GHD boosts New Zealand business with high-profile appointments

One of the world’s leading engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services companies, GHD, welcomes six experienced technical leaders to support the continuing growth of its New Zealand business.

Donald MacRae, Stephen Douglass, Kim Hardy, Jivir Viyakesparan, John McArthur and Geoffrey Farquhar further enhance GHD’s capabilities in water, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. The incoming talent brings extensive local and international experience to complement GHD’s accomplished New Zealand team of engineers, architects, scientists, planners and other professionals.

GHD’s Manager, New Zealand, Ian Fraser, says, “Our team continues to evolve in response to growing demand for our services from both private and public sector clients around the country. From designing transport projects in Auckland to helping councils develop policy to deal with natural hazards, everything we do is based on our commitment to responsive client service and technical leadership.”

Ian is also a newcomer to the company, with a career spanning 25 years’ experience across New Zealand, USA, Mexico and Asia. He recently joined GHD from the senior leadership team of an international consulting company, where he held senior roles on major infrastructure projects.

GHD, which is privately owned by its people, employs almost 400 people in New Zealand, with offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Taumaranui, Hastings and Palmerston North. The local team is part of a connected global network of more than 8500 people.

Ian adds, “We connect our local clients to the technical skills they need, whether they are located in Auckland, Adelaide or Atlanta. In turn, our global clients have access to the depth of capabilities and experience we have in New Zealand.”

About the new appointments:

Donald MacRae – Auckland

Donald brings project delivery experience with New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport. Donald’s experience in the UK and Auckland infrastructure markets has provided him with a well-balanced view of the contractor/consultant/client relationship model, in particular the sensitivities towards client priorities such as stakeholder management and safety.

Jivir Viyakesparan – Hamilton

Jivir has over 30 years’ experience and has worked in a wide range of design and operational management roles throughout his career, including team management and client relationship management. As a Chartered Civil Engineer with extensive United Kingdom and international experience in water supply management, he has led and delivered complex projects and programmes of work, including commercial tenders, investment programmes, strategic business development, and cross-functional business change programmes.

Stephen Douglass – Christchurch

Stephen is a Principal Hydrogeologist with more than 13 years’ experience in planning and environmental sciences. Stephen has lead surface water and groundwater investigations associated with large hydro energy and irrigation schemes and is skilled in aquifer testing, groundwater modelling, potable water supply and contaminated site assessment. Stephen routinely presents technical evidence in council hearings for resource consent and plan change purposes.

Kim Hardy – Auckland

Kim has more than 20 years’ experience in urban and environmental planning with a strong technical and strategic planning background. She is regularly appointed as an Independent Hearings Commissioner. Kim works successfully in multidisciplinary project teams across the full spectrum of urban land development and natural resource use and allocation issues. She has worked for the private sector, local government and for infrastructure providers.

John McArthur – Christchurch

John has more than 30 years’ experience in New Zealand and Australia as a civil engineer involved in hydraulic and environmental investigations, including modelling of complex river/creek/floodplain systems and analysis of urban stormwater drainage systems using both static and dynamic modelling approaches. He has completed many integrated catchment management and relief drainage studies.

Geoffrey Farquhar - Auckland

Geoffrey has 36 years’ geotechnical engineering experience in New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. His experience covers the full spectrum of infrastructure projects such as dams, roads, power stations, power transmission lines, hydropower schemes, landfills, buildings and land development. He also specialises in dam safety.