Environmental Innovator Wins Entrepreneurial Award

Environmental Innovator Wins Entrepreneurial Award

A range of innovative and highly effective environmental treatment systems h as secured Auckland engineer Peter Carroll this year’s IPENZ Entrepreneurial Award, sponsored by ALSTOM. New Zealand Limited. Eighteen months ago Pe ter Carroll convinced his East Tamaki based employers, Hynds Pipe Systems, o f the strong business potential for producing environmentally based engineer ed solutions for environmental treatment systems. Under Carroll’s direction, a new company, Hynds Environmental Systems was established in Ellerslie, Au ckland and is now progressing into one of New Zealand’s fastest growing envi ronmental treatment solution providers.

Major successes in the new compan y’s first year include the supply and installation of “Cleans All” Gross Pol lutant Traps to the Auckland City Council to improve the water quality of st orm water entering the Manukau Harbour; Sand Filter Systems to Waitakere Cit y Council and Hynds Downstream Defenders to North Shore City Council.

The ALSTOM sponsored IPENZ Entrepreneurial Award is presented annually and reco gnises entrepreneurial flair demonstrated in the creation or development of a new business opportunity.

Entrants must have identified and developed a business opportunity or have developed a significant new business venture. Judges look for indicators of entrepreneurial behaviour, such as the creati on of a new business in a new market, internationalisation of a business, d evelopment of a business with growth rates significantly above market norms or contribution to the risk capital of the business.

The Award winner receives recognition at the IPENZ annual conference dinner (31 March )and the award consists of a certificate and trophy. Previous winners of t he award include Mr Bill Studd of Windsor Engineering in 2002 and Mr Bill Gallagher of the Gallagher Group.

Presenting the award at the IPENZ Annua l Conference Dinner in Hamilton on Monday March 31, ALSTOM Telecommunication s Services general manager, Mike Sheffield said it was refreshing to see inn ovative engineers such as Peter Carroll providing environmentally sound solu tions to engineering issues such as storm water quality.

“Hynds Pipe Syst ems is to be congratulated for investing their support in the vision and ent repreneurial spirit Peter has displayed and for taking a risk in a new busin ess venture.”

“ALSTOM is delighted to present the Award to Peter Carroll, his initiative is a clear winner as can be witnessed through all stages of the new company, from concept to implementation. This encapsulates the combi nation of engineering and commercial application for entrepreneurial success ,” said Mike Sheffield.

(Jpeg Image 6 )Caption: ALSTOM Telecommunication Services General Manager, Mike Sheffield, right, with IPENZ Entrepreneurial Award winner Peter Carroll of Hynds Environmental Systems. Peter Carroll - Biographical Details:

Peter Carroll is 35 and General Manager of Hynds Environmental Systems Ltd, in Ellerslie, prior to his appointment he was Tec hnical Services Manager for Hynds Pipe Systems in East Tamaki.

He is curr ently in his final year of study for an APESMA MBA through IPENZ, graduating in October this year.

He initially saw the opportunity for a company spe cialising in environmental treatment systems when investigating an overseas stormwater treatment product, the Downstream Defender. He approached the Auc kland Regional Council (ARC ) to ascertain its suitability for the New Zeala nd market. The answer was yes, but ponds, swales and sand filters were put f orward as preferred stormwater treatment methods. Peter then secured a licen se agreement with Hydro International for the Hynds Downstream Defender, and designed the Hynds Sand Filter System. This system “simplified the whole co ncept of sand filter technology design and installation.” Demand for the ab ove products continued and Peter presented a business plan for Hynds Environ mental to the directors of Hynds Pipes, which was accepted. The company was established in September 2001.

“I basically stumbled into the environm ental side of things, but since then I’ve become a bit of a ‘greeny’. Hynds Environmental aims to offer complete package environmental systems, tailored to suit every site in every situation. Hynds Environmental products benefit the environment by capturing gross pollutants, sediments and oils before th ey enter the eco-system.”