An inspiring line-up of internationally recognised speakers
Details of our confirmed keynote and invited speakers will be included here. Ā This page will be updated on regular basis so please make sure to check back again soon for more information.
Carl Ashby
Manager Structural Engineering Wellington
WSP-Opus
Carl Ashby
Carl is a Principal Structural Engineer and the Wellington Manager for WSP-Opus.Ā Carl has 24 years of technical experience in the engineering profession with considerable experience in client and project team liaison and project delivery on a wide range of Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Health, Justice, Education, and Civil Infrastructure projects.Ā
Carl is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and a well-known leader in the structural engineering industry.Ā He is known principally through his ongoing contribution through technical societies for the advancement of earthquake and structural engineering.Ā He is a former NZSEE Committee member, a Past President of the New Zealand Concrete Society and current committee member, and a SESOC committee member for the last 10 years.Ā He has also been a committee member of the NZS 3101 concrete standard revision and is currently part of the committee for MBIE (Chaired by Prof Ken Elwood) to set guidelines for the seismic assessment of buildings with precast floors.Ā
Andrew Baird
Structural Engineer
Beca
Andrew Baird
Andrew is a structural engineer with Beca based in Bangkok, Thailand. He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in 2010 and PhD in 2014 from the University of Canterbury. Andrew has led the structural design on an extensive range of projects, including the soon to be completed 13 storey Engineering Technology and Design building for AUT University in downtown Auckland.
Andrew has a passion for improving the seismic performance of non-structural elements in earthquakes. He is a contributing author for Chapter 10 of the latest NZSEE assessment guidelines on secondary structural and non-structural elements. Andrew has been a co-presenter of several nationwide series of seminars on the seismic restraint of non-structural elements, and of precast cladding design and detailing. Andrew also led a recent MBIE commissioned research project to quantify the life safety risks posed by non-structural elements in earthquakes.
Brendon Bradley
Professor ofĀ Earthquake Engineering
Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering
University of Canterbury
Brendon Bradley
Brendon is a Professor of Earthquake Engineering in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand; and the Deputy Director of QuakeCoRE: The New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience, which is a network of over 180 active researchers.Ā His areas of interest include engineering seismology, strong ground motion prediction, seismic response analysis of structural and geotechnical systems, and seismic performance and loss estimation methods.Ā He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in 2007 and PhD in 2009.Ā Prior to joining the University of Canterbury in 2010, Brendon worked at GNS Science in Wellington, New Zealand, and as a post-doctoral fellow at Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan.Ā Brendon is an editorial board member for EERIās Earthquake Spectra and the Bulletin of the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering.Ā Brendon has also acted as director of Bradley Seismic Limited since 2010, providing consulting services in several areas of earthquake engineering.Ā Ā Brendon has received several notable awards for work with collaborators, including, the 2012 Ivan Skinner EQC award for the advancement of earthquake engineering in NZ; 2013 Royal Society of New Zealand Rutherford Discovery Fellowship; 2014 Shamsher Prakash Foundation Research Award; 2014 NZ Engineering Excellence Awards Young Engineer of the Year; 2015 University of Canterbury Teaching Award; 2015 TC203 Young Researcher Award; 2015 EERI Shah Innovation Prize; 2016 ASCE Norman Medal; and the 2016 NZ Prime Ministerās Emerging Scientist Prize.
Alistair Cattanach
Director
Dunning Thornton
Alistair Cattanach
Alistair CattanachĀ is a Director of Dunning Thornton, Wellington with over 20 yearsā experience consulting in NZ and the UK. His interest in heritage buildings, challenging architecturally expressive structures, and innovative seismic design feature throughout his career. He has been a proponent of the use of Damage Avoidance techniques including PRESSS, Base Isolation, and replaceable elements, being an early adopter of these techniques in concrete, steel and timber in New Zealand. He has recently contributed to the NZSEE Assessment Guidelines and the Base Isolation Guidelines, and the Residual Capacity task group, and is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand. He believes appropriatly retrofitting existing buildings is a key societal role for engineers in the sustainable use of our building stock.
Mary Comerio
Professor of the Graduate School
Department of Architecture
University of California
Mary Comerio
Mary Comerio is an internationally recognized expert on disaster resilience and recovery. She has been on the faculty in the Department of Architecture at U. C. Berkeley for 40 years and has served as Chair. She worked as an architect on numerous public and private facilities, which led to her research on seismic rehabilitation, post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, loss modeling and resilience-based design.Ā She led the FEMA sponsored Disaster Resistant University Program, and the Building Systems Research with Helmut Krawinkler at the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center.Ā Comerio also served at co-PI on one of the National Science Foundationās Grand Challenge projects focused on the mitigation of collapse risk in nonductile concrete buildings. Her work was a key component of the Los Angeles Resilience by Design Plan.
She is the author of Disaster Hits Home: New Policy for Urban Housing Recovery (UC Press 1998) and hundreds of other research reports and scientific papers. In 2011, she received the Green Star Award from the United Nations for her work in post-disaster reconstruction in China and Haiti. In 2013, she received the U. C. Berkeley Chancellorās Award for Public Service for Research in the Public Interest, and the EERI Distinguished Lecturer Award. She serves as past- president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and on the Governing Board of the QuakeCoRE Center for Earthquake Resilience in New Zealand. She consults internationally on disaster recovery and resilience planning.
Misko Cubrinovski
Professor of Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering
Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering
University of Canterbury
Misko Cubrinovski
Misko Cubrinovski is Professor of Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch. Since 2016, he has been also on the leadership team of the QuakeCoRE, NZ Centre for Earthquake Resilience, leading its Flagship Research Programme on Liquefaction Impacts on Infrastructure. Cubrinovski holds a BSc degree in Civil Engineering (1982), MSc degree in Earthquake Engineering (1989) from USCM Skopje, Macedonia, and a PhD degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Tokyo (1993), Japan. His career involves 33 years of work in the academia and the profession including seven years in Macedonia, 15 years in Japan and 13 years in New Zealand.
His research interests and expertise are in geotechnical earthquake engineering and in particular problems associated with liquefaction, seismic response of earth structures and soil-structure interaction. Cubrinovski has authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and has had major leadership role in the research and recovery efforts following the 2010-2011 Christchurch earthquakes. His honors include the 2016 Norman Medal (ASCE), 2014 Outstanding Paper Award (ASCE), 2014 Outstanding Paper Award (EERI), 2008 NZGS Geomechanics Award, 2007 Ivan Skinner Award (EQC and NZSEE), 2007 ANZ Joint Societies Award from the New Zealand and Australian Geotechnical Societies, and 1997 Directorās Award of Taisei Corporation, Japan. He is a Faculty Member of the Rose School, Pavia, Italy, and Fellow of the University of Tokyo. Cubrinovski has worked as a geotechnical specialist and advisor on over 50 major engineering projects. He is the lead author of two of the guidelines in the series of MBIE-NZGS guidelines for Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering Practice in New Zealand (2016ā2017).
Ken Elwood
MBIE Chair in Earthquake Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Auckland
Ken Elwood
Prof. Ken Elwood serves as the MBIE Chair in Earthquake Engineering and Director of the newest Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), QuakeCoRE: NZ Centre for Earthquake Resilience.
Ken joined the University of Auckland in July 2014 after 11 years on faculty at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Ken was drawn to New Zealand to pursue the numerous opportunities for research and implementation in earthquake risk reduction. He is actively involved in research related to the seismic response of existing concrete and masonry buildings.
Ken received his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 2002, M.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995, and BASc from the University of British Columbia in 1993. Ken is a member of several international code committees including the seismic provisions of the American Concrete Institute Building Code (ACI 318). Ā He has also chaired a committee for MBIE to set guidelines for the seismic assessment of buildings with precast floors.
John Hare
Chief Executive
Holmes Group
John Hare
John Hare is a structural engineer and Chief Executive of the Holmes Group of companies.Ā He has worked in NZ, UK and the US, where he established a Holmes office in San Francisco in 2000.Ā Since 2006 he has been based again in Christchurch, where he originally commenced practice in 1985.Ā
John is a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand and the New Zealand Earthquake Engineering Society and a life member of the NZ Structural Engineering Society.Ā He sits on a number of advisory groups, including the steering group for the NZSEE Guidelines for assessment and improvement of existing buildings.
He has extensive experience in both the design of new structures and in the assessment and strengthening of existing buildings.Ā Following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, John was seconded as Principal Engineering Adviser, firstly to Civil Defence and subsequently to the Canterbury Earthquakes Recovery Authority, whilst also acting as the President of SESOC. Ā During this time, he took a lead role in the development of the guidelines for the assessment of earthquake affected buildings.Ā In March 2013, John was awarded the Fulton-Downer gold medal from IPENZ for outstanding achievement, as a result of his activities over the previous two years.
In December 2017, John was appointed by MBIE to the expert panel for the investigation of the performance of Statistics House in the November 2017 KaikÅura earthquake and also assisted the Wellington City Council with the targeted damage evaluation procedures.
William Holmes
Structural Engineer
Rutherford and Chekene
William Holmes
Mr. Holmes received his BS and MS from Stanford University and joined Rutherford and Chekene, Consulting Engineer, San Francisco in 1965.Ā Mr. Holmes has been responsible for the structural design or seismic retrofit of many buildings as well as being active in significant research and development in structural and seismic engineering.Ā He has been at the forefront in the development of seismic codes and guidelines in the U.S and had a key role in the conceptual development of the NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings (FEMA 273/356-ASCE 41).Ā He also served as Chair of the Provision Update Committee, responsible for updating the NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings, 1997 and 2000 editions, which feeds updates to ASCE 7 for new buildings.Ā Mr. Holmes has traveled to over 20 countries to speak at conferences and workshops or to consult with local officials relating to seismic design and retrofit.Ā Currently, Mr. Holmes is serving on several research-to-practice projects for the Applied Technology Council.Ā He has been chair of the steering committee for the ATC 58 project (Development of Next Generation Performance Based Design) since 2001.Ā He is currently the Technical Director of the ATC 78 project concerning the seismic collapse risk of older concrete buildings.
Mr. Holmes served as an International Peer Reviewer for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failures following the Canterbury Earthquakes and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
Rob Jury
Chief Engineer ā Structures
Beca
Rob Jury
Rob has a passion for all things to do with structures and earthquakes.Ā This passion was initially fuelled in no small measure by the influence of the late Professor Tom Paulay and mentor, the late John Hollings.
He has contributed to the design of a number of notable structures including Aucklandās SkyTower, The Hapuawhenua Viaduct in the Central North Island of NZ, and the Macau Tower.Ā
He has been involved with the New Zealand Loadings Standard committees since the early 1990s and is currently the Chair of the committee preparing Amendment 2 of NZS 1170.5. HeĀ has also participated in the development of guidance for the seismic assessment of existing buildings for over twenty five years and is currently Chief Editor for the NZ assessment guidelines.
Rob is a Fellow of EENZ and a Life Member of Sesoc and NZSEE.
Rob has worked for Beca for his entire career and currently holds the position of Chief Engineer ā Structures.
Brian Kirtlan
Project Director
North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery
Brian Kirtlan
Brian has over 30 years of industry experience, the bulk of this working in the construction sector across major projects and the wider supply chain. Over the past 12 months Brian worked in the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) as the construction manager, and has recently taken over as project director.Ā
In context, after the 7.8 magnitude KaikÅura earthquake on 14 November 2016 the transport networks which connected communities across North Canterbury and New Zealand were devastated. Coastal and rural communities were isolated overnight. The transport links ā the rail, road and harbour - were a lifeline for many and while it seemed like an impossible task, it was vital for the regionās social and economic recovery that they reopen as soon and as safely possible.
To coordinate the response, the NCTIR alliance was established early in 2017. It is a partnership between the NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail with construction companies Downer, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction and Higgins. This was the first time the Transport Agency and KiwiRail have come together in an alliance model. The partnership with construction companies and professional service organisations at such scale was also unusual, but the sheer number of people, machines and expertise needed for the rebuild meant that everyone would play an important role.
Recovery from a natural disaster presents unique logistical challenges. Emergency works, design and construction happened simultaneously, and the amount of necessary repairs was enormous. The learnings from the Kaikoura experience will provide a valuable insight into New Zealandās disaster recovery preparedness well into the future.
Chris Massey
Engineering Geologist
GNS Science
Chris Massey
Dr Chris Massey is an engineering geologist with more than 20 years of consultancy and research experience in the investigation and analysis of complex geological and geotechnical data for landslide and slope stability including landslide monitoring, foundation design, underground/surface rock support and groundwater problems. He has applied these skills to geohazard and risk assessments, oil and gas pipelines, highway, railway, mining engineering and town planning projects in Africa, the Himalayas, Europe, South East and Central Asia and Australasia. Chris has a degree in geology from Leeds University, UK; a masters in Engineering Geology from Imperial College, London, UK; and a PhD in engineering geology from the University of Durham, UK.
Kevin McManus
Independent Consulting Engineer
McManus Geotech Limited
Chris Massey
Dr Chris Massey is an engineering geologist with more than 20 years of consultancy and research experience in the investigation and analysis of complex geological and geotechnical data for landslide and slope stability including landslide monitoring, foundation design, underground/surface rock support and groundwater problems. He has applied these skills to geohazard and risk assessments, oil and gas pipelines, highway, railway, mining engineering and town planning projects in Africa, the Himalayas, Europe, South East and Central Asia and Australasia. Chris has a degree in geology from Leeds University, UK; a masters in Engineering Geology from Imperial College, London, UK; and a PhD in engineering geology from the University of Durham, UK.
Ilan Noy
Professor ofĀ Economics
Victoria University of Wellington
andĀ Chair in the Economics of Disasters
Ilan Noy
Ilan is a Professor of Economics at Victoria University and the Chair in the Economics of Disasters, a position supported by the New Zealand Earthquake Commission and the Ministry of Primary Industries. His research and teaching focus on the economic aspects of natural hazards and disasters, and other related topics in environmental, development, and international economics. He is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, a journal published by SpringerNature. He previously worked at the University of Hawaii, and consulted for the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, UNISDR, the International Monetary Fund, ASEAN, the Japanese Government, and the Chilean Central Bank.
Stuart Palmer
Geotechnical Engineering Technical Director
Tonkin & Taylor
Stuart Palmer
Stuart is a Technical Director Geotechnical Engineering for Tonkin & Taylor Ltd. He has broad experience in foundations, with specialist knowledge relating to liquefaction and earthquake engineering. Stuart was an author of Section C4 Geotechnical Considerations of the Assessment of Existing Buildings Guideline, and provided review input to the Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering Modules. Stuart is actively involved in the seismic design and assessment of buildings in collaboration with structural engineers.
Richard Sharpe
Senior Technical Director
Earthquake Engineering
Beca
Richard Sharpe
Experiencing the Inangahua earthquake in 1968 triggered Richardās interest in undertaking post-graduate studies and a 40-year career with Beca specialising in earthquake engineering. He has travelled far and wide in this role - a highlight of this being taking his family to live in Kathmandu while he led the project to draft a national building code for Nepal.
Nathan Schumacher
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Building Performance & Engineering
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Nathan Schumacher
Nathan is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer within the Building Performance & Engineering team at the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). He has close to ten yearsā experience in the engineering industry, gained in Australia, United Kingdom, Pacific Islands and New Zealand. He has worked on infrastructure, commercial and residential projects in numerous countries. He has a broad understanding of the unique market challenges, industry trends, national standards, guidelines and associated risks with designing in complex geological locations around New Zealand.
Russ van Dissen
Senior Geologist
GNS Science
Russ van Dissen
Senior geologist with GNS Science. Research specialties are earthquake geology and seismic hazard assessment - including characterisation of the surface fault rupture along the Greendale Fault during the September 2010 Darfield earthquake and the Kekerengu Fault during the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
John Wood
Principal
John Wood Consulting
John Wood
John Wood is a consulting civil engineer specialising in bridge design, structural investigation, soil-structure interaction and earthquake engineering. Before setting up his consulting engineering practice in 1986, he was Head of the Ministry of Works, Central Laboratories.
His recent work includes peer reviews of seismic strengthening proposals and seismic risk assessment for civil engineering and building structures. He has carried out bridge strengthening design and peer review for the New Zealand Transport Agency including a review of the proposed displacement-based design provisions for the Bridge Manual and has recently published papers summarising his research on the earthquake performance of underground structures, retaining walls and bridges.
John is a Life Member and past President of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering. He holds post-graduate degrees in structural and civil engineering from the University of Canterbury and California Institute of Technology.
Kam Weng Yuen
Associate -Ā Structural Engineering
Beca
Kam Weng Yuen
Kam is an Associate with Beca Auckland and a NZSEE management committee member for the past three years. In the past seven years, Kam has led, reviewed and completed a large number of seismic assessment and retrofit for buildings in major and rural town centres across New Zealand and also overseas. He has contributed to the recently published NZSEE/MBIE Seismic Assessment Guidelines and provided training seminars to practitioners across New Zealand. He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in 2006 and PhD in 2011, both from University of Canterbury. His areas of interest include seismic assessment and retrofit of existing structures, nonlinear analysis, structural-geotechnical interface and low-damage design.Ā Kam received the NZSEE President Award in 2017 and was a finalist New Zealand Young Engineer of the Year in 2014.
