Structural Engineers Gather in Wellington Next Week

Structural engineers to gather in Wellington next week

Structural engineers will meet in Wellington next week to talk about the future of their discipline, at a conference organised by the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC).

SESOC President Jason Ingham says about 200 structural engineers are expected to attend the conference. “Delegates will be encouraged to engage in debate, focusing on how we can meet changing demands and technological disruption.

“We’ll be looking at structural resilience and the impacts of the Kaikōura earthquake, both in group discussion and individual case-study presentations.”

Keynote speakers include Susan Freeman-Greene, Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand, who will talk about how the engineering industry is transforming to meet the challenges to come.

The President and Chief Executive of the London-based Institution of Structural Engineers will also deliver a keynote.

Other international guests include Joyce Fuss, President-elect of the Structural Engineers Association of California, who will take part in a panel on emerging issues faced by the profession. Andre Soh, a Singapore-based Senior Associate Director with Beca, will talk about the Duo development, which included a 50-storey residential tower and 40-storey commercial tower connected to underground transport infrastructure.

Notable New Zealand structural engineer Dave Brunsdon will be reflecting on lessons learned from historic New Zealand earthquakes. Dave chairs the steering group that oversaw the recent revision of New Zealand’s seismic assessment guidelines. He’s a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, and a Life Member of both SESOC and the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering.

As well as engineers, the conference will bring together professionals from a broad range of disciplines, including architecture, business, public policy, emergency response planning, regulation, and the legal profession.

The conference runs from Thursday 2 November to Friday 3 November.

ENDS

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