māori values to guide construction of a resilient power supply for Whangārei.

The purpose of the Engineering Excellence Award is to recognise recent activities or projects associated with the development of new infrastructure or the improvement of existing infrastructure.

The removal of an at-risk transmission tower affected by subsidence, building two temporary bypass circuits and the installation of a new tower at a new location were the subjects of Northpower’s entry.

The project tackled both engineering challenges thanks to difficult terrain and access, record rainfall, access to equipment and time pressures, as well as the need for significant stakeholder engagement with local hapū and businesses, the Department of Conservation and a host of specialist consultants.

Northpower placed particular emphasis on reducing risk to flora and fauna including native snails and bats, kiwi and skinks. Through wildlife monitoring, fauna reports and working closely with DOC, wildlife consent was achieved within three weeks.

Hapū had significant input into selecting the location of the new tower, as well as the means to construct an access track.

They were invited to give feedback on designs and challenged Northpower’s linear engineering thinking, before gifting the new tower the name of Pukenui Ngahere, turning this engineering project into a unique cultural marker.

The project was completed within 18-months giving Northpower’s customers significant benefit from improved resilience.

In their entry, Northpower stated “The successful delivery of the project within 18 months is a testament to the way our engineers tackle problems that arise and cemented the importance of quality collaborations with hapū, local councils and external consultants.”

The judges were impressed by the comprehensive engineering analysis completed, creative engineering solutions, and the comprehensive and successful cultural and environmental stakeholder engagement conducted.

Public safety award: Powerco, car verses pole

The purpose of the Public Safety Award is to recognise excellence in fostering public awareness and education about electricity safety and safety around electricity supply assets.

Powerco’s car verses pole initiative is about identifying high risk power poles to prevent serious harm incidents and fatalities.

Through extensive data modelling and working with Waka Kotahi, Powerco were able to identify 845 high risk poles and roadside locations where multiple incidents of vehicle versus pole collisions had occurred over the past 40 years.

In 2023 they embarked on a 10-year programme to eliminate or mitigate the risk of vehicles versus poles on all identified locations. The 10-year investment is now part of Powerco’s Asset Management Plan.

The preferred method is to remove the poles, but other mitigation can include barriers, roadway alterations and area design reviews. By the end of March this year, work has mitigated or eliminated the risk to vehicle versus poles at 87 pole sites.

In their entry, Powerco stated: “Our motivation to enter this award is to share our knowledge of how lives can be saved by simply moving, removing or guarding a power pole. Our vision is for all EDBs to adopt this initiative to help save lives.”

The judging committee commended Powerco for their evidence-based approach, good risk-management practices, clear outcomes and the considerable amount of effort that went into working alongside others.

Workplace safety award, WEL Networks: Improving workplace safety on low voltage assets for our industry

The purpose of the Workplace Safety Awards is to recognise excellence in health and safety including achievement or contribution to workplace safety.

WEL Networks’ low voltage work management programme ensures safer working procedures for the low voltage network. They took the EEA Guide to Low Voltage Works Management for Distribution (Network) Infrastructure Assets, and transformed it into practical, visual guidelines to improve safety across our industry. This was done using best practice in instructional design, and by drawing on the involvement of staff who provided front-line expertise and skills.

As noted by WEL Networks, different people have varying learning styles. They produced imagery to assist the visual learners, and podcasts featuring front-line workers talking their colleagues through the -process. The first ever podcast has been listened to 160 times. There are 100 field staff.

The team also integrated an app called Safety Culture into their process which supports risk assessments and provides guidelines for those task-specific procedures that apply to the job. The app enables real-time visibility of when and where permits are issued and if anything goes wrong on the network, the ability to immediately identify if the fault is related to low voltage works.

In their entry, WEL Networks stated: “Our interest lies in improving health and safety for the whole industry. Our people welcome the programme. Through collaboration and communication, we have ensured that everyone understands the objective of returning home safely to their family, every day.”

The judging committee were impressed by the way WEL Networks implemented a ‘field-up’ approach and the time that was spent in the field, to understanding exactly what was happening. It enabled to team to deliver an outcome that was firmly based on worker needs and was welcomed by staff.

Professional development award: Shaun Brown, Distribution Engineering Manager, Northpower.

After being selected for this award, Shaun will attend CIRED 2025 – the 28th Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution in Geneva.

Shaun currently manages a team of technical engineers focused on distribution design and maintenance, standard development and equipment specification and selection.

He demonstrates an ongoing commitment to growth and development having completed training in Safety in Design, ICAM investigations, electrical safety and the New Zealand Certificate in Business. He is part of Northpower’s Talent Development Programme.

He hopes to be able to apply knowledge from CIRED to his work on the development of Northpower’s first solar farm in Ruawai and support his goal of contribution to cutting-edge engineering practices that promote a sustainable energy future.

Shaun Brown: “By learning from, and incorporating European best practices, I can help our industry stay innovative, resilient, and aligned with global standards as we work towards a more sustainable and efficient energy system in New Zealand.”

Young engineer of the year award: Harsharan Singh, Operations Manager, Ventia

Harsharan currently leads a team of 35, responsible for projects across transmission and distribution clients in the Lower North Island region of the country. He is also the Chair of Judging Panel for the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards.

A graduate of Auckland University of Technology, Harsharan began his career as a power systems engineer at Beca where he spent 10 years in several different roles before becoming a project manager at Ventia in 2021.

He was particularly noted for his role in Ventia’s emergency response at Redclyffe Substation following the devasting floods in the Hawkes Bay region.

The judging committee were particularly impressed by Harsharan’s leadership both inside and outside of his workplace. Not only does he demonstrate strength in engineering, he has led teams through really challenging work and also shows strong leadership within the sector.

As part of his win, Harsharan will represent Aotearoa at the 2024 IEC Young Professionals Workshop which is being held in Edinburgh UK.