He and his business partner Jim Dowell founded the company in Auckland in 1961 with the vision of ‘doing things better’. By the end of the 1970s McConnell Dowell had expanded into six more countries and had won projects like the Marsden Point Power Station (NZ’s first 1 million pound contract) and the Maui pipeline (The largest contract awarded in New Zealand at the time). Today, McConnell Dowell is active in 18 countries across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, South East Asia and the Middle East.

The innovation Malcolm championed remains a hallmark of McConnell Dowell’s work to this day. At Marsden Point, he and his team applied world-leading flotation and submerge construction techniques. He also developed innovative cross-country pipelining techniques, helped form two organisations to export New Zealand’s engineering, technical and management skills and services, and played a part in forging relationships with multinational organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, the World Health Organisation, and the Asian Development Bank. He was also one of the initiators of Geothermal Energy New Zealand, and a director of New Zealand Railways Corporation, the DFC, the Saudi NZ Capital Corporation and NZ Steel.

Malcolm’s passion for ‘making things better’ also extended to his support for a range of charitable causes including education, NZ Opera, and Outward Bound, which McConnell Dowell still makes available to employees through a scholarship programme.

Malcolm passed away in 1995 and is remembered as a man of immense passion, energy, drive and vision.

Pic caption: McConnell Dowell founders Jim Dowell (left) and Malcolm McConnell (right)

Together with JV partner Hawkins, McConnell Dowell will be responsible for installation of a stormwater diversion tunnel by pipejacking, strengthening a part of an existing Sewer Main, and construction of a 350m cut and cover tunnel – all within the Auckland CBD.

The project will be particularly interesting due to its location on one of the busiest streets in the CBD of New Zealand’s business city. It involves moving numerous services, maintaining traffic flow, meeting extremely strict health and safety conditions, numerous consents aiming to minimise disruption for businesses and residents, and extensive liaison with a wide range of stakeholders.

More than 100 years in the making, the City Rail Link will connect Auckland's existing rail infrastructure to double the speed and capacity of the rail network and allow for future expansion to the North Shore.

It will be built in two 3.4km twin tunnels up to 42m below the city centre, and when completed, will extend the existing rail line underground through Britomart to Albert, Vincent and Pitt Sts, and then cross beneath Karangahape Rd and the Central Motorway Junction to Symonds St before joining the western line at Eden Terrace. Two new stations near Aotea Square and Karangahape Road, and a redeveloped station at Mount Eden, will also be completed.

Benefits are expected to include $1.30 of benefit for every $1 spent, halved travel times for many commuters, and contribution to the transformation of Auckland into a truly international city.

Find out more about the CRL project at https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/city-rail-link/

“This crossing loop will help to deliver more reliable services for passengers on the Ballarat line by enabling trains to make up time from any unexpected delays,” Ms Allan said.

Reflecting on the project's completion, McConnell Dowell's General Manager for Rail, Malcolm Tinkler, said this new rail infrastructure makes a positive contribution to Victoria's regional transport network and McConnell Dowell fully supports the State Government's rail improvement and enhancement program.

Pictured from left Moorabool shire mayor Allan Comrie, Buninyong MP Geoff Howard, Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan and Public Transport Victoria's Glenn Abercrombie.

  

His passion for helping his colleagues work safely and go ‘Home Without Harm’ has developed over 32 years working in the construction industry across a wide range of disciplines from general construction, through electrical and mechanical installations and cranes, to civil roading and infrastructure tunnelling. He has completed a number of Safety-related courses, including the National Certificate in First Line Management (Level 3), an adult teaching course, Construction Management with Unitec Auckland, Height Safety Training and other site related courses.

He says his interest in Safety has evolved over the past 10 years, as he has gained experience and realised that “we could make it better just with a little thought and planning”.

“McConnell Dowell’s goal of “Home without harm” should be the goal of all companies who have the welfare of their most valuable assets in mind - the people,” Tiny says.

This scholarship offers further opportunity to develop his knowledge by fully funding the course and examination fees associated with an International Certificate from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), as well as peer mentoring and work experience.

The NZ Transport Agency Zero Harm Scholarships are open to those working in the roading construction industry, and aim to help improve workplace health and safety. To be eligible candidates must show a demonstrable interest and aptitude for health and safety and be a high performer in their current organisation, showing potential for development into a future safety leader.

“The calibre of scholarship applicants was exceptionally high”, said Martin McMullan, the Transport Agency’s Zero Harm Manager.

“We now have four dedicated professionals from New Zealand that have signed up to building a zero harm culture within our industry so that everyone can go home safe and healthy every day.”