Our People
Patrick Harris
Director
BE Civil
Chartered Professional Engineer
MIPENZ, MICE, IntPE(NZ)
As a founding Director of Engineering Design Consultants, Patrick is currently responsible for overall company management, business strategy, and overseeing senior managers.
A Chartered Professional Engineer with more than 30 years’ experience, Patrick has worked extensively on large to small-scale civil, marine, and high rise structural engineering projects in New Zealand, the Pacific, South America, and the United Kingdom.
His experience includes civil engineering on local authority projects and significant land developments, as well as extensive structural design and construction supervision. His track record includes fire engineering analysis, design and report preparation for domestic, commercial, educational and medical construction projects. In addition to his role at EDC, Patrick acts as an expert witness for Resource Consent hearings and Environment Court hearings.
In his spare time, Patrick runs a small farm specialising in emus.
Ian Hendy
Senior Civil & Geotechnical EngineerDirector
BE Civil (Hons)
Chartered Professional Engineer
MIPENZ, NZGS
Ian joined EDC in 1995, bringing broad experience in geotechnical and civil fields to the company. He has developed considerable expertise in all aspects of land development including bulk earthworks, retaining structures, slope stability assessments, building foundations, environmental controls, roads, stormwater, wastewater and water supply infrastructure.
He is highly experienced in providing detailed investigation, design and reporting services on land development projects from the initial concept, right through to construction supervision and the certification stage.
Ian has a particular specialisation in design and computer modelling for stormwater- related projects, including flood plain assessments, stream-works, and the design of ponds and reticulation to the required technical and environmental standards, often working for local councils. He also acts at hearings as an expert witness.
When he has the time, Ian has the perfect escape from work – he heads to the skies as a part time glider pilot.
Gareth Williams
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
BSc (Hons) Mining Geology
P.Grad. Dip. Management Studies
MSc (Eng) Foundation Engineering
Chartered Professional Engineer IntPE(NZ)
MIPENZ MAusIMM
Gareth joined EDC in 2003 as senior geotechnical engineer with responsibility for meeting clients for both geotechnical and geo-environmental investigations including sampling, control of field staff, design of fieldwork, slope stability analyses, effluent (domestic wastewater) on-site disposal design, plus factual and interpretive reporting including foundation and retaining wall design recommendations.
Gareth has specialist skills in interpreting the results of contaminated land investigations. He also acts as an expert witness at Council and Environment Court hearings for councils and private clients in connection with geotechnical and geo-environmental issues
Before joining EDC, Gareth worked extensively on the geotechnical aspects of residential, commercial and industrial development projects from Northland to Wellington. He has been involved in geotechnical and contaminated land investigations on a vast range of development projects in the United Kingdom, Russia and Singapore. His environmental investigations included testing for explosives, hydrocarbons and heavy metals for a variety of end uses from residential to commercial.
Away from the office, Gareth and his wife run a small farm with cattle, horses, chickens, a pig – and two children. He also finds the time to act as an instructor at a local dog club.
Manu Withers
Senior Structural EngineerManager
BE Civil
Chartered Professional Engineer
MIPENZ (Structural)
IntPE
Manu is responsible for managing the structural projects including commercial, industrial and residential design, contract administration and project supervision, from design inception to completion.
Since graduating from Auckland University, Manu spent 7 years working in the UK and Australia. He worked on projects ranging from the £360M Qatar Convention Centre to £36M St Catherine’s House in London, as well as the historic Guild Hall, involving the design of a suspended double skin glass façade. Projects in Australia include Martin Towers in Adelaide.
Manu joined Engineering Design Consultants in July 2009 bringing with him many areas of expertise, including commercial buildings such as 3M New Zealand headquarters and industrial buildings such as warehouses for CRS Viridian Glass, Steel and Tube and the Gateside warehouses, plus numerous extensions. He also has experience with residential apartment buildings including the luxury 5 storey Cheshire Street apartments in Parnell, Auckland. Added to this mix are the many and varied residential projects for home owners.
Manu has an energetic approach to engineering that is both constructive and lively. He is always happy to share his experience and insight with those involved in his projects. Clients and other professionals alike enjoy his candid good humour which makes him an easy and enjoyable person to work with.
Time away from the office is spent with his wife and young family, and out on the water, fishing for ‘that big one’.
Bing He
Structural Engineer
BE (China)
Diploma in Architectural Technology
IPENZ
Bing has been on the EDC staff since 2001. She is a key member of the structural engineering team based at Birkenhead and has been involved in the structural design of numerous projects including commercial and residential developments.
Bing has extensive technology skills, particularly in the use of Microstrain, 2D and 3D structural analysis software used in the design of a wide variety of steel-framed structures.
Bing arrived in New Zealand from China in 1997 with the Chinese equivalent of an engineering degree (her language is Mandarin). She studied architectural technology at UNITECH for three years, graduating in 2001, and then joined the EDC team.
In her free time, Bing enjoys relaxing with a good book.
Andrew Congalton
Environmental Engineer
BE Environmental
GIPENZ
Andrew’s role involves a mix of civil and environmental aspects, involving the design of large subdivisions, drainage, earthworks, retaining structures, roading and related site supervision. His role also includes project management for the engineering phase of multi-unit residential developments, trade waste testing and reporting, and smaller geotechnical work. He manages contaminated land projects including desk studies and site investigations through to the design of remedial works.
Andrew first joined EDC in 2000 as a student assisting with geotechnical and civil jobs, and AutoCAD draughting. After graduating, he joined the company full-time. In 2005, he took a year’s sabbatical leave to pursue the chance to play semi-professional rugby in England. He was employed by Rodgers Leask Ltd, a consulting engineering firm, working on the civil engineering parts of residential developments and also geotechnical and environmental investigations around the United Kingdom.
Since his return in 2006, Andrew has resumed duties overseeing CAD management and also Health and Safety company policy
Outside of work hours, Andrew plays rugby, Aussie Rules football, and enjoys fishing and sailing.
Jonathan Mumford
Civil/Structural Engineer
N.DIP Civil (ZA)
Btech Civil (ZA)
GIPENZ
Jonathan is originally from South Africa, where he did an internship working on a variety of civil and structural projects while completing his civil engineering degree. He has worked in New Zealand since 2002, and joined EDC in 2006.
Jonathan has both civil and structural contracting experience and has worked on projects for residential subdivisions, pipeline installations, road construction and upgrades, and a sanitary sewer treatment plant for a town of 10,000 people.
His areas of civil expertise include roading, pipelines, pump stations, stormwater modelling in accordance with ARC TP108, and stormwater treatment in accordance with TP10. His structural capabilities cover residential dwellings including masonry and timber retaining walls, beams, pipeline bridging, bracing, and bridge design.
Jonathan is married and has one child. In his free time, he heads to the coast looking for the perfect conditions for himself – and his surf board.
Raymond Wu
Structural Engineer
MEngSt (Civil)
BE (Civil)
BISc
Civil Engineering Diploma (China)
GIPENZ
Raymond joined the EDC team in 2005 as a highly-qualified structural engineer with extensive experience in large-scale projects in China. In 2007, he completed his Master’s Degree in Engineering Studies in New Zealand after combining his EDC role with part-time study for two years.
Acquiring New Zealand qualifications has been a key focus for Raymond since arriving here in 1999 and he has graduated with an information science degree from Massey University, and a civil engineering degree from the University of Auckland.
While in China, Raymond completed a three year course at Central-South University for a civil engineering diploma and worked as a structural consultant engineer for nine years on developments in Guangzhou ranging from factories and industrial buildings to a 34-storey apartment block. He is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Away from work, Raymond enjoys family time with his wife and two children.
Matt Gilfoyle
BE (Civil)
GIPENZ
A Kiwi, Matt graduated from the University of Auckland in 2000 and undertook various civil and structural engineering projects for Dainty Alderton, ranging from stormwater and sewer reticulations / detentions and associated site supervision, to industrial warehouses, strata developments, timber frame residential dwellings and pools.
Canada beckoned, then Sweden, with time-out from engineering to pursue landscaping, ski lift operating and hotel reception experiences.
In Scotland he picked up structural engineering again and worked for Mott MacDonald on projects including the refurbishment and renovations of multi storey historic 19th century buildings including a hospital with new, modern additions and the conversion of a block of tenement housing into a 100 bed hotel. Design of retaining structures, bridges and settlement chambers, together wave modelling and design of wave barriers for the Kingsnorth power station, and a variety of steel portal frame designs and timber frame housing.
Matt joined our structural department early 2010 on his return to New Zealand. His spare time is spent working out at the gym, rugby, kayaking and ultimate frisbee.
Christine Thesiger
Office Manager
Christine joined EDC as the Office Manager in 2004. She brought with her 15 years of secretarial and broad office experience having worked previously for accountants, engineers and surveyors.
She is responsible for selecting and managing our administration support staff, day to day finances, and office procedures to ensure the smooth running of the office.
Having lived in both Australia and South Africa and travelled widely through Europe, she then chose to settle back home in New Zealand. Since then, bringing up a family has been helpful in developing a diverse range of skills including time management, multi-tasking, being practical and positive, people organising, attention to detail and having a wonderful sense of humour.
A NZ Registered Reflexologist and one of our First Aid trained staff, Christine also enjoys live theatre, gardening and is a keen photographer.