News

	Arthur Amputch – Inaugural winner Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch Excellence in Service Award RILEY Technical Director, Arthur Amputch (FEngNZ) received a significant honour recently when chosen as the inaugural winner of the Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch Excellence in Service Award. The Award, which celebrates 100 years of engineering in Auckland, recognises exceptional engineers who have set a high standard for others to follow. Award criteria includes: Serving selflessly for the benefit of the community Using their unique engineering skills for the benefit of others Making an outstanding contribution to the profession Practising engineering in a way that gives back to the industry and wider community. Arthur commented: I am humbled and overwhelmed by this honour. I would like to acknowledge the opportunities and latitude that RILEY has afforded me to grow in my career – the consultancy’s progressive thinking is a breath of fresh air. For anyone in our profession, a legacy is not just the built environment for which we were responsible, it is the transfer of knowledge between engineers for the benefit of all future generations. This is an ethical imperative for each of us as engineers. I believe that mentoring, coaching, and practicing engineering in a way that gives back to the industry and the wider community is the best way to achieve this.
	RILEY welcomes a new External Director We are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Lilley as External Director. Peter brings to RILEY more than 25 years’ of industry knowledge gained from his experience of both the power generation industry, where he undertook a variety of roles within Trustpower Generation including those of Strategy Manager and General Manager (acting), and as a respected consultant water resource engineer. Much of Peter’s career to date has focused on water resource governance, efficiency, development, optimisation, safety, and performance. He has overseen many water resource projects from new developments to major infrastructure upgrades, and has co-ordinated project inputs across multiple disciplines, both technical and non-technical. A core area of expertise is the development and lifecycle management of multi-use assets that combine uses, such as hydro-electricity, irrigation, town water supply, stormwater, recreation, and commercial use. He has also had involvement with a large range of collaborative processes including resource consenting and the Land and Water Forum. Peter is a past Chairperson of the New Zealand Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD) and currently represents New Zealand at the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) on their Public Safety committee. Having someone of Peter’s calibre join us is a great company endorsement; his extensive knowledge and experience will enhance our consultancy as we continue to grow and develop.
	True to form, the Last Try Wins In a tight and exciting match, the Christchurch RILEY touch team, Last Try Wins, took out the opposition in the South Hagley Park mixed Wednesday night division. In the semi-final the team was up against Hogan Heroes (Fulton Hogan) who had recruited Black Ferns half-back Kendra Cocksedge to their side. It proved a thrilling game, with Leo (Leanne Sutherland) scoring the opener for Last Try Wins, and B Mac (Brendon Fisher), securing the win with a late second-half try. The following week, in the final against Smokin' Arrows (Arrow), the first half proved tight with Last Try Wins narrowly ahead on the scoreboard at half-time, before pulling away in the second half to take home the gold medal with a comfortable two try lead.


	Rodney Coast Challenge Three teams took part in this year's Rodney Coast Challenge. the course starts in Woodhill Forest with a 10km run, transitioning to a 30km road bike leg, followed by a 25km mountain bike section to Puhoi, and an 8km kayak and 100m run to the finishing line at Wenderholm. Despite continuous torrential rain and thunder and lightning all teams finished in very respectable times. The mixed team came first in their category, whilst the two all-male teams finished second and eighth.
	Auckland Office Ski Trip Poor ski conditions could not dampen enthusiasm for the annual RILEY ski trip. So, when the slopes closed, we took to the mountain bike trails to make the most of the weekend.