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IPENZ Competence Assessment Board 2002-2004 - awarded President’s Award
March 2004

The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Competency Assessment Board 2002-2004 were awarded this year’s IPENZ President’s Award. The Award acknowledges the effort of this group of Members whose activities have demonstrated the strengths of the engineering profession in its role of public service.

Members of the Board were Paul Wilson, Greg Lowe, Alex Sutherland, Andrew Collow, Basil Wakelin, Rhonda Hill, Kelvin Walls Sharyn Westlake and Richard Haverkamp.

Following the enactment of the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002, the Competency Assessment Board established under that Act, was charged with the responsibilities of evaluating candidates for registration. In late 2002 they worked tirelessly to develop robust and fair operating procedures, and during 2003 and 2004 reviewed the recommendations and made decisions on more than 2000 candidates. Each candidate was given careful consideration, based on the recommendations of assessors.

The time spent in reviewing the documentation, attending meetings and doing follow-up work has been very substantial. The individuals concerned gave willingly of their time over an extended period of time, often at short notice and inconvenient times; motivated by their belief that it was vital for both the profession and the general public of New Zealand that standards were consistently and accurately applied to create a national register in which there could be confidence.

“This group worked with a sense of collectiveness and absolute dedication to the wider good, and thus it is appropriate that they were awarded the 2005 President’s Award as they demonstrated the strengths of the engineering profession in its role of public service,” said IPENZ President, Dr Ian Parton.

The IPENZ Competency Assessment Board were presented with the IPENZ 2005 President’s Award at the IPENZ Awards Dinner at Auckland’s Ellerslie Convention Centre, on Thursday, 17 March 2005.

Notes to journalists - The President's Award
The concept of a special award for outstanding achievement was developed during 1989 and the founding of the new award, to be known as the President's Award, was announced at the 1990 Conference. The award is made, when appropriate, to acknowledge the effort and achievement of a member, or group of members, particularly when that achievement has demonstrated the strengths of the engineering profession in its role of public service. The award comes directly and personally from the President, and is one of the highest accolades the Institution can bestow. The award consists of a gold medal.

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