An immigrant who overcame the language barrier to become a site engineer on New Zealand’s largest wastewater project and a company helping unemployed people to build successful infrastructure careers were among the winners at today’s Z Energy People Awards and Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Awards.
The awards, presented at the Civil Contractors Conference in Wellington, shone a spotlight on the individuals and organisations boosting the capability of the civil construction industry.
Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard said he was proud to hear the finalists’ stories and congratulated the winners.
“Civil construction is built on people and continuous development and today’s award recipients embody everything that makes our industry great.”
Z Energy People awards
Razia Mirzayi of Ghella won the Z Energy Personal Improvement Award in a story that captured the spirit of the occasion. Arriving in New Zealand from Afghanistan and speaking English as a second language, she worked her way up from intern to site engineer on the $1.6 billion Central Interceptor – New Zealand’s largest wastewater project.
Z Energy People award judges David Howard and Fiona Morton described Mirzayi’s journey as “a powerful example of commitment to personal improvement”.
“Razia’s strength lies in her determination, professionalism, and willingness to push herself. She brings a calm and focused approach to her work and contributes positively to her team.”
The Z Energy Emerging Leader Award was won by Pieter Ruthven from Fulton Hogan, who impressed the judges with his technical capability, innovation and dedication to improving project outcomes.
"Pieter represents the future of the industry … What sets him apart is his ability to think beyond the task in front of him. He consistently looks for better ways of doing things, brings people with him, and delivers results.”
Morton, who is Z Energy’s SME Customer Partnerships Lead as well as an award judge, congratulated the award recipients for their personal development and leadership.
“We’re proud to support people who are backing themselves and taking the next step in their careers. Today’s winners have shown real leadership and commitment, and they’re a great example of what’s possible in this industry.”
Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Awards
The Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Awards recognised employers who invested in the future of their people through training programmes and nationally-recognised qualifications, as well as a new Apprentice of the Year Award.
Grounded HQ secured the award for companies with turnover up to $10 million after building a thriving civil construction business by developing local talent from the ground up. Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Award judges Fiona Malloch and Mark Borland were impressed with the company’s approach to helping people who are not in employment, education or training, take their first steps into employment and establish stable careers.
“Grounded HQ’s commitment to investing in every individual ensures that as the business grows, its people grow with it,” judges said.
Quality Roading and Services of Wairoa won the award for companies with turnover between $10 million and $100 million for seven years of championing Civil Trades certification among its workforce and providing employees with nationally recognised qualifications and competency certification.
“Quality Roading and Services exemplifies how local employers can play a vital role in strengthening regional workforce capability, the judges said.”
Fulton Hogan won the award for companies with a turnover over $100 million and alliances, for its personalised approach to career development. The company has built structured pathways to help all levels of staff develop to their maximum potential by introducing initiatives including its Infrastructure Skills Centre, a graduate programme, and in-house Road to Growth and Road to Success programmes.
“Through its innovative and individualised approach to development, Fulton Hogan continues to demonstrate leadership in growing both its people and the infrastructure industry's future capability,” the judges noted.
The inaugural Apprentice of the Year award was won by Simon Bunyan from Think Water Gisborne, with the Connexis award judges noting how both his colleagues and clients respected his positive attitude and love for delivering high-quality work.
“Simon’s outstanding achievements, reliability, and passion for excellence make him a truly deserving winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award.”
Connexis Executive Director Kaarin Gaukrodger said the calibre of this year's entries reflected an industry that places a high value on professional development.
“The organisations recognised all understand that the infrastructure New Zealand needs tomorrow depends on the people we develop today. These awards celebrate the commitment that makes our industry stronger, safer and more inclusive.”
Award Recipients: Z Energy People Awards 2026
Z Energy People Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognises talented people from across the civil construction industry who have shown exemplary skill and leadership in their work. The winner of each year's Emerging Leader Award receives the Dr Dave Memorial Trophy, which was named in memory of Dr Dave Hutchison, an outstanding person who was responsible for helping many young people build their skills and find success in their careers.
Winner: Pieter Ruthven – Fulton Hogan
Ruthven is an emerging leader who is already making a meaningful difference across the civil construction industry.
He combines strong technical capability with a clear ability to innovate and improve how work is delivered, contributing to better outcomes across projects and the wider business. Ruthven has taken ownership of developing new approaches, lifting performance and supporting those around him to grow.
Highly commended: Sam Jensen – GT Civil
Jensen grew up on a family farm in Tauranga, where from a young age he regularly helped his father with a wide range of practical tasks. This experience helped develop a hands-on approach to problem-solving and a strong work ethic. He is a strong and well-rounded emerging leader who has built his reputation through initiative, practical problem-solving, and a clear focus on delivery.
He has stepped into leadership roles early, earning the trust of both his team and clients through his hands-on approach and ability to work alongside others. Jensen consistently looks for solutions, takes ownership, and contributes to strong project outcomes. Long term, he is a candidate for leading his team in a top-level executive role.
Z Energy People Personal Improvement Award
This award recognises an individual who has committed themselves to ongoing training and development for the betterment of themselves and their employers and how they make the most of the opportunities made available to them in the civil and general contracting industry.
Winner: Razia Mirzayi – Ghella
Razia Mirzayi joined Ghella on the Central Interceptor project as an intern in November 2023 while completing her engineering degree at AUT. Following the success of her internship, she was offered a part-time role during her final year of university before officially commencing as a graduate engineer with Ghella in November 2024. During Mirzayi’s internship and graduate role, she continuously pushed herself outside her comfort zone.
Mirzayi has actively sought additional responsibilities and embraced every opportunity to learn. She has now been with the company for over two and a half years and continues to grow into an increasingly independent and trusted member of the team.
Looking ahead, Mirzayi is excited to continue taking on greater responsibility and more challenging projects. Her next opportunity at the Herne Bay Collector project will see her stepping further into an independent site engineer’s role – a challenge she is genuinely excited to embrace.
Highly commended: Rebecca Staples – Brian Perry Civil
Rebecca Staples’ career epitomises the power of determination and continuous self-improvement in the civil construction industry. Starting at Brian Perry Civil in 2016 as an estimation administrator with minimal industry experience, she threw herself into learning the ropes of the Ground Engineering Division from day one. Over the past decade of hard work and dedication, Staples has risen steadily through the ranks to become one of BPC’s most respected senior ground engineering estimators.
Her hallmark is a ‘no stone unturned’ approach to every task. She never does a job halfway, always striving for thoroughness and excellence. This mindset set Staples apart early on: she didn’t just perform her duties well, but consistently sought opportunities to expand her capabilities. With her rigorous, all-in approach to success, she has become an outstanding civil construction professional.
Winners: Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Awards 2026
Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Simon Bunyan – Think Water Gisborne
Simon Bunyan’s Apprentice of the Year Award win reflects his outstanding commitment to learning, professional growth and excellence in his trade. Throughout his apprenticeship, Bunyan consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, exceptional technical capability and a genuine passion for delivering high-quality results. He approaches every challenge with enthusiasm and determination, embracing opportunities to develop new skills and expand his knowledge.
Bunyan is highly regarded by colleagues and customers alike for his positive attitude, reliability, and willingness to support those around him. He consistently applies his training in practical situations, showing maturity, initiative and a strong focus on safety and quality. His ability to balance the demands of work, study and personal development highlights his dedication to achieving excellence.
Civil Industry Training and Development Award for companies with turnover up to $10 million
Winner: Grounded HQ
Grounded HQ is a standout example of a business that has achieved rapid growth while keeping people and their development at the heart of its success. In a relatively short period, the company has built a thriving and high performing civil construction business by investing in its people and creating opportunities for individuals to grow alongside the company.
Operating within a small community, Grounded HQ has focused on developing local talent, providing meaningful employment opportunities and clear career pathways for local people. Through partnerships with employment agencies and Crown-supported initiatives, the company actively supports those who are not in employment, education or training, helping individuals take their first steps into employment and training within the infrastructure sector to build sustainable careers.
Through practical on-job training, tailored development programmes and strong industry partnerships, Grounded HQ creates opportunities for employees to continuously build their skills, take on new challenges and progress their careers. The company's commitment to investing in every individual ensures that as the business grows, its people grow with it.
By placing workforce development, culture and community at the centre of its business model, Grounded HQ is strengthening local workforce capability, creating lasting career opportunities and demonstrating that rapid business growth and genuine investment in people can go hand in hand. For its remarkable success in growing both its business and its people, while creating lasting opportunities within its community, Grounded HQ is the worthy recipient and winner of this award.
Highly commended: Draintech BOP
Civil Industry Training and Development Award for companies between $10 million and $100 million
Winner: Quality Roading and Services
Quality Roading and Services is recognised for its long-standing commitment to developing a skilled and competent local workforce and for its investment in recognising the skilled trade of its civil construction workforce through formalised qualification training. As a proud Wairoa employer, the company has consistently demonstrated its belief that building local capability is fundamental to both business success and the long-term prosperity of its community.
For the past seven years, Quality Roading and Services has championed the formalised Civil Trades pathway, recognising civil construction as a skilled trade and providing employees with the opportunity to gain nationally-recognised qualifications and competency certification.
Through structured workplace learning, formal training programmes and ongoing development opportunities, employees are encouraged to build their skills, gain industry recognised qualifications and establish rewarding long-term careers within the infrastructure sector. By investing in the formal development of its workforce, Quality Roading and Services is helping to ensure Wairoa has a capable, qualified and future-ready workforce able to deliver the essential infrastructure its community relies upon.
The organisation has strong connections to community initiatives that attract, support and develop the next generation of civil construction tradespeople and professionals. By providing local people with opportunities to learn, grow and succeed close to home, the company creates enduring social and economic benefits for the region.
Highly commended: City Contractors
Civil Industry Training and Development Award for companies with turnover over $100 million and alliances
Winner: Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan demonstrates an outstanding commitment to workforce development through a highly personalised and inclusive approach to learning and career progression. Recognising that every employee's journey is different, the organisation has developed a range of initiatives designed to support people at every stage of their career and from all backgrounds, ensuring individuals have access to the opportunities, support and training they need to succeed.
The company's investment in local workforce development is reflected in a suite of programmes tailored to different segments of its workforce and the diverse pathways people take into and through the infrastructure industry. Initiatives such as the Infrastructure Skills Centre, Graduate Programme, Road to Growth and Road to Success provide targeted development opportunities that build technical skills, leadership capability and long-term career prospects.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Fulton Hogan has created structured pathways that recognise the unique needs, aspirations and potential of its people. Whether supporting new entrants, emerging leaders, graduates or experienced employees, the organisation provides personalised development opportunities that enable individuals to grow, progress and achieve their career goals.
This commitment to meeting people where they are and supporting them throughout their career journey has strengthened workforce capability, supported employee success and contributed to the wider workforce skills. Through its innovative and individualised approach to development, Fulton Hogan continues to demonstrate leadership in growing both its people and the infrastructure industry's future capability.
Highly commended: John Fillmore Contracting