Date: |
29 Jul 2026, 5.30PM – 7.30PM |
duration: |
2 hrs |
Venue: |
Engineering New Zealand |
Address: |
Level 6/40 Taranaki Street Wellington |
Cost: |
Free event |
Our speakers for this evening event promise to provide an interesting and very topical look at some of current infrastructure projects in the country.
High-strength structural steel (yield strength >350 MPa) has been widely adopted in bridge construction across North America and Europe, delivering lighter, more efficient, and increasingly sustainable structures. In New Zealand, however, its application remains largely untapped. With the forthcoming publication of HERA Report R4-163: Use of High Strength Steel in New Zealand Bridge Superstructures, this presentation explores the opportunities, benefits, and practical considerations of adopting high-strength steel within the New Zealand bridge industry.
The presentation will cover key topics including design implications, economic considerations, material selection and specification, fabrication requirements, and welding practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how high-strength steel can be effectively incorporated into bridge designs to achieve greater structural efficiency and performance.
The session concludes with an assessment of the carbon reduction and sustainability benefits associated with high-strength steel, along with an update on NZTA’s steel-related design guidance currently under review and its implications for future bridge projects in New Zealand.
Presenter Bios
Phil Gaby is a Principal at Holmes and a civil structural engineer known for delivering practical, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Raed El Sarraf is a structural and corrosion engineer and founder of Structural Integrity Consultants (SIC), specialising in asset durability, corrosion management, and infrastructure life extension.
Andre van Heerden is Engineering Manager of Eastbridge Ltd, with extensive experience in the delivery and fabrication of pedestrian, cycleway, highway, and specialist steel bridges.
Kaveh Andisheh is General Manager – Structural Systems at HERA, leading New Zealand's steel structures research and development and contributing to national and joint Australia–New Zealand standards.
Bridge Personality of the Evening - Rhonda Hill
Rhonda Hill is a Principal Bridge and Civil Structures Engineer with WSP, with 45 years of experience in bridge and structural asset management across the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions. For the past three years, she has been seconded to the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance as the local structural lead.
A Chartered Professional Engineer, Rhonda has extensive expertise in bridge engineering, structural assessments, asset management, maintenance planning, rehabilitation, and infrastructure resilience. She is passionate about practical, risk-based asset management and helping clients maximise value from existing infrastructure through informed investment decisions. Throughout her career, she has seen bridge engineering evolve towards a greater focus on asset performance, resilience, and whole-of-life outcomes.
In this presentation, "This is Your Life", Rhonda reflects on her professional journey, the lessons learned along the way, and how bridge asset management has shaped both her career and her perspective on engineering.
Join the Bridge Engineering Technical Society for their next Wellington Bridge Group event looking at High Strength Steel Bridges and Asset Management - Utilising high strength steel in bridges.
Our speakers for this evening event promise to provide an interesting and very topical look at some of current infrastructure projects in the country.
High-strength structural steel (yield strength >350 MPa) has been widely adopted in bridge construction across North America and Europe, delivering lighter, more efficient, and increasingly sustainable structures. In New Zealand, however, its application remains largely untapped. With the forthcoming publication of HERA Report R4-163: Use of High Strength Steel in New Zealand Bridge Superstructures, this presentation explores the opportunities, benefits, and practical considerations of adopting high-strength steel within the New Zealand bridge industry.
The presentation will cover key topics including design implications, economic considerations, material selection and specification, fabrication requirements, and welding practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how high-strength steel can be effectively incorporated into bridge designs to achieve greater structural efficiency and performance.
The session concludes with an assessment of the carbon reduction and sustainability benefits associated with high-strength steel, along with an update on NZTA’s steel-related design guidance currently under review and its implications for future bridge projects in New Zealand.
Presenter Bios
Phil Gaby is a Principal at Holmes and a civil structural engineer known for delivering practical, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Raed El Sarraf is a structural and corrosion engineer and founder of Structural Integrity Consultants (SIC), specialising in asset durability, corrosion management, and infrastructure life extension.
Andre van Heerden is Engineering Manager of Eastbridge Ltd, with extensive experience in the delivery and fabrication of pedestrian, cycleway, highway, and specialist steel bridges.
Kaveh Andisheh is General Manager – Structural Systems at HERA, leading New Zealand's steel structures research and development and contributing to national and joint Australia–New Zealand standards.
Bridge Personality of the Evening - Rhonda Hill
Rhonda Hill is a Principal Bridge and Civil Structures Engineer with WSP, with 45 years of experience in bridge and structural asset management across the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions. For the past three years, she has been seconded to the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance as the local structural lead.
A Chartered Professional Engineer, Rhonda has extensive expertise in bridge engineering, structural assessments, asset management, maintenance planning, rehabilitation, and infrastructure resilience. She is passionate about practical, risk-based asset management and helping clients maximise value from existing infrastructure through informed investment decisions. Throughout her career, she has seen bridge engineering evolve towards a greater focus on asset performance, resilience, and whole-of-life outcomes.
In this presentation, "This is Your Life", Rhonda reflects on her professional journey, the lessons learned along the way, and how bridge asset management has shaped both her career and her perspective on engineering.
