11 Nov 2026
Civil engineer Will Peet FEngNZ’s career has run from risk management to delivery, then senior leadership to governance, with roles in Aotearoa, Australia, Afghanistan, Aitutaki (Cook Islands) and Antarctica. His executive career has included senior roles in the rail and defence sectors. In 2009 and 2010 he was Infrastructure Coordinator for the Government of Niue.
For the past decade he’s worked as an independent advisor and governance professional across New Zealand’s public infrastructure. He's an independent member or chair of major project governance groups spanning corrections, transport, parliament and joint projects with Australia, including Chair of Site Safe New Zealand, Deputy Chair of Public Trust and Chair of the Wellington region’s new water services entity Tiaki Wai.
What attributes make you a good leader?
I aim to help move things forward and I like working on difficult things – a tricky problem, a project that’s gone off track, or an organisation needing confidence to act. Not getting flustered easily helps too.
At the end of each day, what tells you whether you’ve been successful?
Whether the people around the table left clearer than they arrived. Governance rarely gives you a finished bridge to point at, so clarity of decision is the day’s output.
Photo: Supplied
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My first job was labouring on a building site in the sixth form (Year 12), and between seventh form and university I worked on building a ski field lodge near Arthur’s Pass, which made me realise that engineers have a very cool role. Dad’s an engineer, along with plenty of my wider family.
Who opened a key door for you?
I have a lot of fond memories of Dr Francis Small, who, as the Managing Director of Tranz Rail, appointed me to the executive team. His breadth of thinking, drive, engineering and business nous – and warmth – gave me the opportunity and support to take things on.
How do you connect your work with a sense of greater good?
It isn’t hard in my current portfolio – almost all my work sits at the interface between the public and private sectors and involves stuff that matters to society, the economy and our environment. Site Safe is about everyday safety for the people who work in construction and Tiaki Wai is here so Wellingtonians can trust the water coming out of their taps, and that the wastewater and stormwater systems are being cared for.
What mistake have you learned from the most?
I’m generally an optimistic person, but early in my career I didn’t think through the impact of a decision on people and union relationships and didn’t seek enough wider perspectives. It took hard work to earn back trust. Everybody makes stuff-ups; the key is to find out, front up and fix it – bad news doesn’t improve with age.
How do you approach a difficult conversation with someone you lead?
I like to frame it as on-target feedback; as an old mate told me – don’t tiptoe around or slam people. Prepare properly, have it early, and be compassionately direct. Most importantly, check back in and stay with them as the issue works through. A leader’s job isn’t done until the improvement is made.
Who is a leader in Aotearoa you admire and why?
I was fortunate to work with former Prime Minister Jim Bolger ONZ PC, whose wisdom and sense of humour I treasure. I’m also in awe of the early explorers, from the skilled navigators of Polynesia guiding voyages centuries before Europeans, to Frank Worsley of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition.
What questions have you been asking yourself lately?
Tiaki Wai is still very new, so I’m asking how we earn back our communities’ trust and get our water services onto a sustainable footing. We’ve been open about the state of the assets; we now need to get on with fixing pipes, pumps and plants, and setting a plan for the future.
This article was first published in the September 2026 issue of EG magazine.
