SCIRT founding GM departs; local engineer takes up baton

SCIRT, the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team, a collaborative alliance of central and local government and civil engineering companies set up to rebuild Christchurch’s damaged horizontal infrastructure after the February 2011 earthquake, says goodbye to its founding general manager Duncan Gibb this month and welcomes Ian Campbell to the role.

Gibb, who moved to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife Ruth from Australia, has been with SCIRT since its inception in May 2011. His considerable experience working in engineering alliances across the Tasman meant he was well placed to translate the collaborative model into a working reality, said Onno Mulder, chairperson of the SCIRT Board.

The role had not been for the faint-hearted, he said. It required a move from the Infrastructure Rebuild Management Office (IRMO) structure set up after the September 2010 earthquake, to the collaborative SCIRT model, capable of delivering up to $50 million of work monthly with up to 2,000 people on the payroll.

“Forming and leading a team of this kind is challenging at the best of times, but even more so in a post-disaster operating environment. Through Duncan’s tenacious commitment, SCIRT is thriving and delivering resilient infrastructure and value for Christchurch and New Zealand.

“Even more than that, the SCIRT work has been recognised internationally with numerous awards, including the prestigious Brunel Medal, an international engineering award, which saw Duncan delivering lectures on the Christchurch rebuild all around the globe.”

Gibb returns to Australia to take up a role as executive general manager group strategic projects with Fulton Hogan in Brisbane and spend more time with his Australian-based family.

Mulder said the need to continue the SCIRT momentum, more than three years and over halfway into its programme, was more necessary than ever.

Hence the appointment of Ian Campbell, formerly one of two delivery managers in SCIRT, to the top operational role, would ensure continuity of leadership and maintain the impetus to the infrastructure rebuild.

Ian Campbell, a Cantabrian born in Darfield, with a civil engineering degree from the University of Canterbury, was seconded to SCIRT from McConnell Dowell in 2011. As a SCIRT delivery manager, his primary role was to ensure SCIRT construction work was being delivered on time, on budget and to the standards agreed, all while keeping the community impacts to a minimum and supporting the collaborative and competitive aspects of the unique SCIRT model.

“The SCIRT Board is confident that Ian will lead SCIRT in its goal to finish strong, with pride, for the people of Christchurch,” Onno Mulder said. “Ian knows exactly what is at stake and is committed to the city’s rebuild and the need for Christchurch people and others to have confidence in the city’s future, starting with resilient core services. The Board is greatly looking forward to a close and productive working relationship with this talented civil engineer and manager.”

Ian Campbell’s previous roles for McConnell Dowell included managing the construction of wastewater pipe ocean outfalls for both Waimakariri District and Christchurch City after 15 years working on major projects overseas. He lives with his wife Fiona on a lifestyle block at West Melton.

http://strongerchristchurch.govt.nz/article/scirt-founding-gm-departs-local-engineer-takes-up-baton

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