We are delighted to announce that Gary Porteous, WSP Wellington based Client Director of Asset Network Performance, has been elected President of Āpōpō, for a two year term. Gary has been our Vice-President since 2021.
Gary said, “As well as bedding in the new Āpōpō brand, one of the things I want to achieve as President is growing the capability and capacity of asset management in New Zealand through, for example, our digital badge programme, online training, and events.”
Gary Porteous, President
Based in: Wellington
Client Director – Asset and Network Performance at WSP
Gary has over 25 years’ experience in a range of asset management, team leadership, governance, management and technical roles in asset management and civil engineering projects in New Zealand, the UK and Canada. A seasoned chartered professional engineer and consultant, Gary has held senior leadership and advisory roles and worked with a wide range of private, public, and government clients globally.
Gary has been a Board Member of Apopo since 2017, over the last 2 years has been the Vice President and the chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He has been involved in the RIMS Committee since 2015
Gary is Client Director – Asset and Network Performance at WSP, with accountability for delivering professional and engineering services in developing and delivering infrastructure projects across the transport sector. Gary has developed and served in a range of industry partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures. Gary’s work has spanned Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and an extended period in Canada.
Gary is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow member of Engineering New Zealand. He is a Certified Asset Management Assessor (WPiAM) – CAMA and a Certified Practitioner in Asset Management – CPAM.
Steve Browning, Vice-President
Director, Strategic Asset Solutions
Steve was appointed to the Āpōpō Board in September 2021, and Vice-President in 2023.
Steve is an asset management specialist with extensive experience working with infrastructure assets in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada. HE enjoys providing strategic advice to asset owning organisations, utilising technology to assist optimised decision making and securing funding by helping tell the infrastructure investment story.
He has worked on all sides of the infrastructure management process and has a robust understanding of construction and maintenance, data modelling and forward works planning. Steve was the client-side Lead Asset Management Advisor for large scale PPP contracts in Canada and was the Technical Director of Asset Management for TRL in the UK.
Steve is a skilled negotiator and an experienced communicator, who has delivered asset management training to staff at all levels of organizational seniority. He is passionate about raising the profile of infrastructure asset management and is currently leading the Āpōpō training working group to develop the next generation of asset management training.
He has supported clients to create industry leading activity management plans and is an experienced investment logic mapping and business case developer. Steve has worked across the infrastructure spectrum, specializing in the transport, property and water sectors, and enjoys cross pollinating best practice from each sector.
A warm welcome also to the new faces joining the Āpōpō Board, who started their roles yesterday, immediately following the AGM having been elected or co-opted by the Board to their positions.
Here’s what they have to say about their new roles:
Tracy Massam as Elected Board Member
Asset Manager, Tamaki Regeneration Company
So excited for Āpōpō and Asset Management in Aotearoa, collectively raising our gaze to the future using assets as enablers of equity and social cohesion, community worth and prosperity.
I am passionate about asset management that help articulate and accelerate outcomes for people and their communities.
I am open minded but decisive, even when it’s difficult to ensure what is needed – gets done, acting in the best interests of the organisation, always at the speed of trust.
As Pou Herenga Whai Rawa – Asset Manager for Tamaki Regeneration Company I hold a diverse and rich set of skills and life experiences, some from over 15 year’s in Asset Management Planning.
I enjoy exploring possibilities and looking for new opportunities and have thoroughly enjoyed taking on governance roles over the last 4 years. I am currently the Board Chair of Te Hononga Akoranga COMET which is an Auckland Council CCO on a mission to drive systems change to make education and skills more effective and equitable.
Values alignment is important and I choose carefully who I work and partner with, I would be a proud board member of Āpōpō helping to steer the organisational waka towards a shared, sustainable tomorrow.
Kelly Churchill as Elected Board Member
National Performance Manager, Fulton Hogan
I am a Chartered Professional Engineer, working as National Performance Manager for Fulton Hogan. I have been working in our industry for more than 20 years, spanning surveying, engineering design and economics, contract and project management, and the last 7 years in Contracting / Asset Management. In this time, I have successfully led a state highway outcomes-based contract before moving into my national role, and over this time been involved extensively with boards. In the last year I have participated as Fulton Hogan alternate to the Combined NOC Board as well and the Wellington Transport Alliance Board. In 2022 I was awarded the IPWEA Emerging Governance scholarship, resulting in the opportunity to complete the IOD Company Directors Course. The course has provided me great insight into effective boards, using strategy to provide direction and focus, ensuring there is diversity of thought, skills, and equity at the board table. I am passionate about using end user / customer insights to make informed decisions about the way we maintain our assets. I am a firm believer in embracing diversity of thought, innovation and technology to deliver sustainable outcomes. I would bring my unique and varied experience, skills, contracting perspective and passion about asset management in contracting and maintenance to the Āpōpō board.
Jako Abrie as Bay of Plenty/East Coast Branch Chair
Senior Associate, Asset Management at Beca
I’m passionate about asset management that leads to practical outcomes, and enjoy providing insights and information that changes decision making. During my career I have:
- held governance roles in local government and charitable organisations
- completed asset management maturity assessments and developed asset management plans, strategies, and policy for electricity generators, local councils, and government agencies
- lead various project teams
I’m a Chartered Professional Engineer with Engineering New Zealand, a member of the Institute of Directors and a Certified Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute. My education includes a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), Master of Engineering Management (Hons) and a Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance.
Parvati Patel as Northern Branch Chair (co-opted)
Asset Planning Team Leader at Hamilton City Council
I am the Asset Planning Team Leader at Hamilton City Council, looking after asset management of the Three Waters.
I have worked in the local government space for over 20 years, primarily in Three Waters with experience in operations, compliance, project management and asset management over the last 10 years.
Recently I have been involved with the DIA in developing AMPs for the Waikato area. I’ve enjoying being in the industry and seeing the changes as opportunities to grow and make sure asset management is forefront to the success of any changes that do occur in the Waters Industry.
Our new Board members are excited and committed to helping lead Āpōpō’s development in the coming years.
Steve Browning and George Bowman were re-elected as elected Board members, along with re-elected Branch Chairs Raj Suppiah for Wellington/Taranaki, James Thorne for Upper South Island and Quinton Penniall for the Otago/Southland Branch. Thanks to these five for their re-nomination and commitment to leading Āpōpō into our next phase of change and growth. Kristina Hermens and Nicola Chisnall will enter the second of their two year elected terms with the Board.
Former President Priyani de Silva-Currie said ‘It is an exciting time for this organisation moving into its first full year as Āpōpō. I am really pleased to be handing the reigns over to such a strong team with Gary at the helm, where together they can continue to lift their gaze to the future and take infrastructure asset management excellence to a new level fully embracing our unique identity. It has been a privilege to work with the existing Board members through an inspiring transformation, and I will be watching with interest as the new Board takes Āpōpō forward. I wish to take this opportunity to thank our members and partners for their support of the Board and myself over these years – you have all been the motivation for our growth and the definition of our identity’.
Former President Priyani de Silva-Currie with Gary Porteous
Congratulations to our new President Gary and our new Board members on their appointment to these positions with Āpōpō. The 2023-2024 membership year promises to be an exciting one with new developments as Āpōpō takes flight.
