Meet the wāhine shaping the high-profile project
From stakeholder engagement to traffic management and engineering innovation to environmental compliance – the Queen Street wastewater diversion project is being delivered in part by a powerhouse team of wāhine (women).
They’re bringing unique skills, passion and purpose to a high-profile wastewater upgrade in the bustling city centre of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Meet some of our kaimahi wāhine (female staff) and hear their highlights from the project:
Emma Cushnie, Stakeholder Manager
Working at Fulton Hogan for over a decade, Emma is the bridge between the project and the community. She keeps residents, businesses, clients and stakeholders informed. This ensures the project progresses with minimal disruption and the community involved at each stage.
“Being immersed in the hustle and bustle of the city centre – with many colourful characters – has been incredibly rewarding. Learning about the Albert Park volcano, uncovering 1950s tram tracks and 100-year old brick pipes has made this project fascinating,” says Emma.
Ella Harford, Environmental Advisor
Ella ensures the complex project meets the strict environmental standards and operates sustainably. Her three years with Fulton Hogan have been marked by a strong commitment to compliance and continuous care for the environment – helping the team tread lightly in the heart of the city centre.
“We adapted and upgraded our erosion and sediment controls across some complicated sites. Getting creative with our controls and then proving they were compliant was a proud moment for the team,” says Ella.
Jagoda Lipczynska, Project Engineer
Jagoda brings precision and problem-solving to the forefront in her role as project engineer. She has been instrumental in coordinating temporary works design and ensuring construction methodologies meet project specifications. Jagoda’s engineering expertise helps keep the project moving safely and efficiently.
“After weeks of piling, overcoming site challenges and technical issues – celebrating with the team onsite was pretty special. Working in a busy city environment isn’t easy but the team kept safety and compliance front and centre,” says Jagoda.
Kaley Rawlinson, Intern Engineer
Kaley is just starting her engineering career but she’s already making her mark within the project. In her eight months with the team, she’s been monitoring onsite activities and ensuring safety documentation is up to scratch with attention to detail and eagerness to learn in the field.
Going down into the tunnel shaft for the first time and seeing the piles in action was unforgettable. After working on the piles above ground, seeing it all come together was a huge highlight!” says Kaley.
Madison Gerecke, Project Engineer
Madison is leading early contractor involvement (ECI) for upcoming project stages, ensuring the design input is practical and forward-thinking. With less than three years with Fulton Hogan, she’s already making a big impact on long-term project planning and shaping the next phase of works.
I’m proud of the strong, transparent relationships we’ve built with the designers and clients. Seeing an idea grow from concept to construction is something I never take for granted,” says Madison.
Pearl-Marli Waetford, Site Traffic Management Supervisor (STMS)
Pearl-Marli is the guardian of safety on the streets surrounding the busy work sites. She manages traffic flows, pedestrian safety and vehicle access with confidence, care and community front of mind. Her role is vital in keeping both the public and our teams safe, every day.
“Working across each project site with the piling crew is a real highlight. Being part of the project whānau is the reason why I go to work every day – I love it!” says Pearl-Marli.
Left to right Emma Cushnie, Jagoda Lipczynska, Pearl-Marli Waetford, Madison Gerecke, Ella Harford and Kaley Rawlinson.
