Hello from Vijesh

Experience Summary 

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• Broad NZ Engineering Background - I have 35-years broad local government experience in NZ having worked across the 3-waters, transport and building sectors in leadership roles developing strategy and policies, managing asset portfolios, managing business units, leading change management, developing business, and directing complex projects. With this experience, I can work with both organisational strategies and operational detail and across a wide range of disciplines.

• ​3 Water Strategies, Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation - In the past 15 years, I have managed specialist teams and facilitated the development of strategies, undertaken catchment management planning, stormwater master planning and flood hazard modelling studies for many Local Authorities in NZ. Recently, I was seconded to Wellington Water leading the long term investment planning for stormwater infrastructure, developing strategies, recommending changes to Network Engineering team processes for managing impacts of climate change, developing flood mitigation strategy to incorporate into pilot studies for improving stormwater discharge water quality as part of Wellington Water’s comprehensive discharge consent, developing a strategy for hydrological controls to protect streams, developing a business case for a spatial stormwater planning tool, peer reviewing modelling and growth studies and developing a scope for integrated catchment management solutions using the principals of adaptive pathway planning. My career has been built working on investigation, modelling, design and renewals of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure including sewer separation projects and rehabilitation of sewer networks.

• Asset Management and Planning – From 2008 to 2023 I led long term asset management contracts as Project Director/Risk & Quality Manager for Auckland Transport for a range of portfolio assets assessing condition and performance of assets and prioritising 1,3,10 and 30-year forward works programmes. The asset portfolios include regional rail, bus, wharf and ferry facilities, car park buildings, bridges, major culverts, retaining walls, coastal sea walls and road corridor drainage systems. My experience in asset management includes asset data management, life cycle analysis, deterioration modelling, remaining life assessments, durability planning, preventive maintenance assessments, asset valuations, risk and customer safety assessments, developing operations and maintenance plans, developing asset strategy & improving AMP’s.

• Multi-disciplinary Infrastructure Projects - Since 2001, I worked as a Project Director / Project Manager. I have an extensive background in planning, design and implementation of local government infrastructure in NZ. I have played a key role on projects managing the commercial arrangements, providing innovative ideas, managing risks, and creating value for clients. I have significant experience leading engineering design teams managing a wide range of technical resources including structural, geotechnical, materials technology, marine engineering, M & E, 3 Waters, transport, CAD and GIS professionals. 

• Risk Management - Recently, I led the development of an asset criticality framework for Auckland Transport and detailed assessment of asset criticality for public transport facility assets. I also developed and manage a comprehensive risk register for the transport facilities portfolio. I identified all possible risk events under several categories, existing preventive and mitigative controls and proposed future preventive and mitigative controls to drive excellence in asset management.

• ​National and international awards - played a key role in winning awards for innovation, sustainability, and excellence in environmental practice.