Celebrating Āpōpō Congress Competition Winners
The Āpōpō Congress 2025 brought together asset management professionals from across Aotearoa and beyond to share knowledge, challenge ideas, and celebrate excellence. Among the many highlights of the event were our annual competitions – designed to recognise outstanding communication, insight, and innovation in infrastructure asset management.
We’re proud to spotlight this year’s winners and runners-up across the Hynds Best Paper and Presentation Award, Emerging Presenter Competition, and the Poster Competition.
Hynds Best Paper and Presentation Award 2025
Winner: Courtney McCrostie (Stantec)
Presentation: Enhancing Transport Access & Resilience in Marlborough Sounds: Rethinking (Reduced) Levels of Service and Affordability
Courtney McCrostie received top honours in this year’s Hynds Best Paper and Presentation Competition, as voted by Congress attendees.
Developed in collaboration with Marlborough District Council, Courtney’s paper explored the complex task of restoring transport access in the Marlborough Sounds following severe weather events. Her presentation impressed attendees with its balance of resilience, affordability, and community needs-underpinned by hazard-informed strategies and pragmatic trade-offs. Her ability to clearly communicate a complex issue made a lasting impact.
Runners-up:
- Andrew Gatland (Asset Dynamics) and Cam Gordon (Auckland Transport)
“The ‘what’ of asset management – the role of asset management framework in improving infrastructure organisations” - Bridget O’Brien (WSP New Zealand) and Robert van Bentum (Ministry of Education)
“Improving the safety of drinking water supplies for 460 schools across Aotearoa”
This award continues to highlight the importance of clear, engaging communication in advancing asset management practice – thanks to Hynds Pipe Systems.
View all papers here.
Emerging Presenter Competition 2025
Winner: Marie Fe Esquivel Socorro Li (Palmerston North City Council)
Presentation: Tomorrow’s History, Today’s Infrastructure
This competition provides a platform for emerging professionals to demonstrate their ideas and communication skills on stage. Marie Li stood out with her insightful presentation on the long-term impact of infrastructure decisions made today. Her clarity, confidence, and thoughtful perspective marked her as a future leader in the profession.
Runners-up:
- Danika Ferguson and Jon Tweed (Beca) – “Value-Driven Design: Ashburton’s Approach to Safe Drinking Water”
- Maria Trass (WSP New Zealand) – “We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Get To It”
View presentation slides here.
Poster Competition 2025
Best Emerging Member Poster: James Lear – Poster: If it’s not in the AMP, it’s invisible!
Best Open Poster: Gemma Mathieson – Poster: Optimising Wai Asset Investment for Heretaunga Hastings
The 2025 Poster Competition showcased the creativity and technical depth of our community.
James Lear’s poster highlighted the importance of including natural capital in asset management plans – emphasising that what isn’t in the AMP often goes unrecognised. Visually compelling and conceptually sharp, his work prompted reflection on how we value environmental assets.
Gemma Mathieson’s poster presented a model for drinking water and wastewater renewals in Heretaunga Hastings. Her clear, data-driven approach to optimising asset investment was a standout example of applied innovation.
Runners-up:
- Emerging Category: Kate Baird “Iconic Hokitika Gorge Suspension Bridge Renewal” and Rahul Yekkar Shenoy “From Strategy to Story: Invesmtent Storysizing”
- Open Category: Anna Percy “A bilingual approach to rail decision making” and Alicia Paulsen “Delivering Value from Asset Data”
View the posters here.
Congratulations!
These competitions are a key part of the Āpōpō Congress programme, offering opportunities to learn from each other, celebrate our peers, and push the boundaries of what great asset management looks like. Congratulations again to all our winners and finalists!
