GHD, Tauranga City Council and Fulton Hogan build careers in engineering through local partnership

Two emerging water engineers have completed the first Project New Grad programme in Tauranga, marking a new chapter for local talent development in the Bay of Plenty.

Over the last three years, Gurjodh Singh and Robson Silva have each completed one-year rotations with GHD, Tauranga City Council and Fulton Hogan, gaining experience across water, wastewater and stormwater projects. Both graduates are now pursuing full‑time employment in the region, continuing to build on the experience gained through the programme.

The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, 4 December at Tauranga City Council.

The award-winning Project New Grad has been running in Tāmaki Makaurau for over 20 years, with sector-wide collaboration enabling its success. The Bay of Plenty programme, a collaboration between GHD, Tauranga City Council and Fulton Hogan, was launched in Tauranga three years ago to help address the region’s growing demand for skilled engineers. The programme offers graduates the opportunity to work with leading organisations across consulting, local government and contractor environments, developing technical and professional skills and contribute to projects that support the region’s rapid growth. Through these rotations, participants develop a broad skill set, gain insight into the full project lifecycle and build professional networks that support their long-term careers in the region.

This is the first Tauranga cohort to complete all rotations and graduate from the programme.

Programmes like Project New Grad are vital for the Bay of Plenty, says Nick Gurr, GHD Bay of Plenty Regional Leader. “We’re helping graduates to build the skills and relationships they need to thrive here. Supporting local talent in this way means we’re not only investing in their future, but also in the future of our region.”

Wally Potts, Head of City Waters at Tauranga City Council, commented, “The first three years of the programme have been a great success, and we are very pleased to see graduates already moving into permanent employment. We look forward to continuing the programme with our partners GHD and Fulton Hogan.”

“At Fulton Hogan, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of engineers through real-world experience on vital infrastructure projects. Project New Grad is a fantastic example of how industry and local government can work together to give young talent the opportunities they need to launch successful careers in the Bay of Plenty. We look forward to continuing our partnership with GHD and Tauranga City Council, fostering pathways for local graduates to become future leaders in our industry,” said Anita Varga, Fulton Hogan’s Bay of Plenty Regional Manager.

Six other Tauranga graduates are currently working through the programme, building their experience across the partner organisations. Applications for the next intake will open in mid-2026.

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 165 offices located on five continents.