Over the weekend, the team that delivered the Ngā Hau Māngere / Old Māngere Bridge Replacement Project for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency was over the moon after winning the CCNZ Hynds Construction Awards, Category D (projects valued $20 M - $50 M) for the Auckland region.
David Pattinson, McConnell Dowell Project Manager, proudly accepted the "Category D Award" trophy on behalf of the team thanking the client, designers, suppliers, and site team. He dedicated the award to previous Project Manager Keith Griffin.
“Keith was a big part of the success of the delivery of this project, and is sorely missed - this one is for him", said David.
Shortly after, the team was called back on stage to receive the Hynds Supreme Award.
Fraser Wyllie, McConnell Dowell Managing Director New Zealand & Pacific, accepted the trophy and said a few words on behalf of the team:
“This project was exceptionally challenging due to its location within the sensitive harbour environment and underneath high voltage powerlines while constructing a complex bridge. The key factor contributing to the success of this project was the dedication and hard work of the people who delivered the project. Throughout the delivery of the project, the team lived and reflected our company’s values “Safety & Care, Honesty & Integrity, Working Together and Performance Excellence”. Congratulations to everyone involved in this project, you all deserve this recognition.”
The new bridge Ngā Hau Māngere has reconnected the communities of Onehunga and Māngere Bridge providing a walking and cycling connection with a vision to create a destination for community enhancement. Its design was developed in collaboration with mana whenua and reflects its environment and the cultural significance of the area, with the colours of the balustrade and the stainless steel handrailing representing the colours of the kahawai fish living in the Manukau Harbour, the pre-cast edge beams incorporate a pattern (Puhoro design) representing the wave action and the heritage garden at the northern end showcases salvaged pieces salvaged from the old bridge providing a legacy for future generations. Another project that aligns with our purpose of “Providing a better life” - this is exactly why we do what we do.
To find out more about the project click here.
Photo: L-R: Tom Jefferd, Daniel Patten (MCD), Clint Hill (MCD), Adrian Batterham (MCD), Andrew Pluim (MCD), Clifford Overbury (MCD), Martin Leak (Resolve Group), Aimee Pene (MCD), Fraser Wyllie (MCD) and David Pattinson (MCD).
The Aveng Board is pleased to announce planned changes to the executive management of the Company.
Sean Flanagan, the Group Chief Executive Officer, will retire as CEO with effect from 1 March 2024. Scott Cummins, currently the CEO of Aveng’s largest subsidiary, McConnell Dowell Corporation Ltd, will succeed Sean as Aveng Group CEO. To facilitate a smooth transition, Scott will join the Board of Aveng as an executive director from 22 November 2023.
This change marks the culmination of a long-term succession plan put in place after Sean moved from an independent non-executive director role on the Aveng Board into the Group CEO role in 2019.
Sean’s primary focus at that time was to deliver the strategy of disposing of non-core businesses, turning around the core businesses of McConnell Dowell and Moolmans, settling the legacy debt and de-risking the balance sheet. With these tasks largely complete the Company now turns to its next phase of achieving sustainably profitable growth over the coming years and the Board has determined that the time is right to implement the planned succession of an internally appointed CEO.
Reflecting on the transition, Sean said “It’s been a great honour to lead Aveng during a period of immense challenge and change, and it is very satisfying that the business is now poised for ongoing success. I have enjoyed working with Scott over the past few years on a professional and personal level and I wish him every success in this new chapter for the business and for himself.”
Scott Cummins has been CEO of McConnell Dowell, and a member of the Aveng Executive Committee, since joining the business in 2015. Scott is a civil engineer, with a B.Eng., 1st class honours degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and holds an MBA from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland. His career spans some 38 years as a contractor in engineering and construction, oil and gas and infrastructure industries and he has held global and regional executive roles in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Scott has been instrumental in leading McConnell Dowell through a major strategic and operational change during this time, including turning the business around, closing out legacy matters and significantly growing the business from its contracted size. He is well regarded in the industry and has served as the Vice President of the Australian Constructors Association.
“I am very excited by the opportunity to lead McConnell Dowell’s parent company and humbled by the confidence shown in me by the Aveng Board in making this appointment,” Scott said. “I am looking forward to working with the Board and my executive team to deliver Aveng’s strategy and the next phase of sustainably profitable growth, as well as working more closely with the Moolmans team as they continue to deliver significant improvements in their business.”
Scott will be working closely with Sean in the period leading up to 1 March 2024 and particularly as the Company completes and reports on its first half results. Sean will then move back into a non-executive director role on the Aveng Board.
With Scott’s appointment to the role of Aveng Group CEO, the locus of executive management of the Aveng Group will shift to Australia. Adrian Macartney, the Group Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer, will continue in his role, providing continuity to executive management and the Board. In line with our longer term strategy to move the epicentre of the Group to Australia and to support Scott, Adrian will relocate from Johannesburg, South Africa and be based in our Melbourne, Australia office from January 2024.
In anticipation of his move, Adrian said “My relocation to Australia has been planned for some time consistent with our longer term strategy to seek an International listing in a market that best recognises the value of our assets. I am looking forward to working directly with Scott and the executive team to bring this strategy to fruition.”
“On behalf of the Board, I thank Sean for his immense contribution to Aveng during his tenure as CEO, and indeed prior to that as an independent non executive director,” said Aveng Board Chairman, Philip Hourquebie. “Sean led the business with energy and passion over a number of challenging years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted that Sean will remain on the Aveng Board in a non-executive capacity after the transition is complete. On behalf of the Board, I take this opportunity to congratulate Scott on his appointment and wish him well in his new role.”
We're pleased to welcome Loren Hickey as General Manager Pre-Contracts for our Australian Business.
Loren has a strong track record in new business and pre-contracts, having worked for over a decade in senior roles at John Holland, CPB and BMD.
In addition to her professional background, Loren brings bold vision and advocacy for a better and more diverse construction sector.
She holds multiple qualifications and is a director for National Women in Construction QLD, Infrastructure Association of Queensland, and the National Association of Women in Construction.
Loren replaces Harriet Christopherson, who now leads our national rail business. Both sit on our Australian Leadership Team.
We're pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Neal to the role of General Manager Health, Safety, Sustainability & Environment for Australia.
Nicole previously worked for McConnell Dowell across a number of senior sustainability and environment roles from 2014 until 2017.
She comes to us from Tonkin+Taylor Pty Ltd, where she was their Chief Executive for Australia and was part of their Group Leadership Team.
Nicole’s strong leadership and management of sustainability and HSE best practice is a welcome addition to our business.
Nicole becomes a member of our Australian Leadership Team, taking the female representation on this key leadership group to over 35%.
The recent completion of the Main Access Tunnel at the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project is an incredible milestone that we just had to share.
So buckle up and stay with us until the end of the video to uncover some exciting fast facts!
Read more about the project here.