Meet our Graduates
A day in the life as a WSP Graduate
Rory Vernon
Planning
Whangārei
Hannah Weise
Civil
Tauranga
Diana Solis Trueba
Civil
Invercargill
Hunter Harding
Ports
Christchurch
Alice Gibson
Bridges
Dunedin
Celeste Patutama
Property
Wellington
Philip Girgis
Water
Auckland
I go conduct culvert inspections all throughout the Auckland region to ensure that the assets are performing as they should. I then report my findings to the Stormwater Asset Manager and fill out requests for proposals based on the renewal/maintenance work required.
1.00PM
Philip Girgis
Graduate Engineer Water (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Wai)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
Philip Girgis, Graduate Engineer – Water (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Wai), joined WSP in January 2021 in the water team in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
He joined WSP as it has a good reputation within the industry and provides access to a large international network.
“I have stayed at WSP for the variety of opportunities and experiences I am exposed to that allow me to grow professionally.”
Philip said each project that he works on is different, which keeps the work interesting and challenging. He said the fast-paced nature of some projects can be difficult to keep up with at times. But by setting out expectations and communicating clearly and consistently, issues can often be mitigated before they occur.
Philip shares about his workday as a WSP Graduate.
8.00AM
This car park next to the office is located in central Auckland and is only a 15-minute drive from my flat. It is situated right by the Westhaven marina with beautiful walks and cafes along the waterfront.
I start my day in the office working on various flood models and design projects. I am currently working on a major flooding event, analysing what has happened and how to mitigate the impact of these events in the future at the design stage.
9.00AM
I have a Thrive meeting with my team leader to discuss my professional goals and how I feel I am progressing towards them. This is a good environment to be able to discuss any new ideas I may have on the work that I want to be doing or outlining new goals I want to achieve.
4.00PM
After work, I like to go to the beach for a swim or create some art.
Today, I’ve completed this painting.
6.00PM
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Philip completed his Bachelor
of Engineering (Honours) –
Civil degree from University of Auckland in 2020. He gives this advice to students:
“Say yes to as many opportunities as you can because you’ll never know what might truly pique your interest until you try it.”
WSP IN AUCKLAND
WSP in Auckland boasts a team of 500+ employees.
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
As part of the Link Alliance we are delivering the industry leading CRL project, and you can also find our team members competing in triathlons, enjoying the accessible waterfronts, and appreciating a myriad of local parks throughout the regions.
We are proud to be part of the Auckland community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
Today is a Monday. Each Monday we have a team meeting to discuss workloads for the week ahead. We also discuss any upcoming events or exciting projects people are working on.
1.00PM
Hunter Harding, Graduate Engineer – Ports and Coastal Marine (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Aromoana), first joined WSP in 2019 as a Summer Intern in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa Gisborne. After completing his degree, he joined WSP as a Graduate in January 2021 in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
He said he decided to join WSP because of the company’s national and global reputation. Since joining in his Graduate role, he has enjoyed the variety of work.
“There is a good balance between site visits and in-office work, which is awesome.”
Beyond his day-to-day work, Hunter is also a member of Kapa, WSP’s Social Club.
Hunter shares about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
I bike to work through Hagley Park. I bike as frequently as I can; it’s a great way to start the day.
7.30AM
This morning I’ve got a site visit inspecting piles at a local port. Inspections are a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with clients and contractors. Plus, it’s always good to get out of the office for a few hours!
8.00AM
Time for lunch. The Christchurch office has great social facilities. I often head up to level 4 and play some pool with some colleagues from other teams.
12.30PM
I close out the day with some design work for a new wharf currently in the design phase. I’m detailing the reinforcing for the concrete components of the stormwater system. The design work I do complements the inspections and onsite work I get to experience.
2.00PM
I’m an avid footy player and today I’ve got training. We’re currently in summer pre-season, so that means fitness! Today we’re hitting a set of stairs backing onto the Port Hills. Rugby training is a good way to blow off some steam after the office time.
6.00PM
Hunter Harding
Graduate Engineer – Ports and Coastal Marine (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Aromoana)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil
Ōtautahi – Christchurch
Hunter completed his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from University of Canterbury
in 2020. He gives this advice
to students:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and enjoy
yourself.”
WSP IN CHRISTCHURCH
WSP in Christchurch has over 345+ team members.
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
Our office is centrally located overlooking Hagley Park and we have views spanning from the Southern Alps to the Port Hills. Our team is made up of keen sportspeople and outdoor enthusiasts ranging from skiing, mountain biking, cycling, tramping, women’s rugby, hockey, surf lifesaving, USAR, and more.
Our wide range of personal and professional interests impact how we tailor our approach to the needs of the community. We are proud to be part of the resilient Christchurch community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
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I'm preparing a notice to our contractors for some work to repair two of the bridges in our network.
1.00PM
Alice Gibson, Graduate Engineer – Bridges & Civil Structures (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Arawhata), joined WSP in August 2020 as part of the Bridge team in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
She was inspired to work at WSP after hearing from a guest WSP lecturer at university. WSP’s variety of work, large projects, long history in Aotearoa New Zealand, and global expertise made the organisation her top choice when looking for a graduate role.
“Now after more than a year of working here I am so happy that I had the opportunity to start off my career with WSP, and I look forward to the joys and challenges to come as I continue my career here.”
Alice said her favourite aspects of her role are going on site for bridge inspections and working in a supportive environment to grow her skills.
“I am part of a great team which delivers a variety of exciting work dealing with the life of bridges through inspections and structural maintenance works and more! Because we have a variety of work that we do in our team, I often have jobs to do which are new to me and I need to learn how to. This can be a challenge, but it also allows me to grow and develop new skills.”
Alice gives insight into a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
I start the day by reading my Bible while I have breakfast and my first cup of tea for the day.
Before heading to work I also like to complete a German lesson on Duolingo. I’m up to a 704-day streak!
7.00AM
This morning we have a meeting with our client to update them on the progress of our projects and where we’re headed for the rest of the financial year.
9.00AM
Our bridge team is meeting on Teams to go through the daily Stuff quiz. This helps us stay connected while we are not all together in the office.
10.00AM
I try to bike to work a few times a week, but since I’m working from home today, I head out for a ride during my lunch break instead. It was great to get some fresh air and enjoy the sun.
12.00PM
I’m heading to site for a bridge inspection this afternoon. We inspect all our bridges every 2 years and some more frequently. I’m measuring crack widths at this bridge to make sure they aren’t getting bigger.
3.00PM
In the evenings I like to relax and watch some TV. Today while I watch I’m also crocheting a blanket for my newest future nephew.
8.00PM
Alice Gibson
Graduate Engineer – Bridges & Civil Structures (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Arawhata)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil
Ōtepoti, Dunedin
Alice completed her Bachelor
of Engineering (Honours) –
Civil degree from University
of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
Remember that your learning doesn’t stop when you leave university it’s just the beginning! Keep developing your study habits now and never be afraid to ask questions. Everyone wants to support you and your development.”
WSP IN DUNEDIN
WSP is the largest engineering consultancy in the Southern region, with offices in Dunedin, Invercargill, and Central Otago (Queenstown and Alexandra).
Our legacy has grown from the most well-recognised civil engineering achievements in the South (for example the Homer Tunnel, Clyde Dam and Manapouri Power Station) into truly multi-disciplinary services across the entire project lifecycle of infrastructure development for our local clients.
With offices located both within the growth Frankton Flats region of wider Queenstown and the centre of Alexandra, our Central Otago staff work, live and play within one of the largest adventure playgrounds of New Zealand.
We have an acute focus for the community that houses our friends, family, and colleagues. Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Dunedin impacts how we tailor our approach the needs of our community. We are proud to be part of the Dunedin community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
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1.00PM
We visit landowners regularly when we are undertaking a Land Acquisition for our client. Today we had an initial meeting with a landowner in Masterton. We prefer to meet the landowners in person as it builds closer relationships. On the way back to Wellington we stopped at our favourite bakery and bought some treats for the team back at the office.
Celeste Patutama, Graduate Property Consultant (Kaitohutohu Paetahi Arowhenua), joined WSP in March 2021 in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara Wellington.
She chose to work for WSP as the organisation specialises in a number of sectors. She said her favourite part of her role is the people.
“I love the people! – He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tanagta, he tangata, he tangata.”
Celeste said she has had to learn how to balance her workload and prioritise tasks as she works across a large number of projects.
“My biggest challenge is trying to say no when I have too many things on my plate. As a graduate I love saying yes to everything but sometimes it is best to say no if you know you are already at full capacity.”
She is also a member of the 2022 Graduate Committee and a volunteer with the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, focussing on supporting Māori and Pacific opportunities and initiatives across the company.
Celeste covers a day at work as a WSP Graduate:
8.00AM
Today the Property Team are meeting for a team breakfast to start the day right. I am in the Property Social Committee, and we plan team bonding activities and events to keep us all social. Our office is in the heart of the Wellington CBD, so it makes it super easy for us to walk to cafes for a quick breakfast/lunch. Team breakfast is one of my favourite activities so far as we get to catch up with the whole team and also get to eat.
We now have our monthly client meeting for our Acquisitions team. During this meeting the consultants provide property updates for our client, run through key performance indicator reports, and catch up about any upcoming projects or work that could be heading our way.
9.00AM
12.00PM
Lunch time! Christina and I like to go out for walks to stretch our legs and sneak in a cheeky shopping trip at Mecca as it is just down the road. WSP also provided us with these great masks – stay safe!
4.00PM
Top tip: Get yourself a huge water bottle to ensure you are staying hydrated in the office. I try to drink two of these a day. A lot of my work includes drafting agreements, removing compensation certificates from titles, researching interests on titles and investigating land parcels so a lot of it is private information and confidential.
5.00PM
To celebrate the completion of a project that our project management team worked on, we hosted an event with their client. It was great to celebrate the completion of the project and play some tennis on a fantastic indoor surface. Our Property & Buildings Director Neil Barr also came to support.
Celeste Patutama
Graduate Property Consultant (Kaitohutohu Paetahi Arowhenua)
Bachelor of Property
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara
Wellington
Celeste completed her Bachelor of Property degree from the University of Auckland in 2021. She gives this advice to students:
“You won’t know unless you try! Don’t be afraid to try new things, you can only find something you enjoy if you give it a go. Get involved in as much as you can so you can build your network and experiences.”
WSP IN WELLINGTON
WSP in Wellington is home to 300+ team members based in the Wellington Majestic Centre and the Petone Research Centre.
We cover all sectors with a number of key clients: Waka Kotahi, Transpower, CentrePort, All Central Government Clients, Wellington Water and more. Our Research Centre provides a broad range of high quality research, specialist consultancy and laboratory services to improve the design and performance of infrastructure for our community. We are very proud of the work that we do to better our community.
Our team is actively engaged with our community and supports the Kids Learn To Swim Huia pool programme through Hutt City Council. Our team members appreciate the creative landscape and talented arts community of our region and enjoy the vibrant landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand's capital.
We are proud to be part of the Wellington community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
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A new bridge is being built on a local road in the Southland region. Time to have a look at the site progression and talk to the contractors about it. There are many waterways in the southern region and our team gets to cover a large number of bridges. I am lucky that this bridge has a beautiful, peaceful view.
1.20PM
Diana Solis Trueba, Graduate Engineer Civil (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi), first joined WSP in 2018 as a Summer Intern in Waihopai Invercargill. Following completion of her university degree, she joined in her current role in February 2021 as part of the structures team, returning to Waihopai Invercargill.
She said her positive experience during her two Summer Internships made WSP her employer of choice to start her Graduate career.
“I really wanted to come back and work as a graduate. This is because I really liked the diverse, and flexible experience that you get from the regional offices.
Reflecting on this decision now, I am happy I decided to start my graduate career with WSP because there is a strong focus for developing your professional goals, big or small. And in the regional office I am offered a friendly and supportive environment to achieve my professional goals.”
Diana said she enjoys working in the structures team because she is involved in a large range of projects and work, including design, site inspections and reporting. She said being in a smaller office has also helped her develop and take on the regular challenge of learning, because she gets one-on-one support from senior engineers.
“As a graduate a lot of new knowledge will be basically thrown at you, and on top of that you will have to keep up-to-date with all the industry information. It is important that you start developing good organisational skills to thrive in your career.”
Diana tells about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
It takes longer to brew my coffee than my commute to work. Time to start off my day after a great sleep in.
7.45AM
This morning I am starting off my day with some structural design. I am working on a structure that is governed by wind loads. Yesterday I got stuck with some of my design calculations, so I have come to senior engineer, Hendre Knoetze, for his advice and to ask lots of questions.
8.00AM
Time to go and inspect the reinforcement of a precast panel before they start pouring concrete on it. These panels were designed by WSP a couple of years ago, before I was even an intern. It is important to check that the reinforcement and anything else specified in the drawings is placed as the design requires it. Workers sometimes are too busy with other jobs to notice some details that could be important.
9.30AM
During a nice sunny day, I like to make the most of it by stepping outside the office. I usually take my longboard to the local pump track which is just a couple of minutes away. It’s a fun way to split my workday. After coming back, I eat some of my home cooking - lots of good spicy Mexican food.
12.00PM
I am back in the office after a long drive from the bridge inspection, and it’s now time to report my site visit records from today. I report all the good, the bad and – hopefully not but even – the ugly to my team leader, Ian Sutherland. He will review them and then I will finally send them out.
4.00PM
Work is over, but my training session has just started. During the week after work, I go to the gym and play football regularly. Tonight I will be skating to and back from the gym with some friends. I train and compete for the Southern Powerlifting Club and Old Boys Football Club.
6.00PM
Diana Solis Trueba
Graduate Engineer Civil (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil
Waihopai, Invercargill
Diana finished her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from the University of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
“Enjoy your university years! And remember that what you know now is not all that you will have to know. The actual hands-on learning begins when you leave university, but it’s not scary. You will be very supported by your colleagues and team.”
WSP IN INVERCARGILL
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
Our Invercargill locals can attest to the region's advantageous access to outdoors activities like hunting, tramping, water sports, fishing, and iconic scenery of Milford Sound, Stewart Island, and Catlins.
The unparalleled beauty of the region is punctuated by short commute times and the kind of family-friendly environment that can only be developed in a close-knit community.
WSP in Invercargill places the utmost importance on its community. Our team is especially proud of its heavy involvement in local sports teams, community groups and professional organisations.
Our involvement directly involves developing young engineers in Invercargill through cadetships and summer internships. Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Invercargill impacts how we tailor our approach to your needs and the needs of our community. We are proud to be part of the Invercargill community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
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The office is quite close to a bunch of good food places. My friends and I love Falafel Metro in town; it’s our go-to.
12.00PM
Hannah Weise, Graduate Engineer Civil (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi), joined in January 2021 as part of the water team in Tauranga-moana Tauranga.
She said she chose WSP as she had heard good things about the organisation from university friends, which was reinforced by her research of WSP.
“Two specific things that stood out for me was the drive that WSP has to reduce impacts on the climate and their ‘Community Day’ initiative, which is an extra day of leave for employees to volunteer in their local community. When I first started with the Tauranga team, I expressed interest in the Community Day initiative and was in turn tasked with organising one for our office, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Hannah said she also liked the supportive, self-driven nature of WSP’s Graduate Programme and development opportunities.
“I have been well-supported when expressing interest in developing skills such as CAD drafting and project management. It has also meant that I have not been pressured into a role that I do not have interest in. Rather, I have been encouraged to further develop in the areas I enjoy.”
She said working in a regional office has opened up a variety of opportunities.
“Being a graduate in the regions has been really beneficial for me because it has allowed me to work with people all around New Zealand and help out with things such as culvert inspections, hand auger tests and even a site inspection at a dam.”
Hannah is part of the leadership team for Pathways, which is the emerging professionals group at WSP. She is also involved with the local Social Club committee and helping to plan team building activities and events for the Tauranga office. In 2021, she also organised a native tree planting day with Tauranga City Council on Mauao for the office.
Hannah tells about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
6.30AM
I tend to make a coffee and leave the house around 6.30 am. It’s a pretty short commute from Mt Maunganui (maybe like 15 min), and I get to work early enough for a free car park.
Our office has a group chat where we post our Stuff Quiz scores in the morning, so I do the quiz before opening my emails. My most productive hours tend to be in the morning, so I get through a bit of work before most people come into the office.
7.00AM
This morning I am going out for my weekly site inspection of a transport project that we are doing Quality Assurance for in Ōmokoroa.
9.00AM
Today I am doing project financial tracking for some projects that I am involved in. This involves monitoring how much we have spent, planned to have spent and have earned. I go through and call or email the task managers and get updates on where their task is up to for the week.
1.00PM
For the rest of the afternoon, I am working on some biofilter drawings for a local council.
2.00PM
Hannah Weise
Graduate Engineer Civil (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil
Tauranga-moana – Tauranga
Hannah completed her
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil degree from the University of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
“You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do when you leave university. Everyone is trying
to figure it out, and all experience
is helpful in some way.”
WSP IN TAURANGA
We currently have almost 40 staff, delivering services which include transportation planning and design, 3 water design, planning and engagement, survey and geotechnical design and investigations.
Our design teams, planners and surveyors have been involved in shaping road and water infrastructure for many decades not only within Tauranga but also around our Bay of Plenty Region, with the teams being involved in the Tauranga Eastern Link, Wharf and shed design at the Port of Tauranga, numerous road and foot bridges, cycleways and emergency responses to storm events.
Our team is synonymous with our community - contributing to everything from rowing clubs to brass bands, and tangata whenua forums to sustainability groups. Working in Tauranga affords our staff the optimum work/lifestyle balance with some of Aotearoa's best beaches, surfing hotspots, walking, and cultural experiences located just beyond our doorstep.
Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Tauranga impacts how we tailor our approach to the needs of our community.
We are proud to be part of the Tauranga community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
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Our wider sector got the opportunity to hear from the leadership team today to communicate the goals and pathway for the coming year and to celebrate and highlight some great project wins. It provides some motivation for me personally for the year of work ahead!
1.30PM
Rory Vernon, Graduate Planner (Kaiwhakamāhere Paetahi), first joined WSP in February 2021 in our Kirikiriroa Hamilton office and has since transferred to our Whangārei office.
He said he decided to join WSP because of the good reviews he heard of the organisation from others he studied alongside.
“I heard about WSP through former classmates who started their careers here and were excited by the opportunity to work with and develop at a multidisciplinary company that really emphasised the growth and development of young professionals. There is also the opportunity to work with people from other offices, which provides great networking opportunities and project diversity.”
He said he enjoys that his work provides the opportunity to make a difference.
“What I love most about my job is the opportunity to work on projects in fields that will have such positive impacts on communities in the future and working for a company that is committed to contributing to climate change action.”
And a challenge he faces is navigating how to manage his workload.
“One of the biggest challenges of the job is juggling multiple projects and working to multiple deadlines at the same time. Time management is a skill and making sure you develop it alongside technical capabilities is a must!”
Rory shares about a day at work as a WSP Graduate:
Living rurally means getting up early! But it also means I get to enjoy these types of views on my commute in to work every morning.
6.00AM
Today I am off to site to complete an inspection for a subdivision consent that I am processing on behalf of a local council. It’s always nice to be able to head out of the office and get on site.
There’s always great work diversity!
10.00AM
12.30PM
We’re not far from great lunch spots here in Whangārei. The waterfront is today’s choice and only a 10-minute walk from the office!
After lunch I’m getting stuck into working on some proposals for some potential upcoming work in Northland. It’s always good getting to connect with people from other sectors in the business and getting to pull together offers for some really exciting projects.
2.30PM
Always a treat getting to be able to stop off on the way home from work to play some golf and unwind. Hard to beat such a scenic course.
6.00PM
Rory Vernon
Graduate Planner (Kaiwhakamāhere Paetahi)
Master of Planning
Whangārei
Rory completed his Master
of Planning degree from
University of Otago in 2020.
He gives this advice to students:
"Make the most of all the opportunities that you can. There
is so much room for growth if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. Also, there is no such thing
as a stupid question!”
WSP IN WHANGĀREI
WSP in Whangārei employs 50+ staff working all over Northland. Our local expertise drives our business and our team of hard-working, talented staff are complemented by the wealth of global knowledge shared by our WSP Global colleagues.
Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Whangārei impacts how we tailor our approach to the needs of our community.
We work closely with Whangārei DC, Kaipara DC, Far North DC, Waka Kotahi and several Industrial Companies in Northland to share our breadth of knowledge and expertise.
We are well known for training locals and have a very active and successful Cadet Training Programme. Our Cadets that graduate with Diplomas in Civil Engineering are highly sought after and can be found employed with many of our Clients. We are very proud of the work that we do to better our community.
Philip Girgis
Water
Auckland
Alice Gibson
Bridges
Dunedin
Hunter Harding
Ports
Christchurch
Celeste Patutama
Property
Wellington
Diana Solis Trueba
Civil
Invercargill
Hannah Weise
Civil
Tauranga
Rory Vernon
Planning
Whangārei
Meet our graduates
A day in the life as
a WSP Graduate
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Philip completed his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from University of Auckland in 2020. He gives this advice to students:
“Say yes to as many opportunities as you can because you’ll never know what might truly pique your interest until you try it.”
Philip Girgis, Graduate Engineer – Water (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Wai), joined WSP in January 2021 in the water team in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
He joined WSP as it has a good reputation within the industry and provides access to a large international network.
“I have stayed at WSP for the variety of opportunities and experiences I am exposed to that allow me to grow professionally.”
Philip said each project that he works on is different, which keeps the work interesting and challenging. He said the fast-paced nature of some projects can be difficult to keep up with at times. But by setting out expectations and communicating clearly and consistently, issues can often be mitigated before they occur.
Philip shares about his workday as a WSP Graduate.
WSP IN AUCKLAND
WSP in Auckland boasts a team of 500+ employees.
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
As part of the Link Alliance we are delivering the industry leading CRL project, and you can also find our team members competing in triathlons, enjoying the accessible waterfronts, and appreciating a myriad of local parks throughout the regions.
We are proud to be part of the Auckland community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
After work, I like to go to the beach for a swim or create some art.
Today, I’ve completed this painting.
6.00PM
I have a Thrive meeting with my team leader to discuss my professional goals and how I feel I am progressing towards them. This is a good environment to be able to discuss any new ideas I may have on the work that I want to be doing or outlining new goals I want to achieve.
4.00PM
I go conduct culvert inspections all throughout the Auckland region to ensure that the assets are performing as they should. I then report my findings to the Stormwater Asset Manager and fill out requests for proposals based on the renewal/maintenance work required.
1.00PM
I start my day in the office working on various flood models and design projects. I am currently working on a major flooding event, analysing what has happened and how to mitigate the impact of these events in the future at the design stage
9.00AM
Philip Girgis
Graduate Engineer Water (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Wai)
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
This car park next to the office is located in central Auckland and is only a 15-minute drive from my flat. It is situated right by the Westhaven marina with beautiful walks and cafes along the waterfront.
8.00AM
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Hunter completed his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from University of Canterbury in 2020. He gives this advice to students:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and enjoy yourself.”
Hunter Harding, Graduate Engineer – Ports and Coastal Marine (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Aromoana), first joined WSP in 2019 as a Summer Intern in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa Gisborne. After completing his degree, he joined WSP as a Graduate in January 2021 in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
He said he decided to join WSP because of the company’s national and global reputation. Since joining in his Graduate role, he has enjoyed the variety of work.
“There is a good balance between site visits and in-office work, which is awesome.”
Beyond his day-to-day work, Hunter is also a member of Kapa, WSP’s Social Club.
Hunter shares about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
WSP IN CHRISTCHURCH
WSP in Christchurch has over 345+ team members.
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
Our office is centrally located overlooking Hagley Park and we have views spanning from the Southern Alps to the Port Hills. Our team is made up of keen sportspeople and outdoor enthusiasts ranging from skiing, mountain biking, cycling, tramping, women’s rugby, hockey, surf lifesaving, USAR, and more.
Our wide rage of personal and professional interests impact how we tailor our approach to the needs of the community. We are proud to be part of the Resilient Christchurch community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
I’m an avid footy player and today I’ve got training. We’re currently in summer pre-season, so that means fitness! Today we’re hitting a set of stairs backing onto the Port Hills. Rugby training is a good way to blow off some steam after the office time.
6.00PM
I close out the day with some design work for a new wharf currently in the design phase. I’m detailing the reinforcing for the concrete components of the stormwater system. The design work I do complements the inspections and onsite work I get to experience.
2.00PM
Today is a Monday. Each Monday we have a team meeting to discuss workloads for the week ahead. We also discuss any upcoming events or exciting projects people are working on.
1.00PM
Time for lunch. The Christchurch office has great social facilities. I often head up to level 4 and play some pool with some colleagues from other teams.
12.30PM
This morning I’ve got a site visit inspecting piles at a local port. Inspections are a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with clients and contractors. Plus, it’s always good to get out of the office for a few hours!
8.00AM
Hunter Harding
Graduate Engineer –
Ports and Coastal Marine
(Kaipūkaha Paetahi Aromoana)
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil
Ōtautahi – Christchurch
I bike to work through Hagley Park. I bike as frequently as I can; it’s a great way to start the day.
7.30AM
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I'm preparing a notice to our contractors for some work to repair two of the bridges in our network.
1.00PM
I start the day by reading my Bible while I have breakfast and my first cup of tea for the day.
Before heading to work I also like to complete a German lesson on Duolingo. I’m up to a 704-day streak!
7.00AM
Alice Gibson
Graduate Engineer –
Bridges & Civil Structures
(Kaipūkaha Paetahi Arawhata)
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil
Ōtepoti, Dunedin
This morning we have a meeting with our client to update them on the progress of our projects and where we’re headed for the rest of the financial year.
9.00AM
Our bridge team is meeting on Teams to go through the daily Stuff quiz. This helps us stay connected while we are not all together in the office.
10.00AM
I try to bike to work a few times a week, but since I’m working from home today, I head out for a ride during my lunch break instead. It was great to get some fresh air and enjoy the sun.
12.00PM
I’m heading to site for a bridge inspection this afternoon. We inspect all our bridges every 2 years and some more frequently. I’m measuring crack widths at this bridge to make sure they aren’t getting bigger.
3.00PM
Alice completed her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from University of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
“Remember that your learning doesn’t stop when you leave university it’s just the beginning! Keep developing your study habits now and never be afraid to ask questions. Everyone wants to support you and your development.”
8.00PM
In the evenings I like to relax and watch some TV. Today while I watch I’m also crocheting a blanket for my newest future nephew.
WSP IN DUNEDIN
WSP is the largest engineering consultancy in the Southern region, with offices in Dunedin, Invercargill, and Central Otago (Queenstown and Alexandra).
Our legacy has grown from the most well-recognised civil engineering achievements in the South (for example the Homer Tunnel, Clyde Dam and Manapouri Power Station) into truly multi-disciplinary services across the entire project lifecycle of infrastructure development for our local clients.
With offices located both within the growth Frankton Flats region of wider Queenstown and the centre of Alexandra, our Central Otago staff work, live and play within one of the largest adventure playgrounds of New Zealand.
We have an acute focus for the community that houses our friends, family, and colleagues. Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Dunedin impacts how we tailor our approach the needs of our community. We are proud to be part of the Dunedin community and helping to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
Alice Gibson, Graduate Engineer – Bridges & Civil Structures (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Arawhata), joined WSP in August 2020 as part of the Bridge team in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
She was inspired to work at WSP after hearing from a guest WSP lecturer at university. WSP’s variety of work, large projects, long history in Aotearoa New Zealand, and global expertise made the organisation her top choice when looking for a graduate role.
“Now after more than a year of working here I am so happy that I had the opportunity to start off my career with WSP, and I look forward to the joys and challenges to come as I continue my career here.”
Alice said her favourite aspects of her role are going on site for bridge inspections and working in a supportive environment to grow her skills.
“I am part of a great team which delivers a variety of exciting work dealing with the life of bridges through inspections and structural maintenance works and more! Because we have a variety of work that we do in our team, I often have jobs to do which are new to me and I need to learn how to. This can be a challenge, but it also allows me to grow and develop new skills.”
Alice gives insight into a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
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Celeste completed her Bachelor of Property degree from the University of Auckland in 2021. She gives this advice to students:
“You won’t know unless you try! Don’t be afraid to try new things, you can only find something you enjoy if you give it a go. Get involved in as much as you can so you can build your network and experiences.”
Celeste Patutama, Graduate Property Consultant (Kaitohutohu Paetahi Arowhenua), joined WSP in March 2021 in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara Wellington.
She chose to work for WSP as the organisation specialises in a number of sectors. She said her favourite part of her role is the people.
“I love the people! – He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tanagta, he tangata, he tangata.”
Celeste said she has had to learn how to balance her workload and prioritise tasks as she works across a large number of projects.
“My biggest challenge is trying to say no when I have too many things on my plate. As a graduate I love saying yes to everything but sometimes it is best to say no if you know you are already at full capacity.”
She is also a member of the 2022 Graduate Committee and a volunteer with the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, focussing on supporting Māori and Pacific opportunities and initiatives across the company.
Celeste covers a day at work as a WSP Graduate:
WSP IN WELLINGTON
WSP in Wellington is home to 300+ team members based in the Wellington Majestic Centre and the Petone Research Centre.
We cover all sectors with a number of key clients: Waka Kotahi, Transpower, CentrePort, All Central Government Clients, Wellington Water and more. Our Research Centre provides a broad range of high quality research, specialist consultancy and laboratory services to improve the design and performance of infrastructure for our community. We are very proud of the work that we do to better our community.
Our team is actively engaged with our community and supports the Kids Learn To Swim Huia pool programme through Hutt City Council. Our team members appreciate the creative landscape and talented arts community of our region and enjoy the vibrant landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand's capital.
We are proud to be part of the Wellington community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
To celebrate the completion of a project that our project management team worked on, we hosted an event with their client. It was great to celebrate the completion of the project and play some tennis on a fantastic indoor surface. Our Property & Buildings Director Neil Barr also came to support.
5.00PM
Top tip: Get yourself a huge water bottle to ensure you are staying hydrated in the office. I try to drink two of these a day. A lot of my work includes drafting agreements, removing compensation certificates from titles, researching interests on titles and investigating land parcels so a lot of it is private information and confidential.
4.00PM
We visit landowners regularly when we are undertaking a Land Acquisition for our client. Today we had an initial meeting with a landowner in Masterton. We prefer to meet the landowners in person as it builds closer relationships. On the way back to Wellington we stopped at our favourite bakery and bought some treats for the team back at the office.
1.00PM
Lunch time! Christina and I like to go out for walks to stretch our legs and sneak in a cheeky shopping trip at Mecca as it is just down the road. WSP also provided us with these great masks – stay safe!
12.00PM
We now have our monthly client meeting for our Acquisitions team. During this meeting the consultants provide property updates for our client, run through key performance indicator reports, and catch up about any upcoming projects or work that could be heading our way.
9.00AM
Celeste Patutama
Graduate Property Consultant (Kaitohutohu Paetahi Arowhenua)
Bachelor of Property
Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara Wellington
Today the Property Team are meeting for a team breakfast to start the day right. I am in the Property Social Committee, and we plan team bonding activities and events to keep us all social. Our office is in the heart of the Wellington CBD, so it makes it super easy for us to walk to cafes for a quick breakfast/lunch. Team breakfast is one of my favourite activities so far as we get to catch up with the whole team and also get to eat.
8.00AM
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I am back in the office after a long drive from the bridge inspection, and it’s now time to report my site visit records from today. I report all the good, the bad and – hopefully not but even – the ugly to my team leader, Ian Sutherland. He will review them and then I will finally send them out.
4.00PM
It takes longer to brew my coffee than my commute to work. Time to start off my day after a great sleep in.
7.45AM
Diana Solis Trueba
Graduate Engineer Civil
(Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi)
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil
Waihopai, Invercargill
8.00AM
This morning I am starting off my day with some structural design. I am working on a structure that is governed by wind loads. Yesterday I got stuck with some of my design calculations, so I have come to senior engineer, Hendre Knoetze, for his advice and to ask lots of questions.
Time to go and inspect the reinforcement of a precast panel before they start pouring concrete on it. These panels were designed by WSP a couple of years ago, before I was even an intern. It is important to check that the reinforcement and anything else specified in the drawings is placed as the design requires it. Workers sometimes are too busy with other jobs to notice some details that could be important.
9.30AM
During a nice sunny day, I like to make the most of it by stepping outside the office. I usually take my longboard to the local pump track which is just a couple of minutes away. It’s a fun way to split my workday. After coming back, I eat some of my home cooking - lots of good spicy Mexican food.
12.00PM
A new bridge is being built on a local road in the Southland region. Time to have a look at the site progression and talk to the contractors about it. There are many waterways in the southern region and our team gets to cover a large number of bridges. I am lucky that this bridge has a beautiful, peaceful view.
1.20PM
6.00PM
Work is over, but my training session has just started. During the week after work, I go to the gym and play football regularly. Tonight I will be skating to and back from the gym with some friends. I train and compete for the Southern Powerlifting Club and Old Boys Football Club.
WSP IN INVERCARGILL
Our team includes a diverse range of experts. We focus on solutions for the local communities where we live.
Our Invercargill locals can attest to the region's advantageous access to outdoors activities like hunting, tramping, water sports, fishing, and iconic scenery of Milford Sound, Stewart Island, and Catlins.
The unparalleled beauty of the region is punctuated by short commute times and the kind of family-friendly environment that can only be developed in a close-knit community.
WSP in Invercargill places the utmost importance on its community. Our team is especially proud of its heavy involvement in local sports teams, community groups and professional organisations.
Our involvement directly involves developing young engineers in Invercargill through cadetships and summer internships. Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Invercargill impacts how we tailor our approach to your needs and the needs of our community. We are proud to be part of the Invercargill community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
Diana Solis Trueba, Graduate Engineer Civil (Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi), first joined WSP in 2018 as a Summer Intern in Waihopai Invercargill. Following completion of her university degree, she joined in her current role in February 2021 as part of the structures team, returning to Waihopai Invercargill.
She said her positive experience during her two Summer Internships made WSP her employer of choice to start her Graduate career.
“I really wanted to come back and work as a graduate. This is because I really liked the diverse, and flexible experience that you get from the regional offices.
Reflecting on this decision now, I am happy I decided to start my graduate career with WSP because there is a strong focus for developing your professional goals, big or small. And in the regional office I am offered a friendly and supportive environment to achieve my professional goals.”
Diana said she enjoys working in the structures team because she is involved in a large range of projects and work, including design, site inspections and reporting. She said being in a smaller office has also helped her develop and take on the regular challenge of learning, because she gets one-on-one support from senior engineers.
“As a graduate a lot of new knowledge will be basically thrown at you, and on top of that you will have to keep up-to-date with all the industry information. It is important that you start developing good organisational skills to thrive in your career.”
Diana tells about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
Diana finished her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from the University of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
“Enjoy your university years! And remember that what you know now is not all that you will have to know. The actual hands-on learning begins when you leave university, but it’s not scary. You will be very supported by your colleagues and team.”
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Hannah Weise
Graduate Engineer Civil
(Kaipūkaha Paetahi Metarahi)
Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) – Civil
Tauranga-moana – Tauranga
Hannah completed her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Civil degree from the University of Canterbury in 2020. She gives this advice to students:
“You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do when you leave university. Everyone is trying to figure it out, and all experience is helpful in some way.”
She said she chose WSP as she had heard good things about the organisation from university friends, which was reinforced by her research of WSP.
“Two specific things that stood out for me was the drive that WSP has to reduce impacts on the climate and their ‘Community Day’ initiative, which is an extra day of leave for employees to volunteer in their local community. When I first started with the Tauranga team, I expressed interest in the Community Day initiative and was in turn tasked with organising one for our office, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Hannah said she also liked the supportive, self-driven nature of WSP’s Graduate Programme and development opportunities.
“I have been well-supported when expressing interest in developing skills such as CAD drafting and project management. It has also meant that I have not been pressured into a role that I do not have interest in. Rather, I have been encouraged to further develop in the areas I enjoy.”
She said working in a regional office has opened up a variety of opportunities.
“Being a graduate in the regions has been really beneficial for me because it has allowed me to work with people all around New Zealand and help out with things such as culvert inspections, hand auger tests and even a site inspection at a dam.”
Hannah is part of the leadership team for Pathways, which is the emerging professionals group at WSP. She is also involved with the local Social Club committee and helping to plan team building activities and events for the Tauranga office. In 2021, she also organised a native tree planting day with Tauranga City Council on Mauao for the office.
Hannah tells about a day at work as a WSP Graduate.
WSP IN TAURANGA
We currently have almost 40 staff, delivering services which include transportation planning and design, 3 water design, planning and engagement, survey and geotechnical design and investigations.
Our design teams, planners and surveyors have been involved in shaping road and water infrastructure for many decades not only within Tauranga but also around our Bay of Plenty Region, with the teams being involved in the Tauranga Eastern Link, Wharf and shed design at the Port of Tauranga, numerous road and foot bridges, cycleways and emergency responses to storm events.
Our team is synonymous with our community - contributing to everything from rowing clubs to brass bands, and tangata whenua forums to sustainability groups. Working in Tauranga affords our staff the optimum work/lifestyle balance with some of Aotearoa's best beaches, surfing hotspots, walking, and cultural experiences located just beyond our doorstep.
Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Tauranga impacts how we tailor our approach to the needs of our community.
We are proud to be part of the Tauranga community and helping you to create what matters for the future of the region we call home.
For the rest of the afternoon, I am working on some biofilter drawings for a local council.
2.00PM
Today I am doing project financial tracking for some projects that I am involved in. This involves monitoring how much we have spent, planned to have spent and have earned. I go through and call or email the task managers and get updates on where their task is up to for the week.
1.00PM
The office is quite close to a bunch of good food places. My friends and I love Falafel Metro in town; it’s our go-to.
12.00PM
This morning I am going out for my weekly site inspection of a transport project that we are doing Quality Assurance for in Ōmokoroa.
9.00AM
Our office has a group chat where we post our Stuff Quiz scores in the morning, so I do the quiz before opening my emails. My most productive hours tend to be in the morning, so I get through a bit of work before most people come into the office.
7.00AM
6.30AM
I tend to make a coffee and leave the house around 6.30 am. It’s a pretty short commute from Mt Maunganui (maybe like 15 min), and I get to work early enough for a free car park.
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Rory completed his Master of Planning degree from University of Otago in 2020. He gives this advice to students:
“Make the most of all the opportunities that you can. There is so much room for growth if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. Also, there is no such thing as a stupid question!”
Living rurally means getting up early! But it also means I get to enjoy these types of views on my commute in to work every morning.
6.00AM
Rory Vernon, Graduate Planner (Kaiwhakamāhere Paetahi), first joined WSP in February 2021 in our Kirikiriroa Hamilton office and has since transferred to our Whangārei office.
He said he decided to join WSP because of the good reviews he heard of the organisation from others he studied alongside.
“I heard about WSP through former classmates who started their careers here and were excited by the opportunity to work with and develop at a multidisciplinary company that really emphasised the growth and development of young professionals. There is also the opportunity to work with people from other offices, which provides great networking opportunities and project diversity.”
He said he enjoys that his work provides the opportunity to make a difference.
“What I love most about my job is the opportunity to work on projects in fields that will have such positive impacts on communities in the future and working for a company that is committed to contributing to climate change action.”
And a challenge he faces is navigating how to manage his workload.
“One of the biggest challenges of the job is juggling multiple projects and working to multiple deadlines at the same time. Time management is a skill and making sure you develop it alongside technical capabilities is a must!”
Rory shares about a day at work as a WSP Graduate:
WSP IN WHANGĀREI
WSP in Whangārei employs 50+ staff working all over Northland. Our local expertise drives our business and our team of hard-working, talented staff are complemented by the wealth of global knowledge shared by our WSP Global colleagues.
Our depth of personal and professional knowledge of Whangārei impacts how we tailor our approach to the needs of our community.
We work closely with Whangārei DC, Kaipara DC, Far North DC, Waka Kotahi and several Industrial Companies in Northland to share our breadth of knowledge and expertise.
We are well known for training locals and have a very active and successful Cadet Training Programme. Our Cadets that graduate with Diplomas in Civil Engineering are highly sought after and can be found employed with many of our Clients. We are very proud of the work that we do to better our community.
Always a treat getting to be able to stop off on the way home from work to play some golf and unwind. Hard to beat such a scenic course.
6.00PM
After lunch I’m getting stuck into working on some proposals for some potential upcoming work in Northland. It’s always good getting to connect with people from other sectors in the business and getting to pull together offers for some really exciting projects.
2.30PM
Our wider sector got the opportunity to hear from the leadership team today to communicate the goals and pathway for the coming year and to celebrate and highlight some great project wins. It provides some motivation for me personally for the year of work ahead!
1.30PM
We’re not far from great lunch spots here in Whangārei. The waterfront is today’s choice and only a 10-minute walk from the office!
12.30PM
Today I am off to site to complete an inspection for a subdivision consent that I am processing on behalf of a local council. It’s always nice to be able to head out of the office and get on site. There’s always great work diversity!
10.00AM
Rory Vernon
Graduate Planner
(Kaiwhakamāhere Paetahi)
Master of Planning
Whangārei