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Over 60 years of engineering testing excellence

Meet the team

BRIGITTE SARGENT

GEOSALES NATIONAL MANAGER

Brigitte is the Geosales National Manager and also oversees the Measurement & Calibration Centre. She is responsible for the continued growth of our sales, hire, and calibration services through growing our integrated operating systems to ensure profitability and product development.

Brigitte also manages the training of staff to ensure they are capable and confident in their roles. She advises on day-to-day operations by supporting pricing jobs for clients, trouble shooting technical issues, and sharing industry knowledge.

MOHAMMAD MOTTAGHI FARD

TECHNICAL SALES EXECUTIVE

Mohammad is our Technical Sales Executive, based in Auckland. He is responsible for providing technical advice and support for all sales, installation and training, ensuring our customers are satisfied with their products.

Mohammad brings with him a wealth of experience in materials testing equipment, having been in the industry for over 20 years. He has designed and manufactured sophisticated test equipment, as well as set up advanced testing systems.

CLARK YPARRAGUIRRE

SALES MANAGER

Clark is our Sales Manager based in Auckland. He is responsible for providing ongoing support, advice and solutions to ensure our customers get what they need, when they need it.

Whilst Clark has extensive knowledge across our entire product range, his particular area of interest is laboratory equipment and setups.

He regularly visits customers on-site throughout New Zealand and often attends industry events and conferences.

MARKO PETROVIC

TECHNICAL SALES DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

Marko, our Auckland-based Technical Sales Development Executive, provides expert technical consultations for test equipment and projects across various sectors.

With extensive experience in configuring high-end testing systems and conducting user training, he excels in serving key accounts and fostering new relationships.

Marko is passionate about discussing industry trends, test methods, and specifications, and he is dedicated to providing top-notch guidance and support to our clients in the materials testing field.

MAIYA SARGENT

CUSTOMER SERVICE & PROCESS ADMINISTRATOR

Maiya is our Customer Service and Process Administrator based in Auckland. She is responsible for processing orders and providing day-to-day support to our customers, ensuring they get what they want, when they need it.

With a large focus on customer satisfaction, Maiya brings a fresh approach to how we can build on our customer experience programme.

MAIYA SARGENT

CUSTOMER SERVICE PROCESS ADMINISTRATOR

Maiya is our Customer Service and Process Administrator based in Auckland. She is responsible for processing orders and providing day-to-day support to our customers, ensuring they get what they want, when they need it.

With a large focus on customer satisfaction, Maiya brings a fresh approach to how we can build on our customer experience programme.

PAUL BURTON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Paul is the Chief Executive of Geotechnics, with extensive experience in site investigations, specialist instrumentation and field and laboratory testing. He is responsible for the Geotechnics group of companies including testing and sales operations along with the Measurement & Calibration Centre.

Paul is a Project Director for a variety of projects in New Zealand and the Pacific region and holds IANZ signatory status for our field and laboratory testing. Paul is currently the Secretary for the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Technical Committee – Field Monitoring in Geomechanics (ISSMGE – TC220) and is a former board member for the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ (ACE NZ).

STEVEN ANDERSON

OPERATIONS & TECHNICAL MANAGER

Steven is Geotechnics' Operations & Technical Manager, based in Auckland. He has over 30 years of experience in a range of civil engineering laboratory and field tests on materials such as concrete, aggregate, rock, and soil.

Steven is also a Project Director, coordinating testing work on many large investigation and construction projects such as Northern Gateway SH1, Grafton Gully Arterial redevelopment, Redvale Landfill, Whitford Landfill, as well as other regional and national projects.

VIC O’CONNOR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vic O’Connor is an Executive Director of the Tonkin + Taylor Group which includes Geotechnics and all the New Zealand and Australian subsidiaries. His T+T Group governance role spans 23 years and he has 45+ years’ experience in the operation, management and leadership of civil engineering testing and instrumentation businesses. Vic was the Managing Director of Geotechnics for 30 years from 1990 to 2020.

His new role includes business development, mentoring and coaching, major project oversight and business to business relationship development for the wider group.

ANTHONY GILLILAND

CLIENT AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

Anthony is Geotechnics’ Client & Operations Manager. His role centres around Business Development, nurturing existing and building new client relationships, identifying new opportunities and supporting the wider team in winning work.

With extensive experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects, including the set-up of two satellite laboratories for NZTA projects, Anthony also leads the pricing and resourcing of major projects. He is also an IANZ signatory across field, laboratory, and concrete testing in the Auckland and Pūhoi offices.

DANIEL BRASTING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FIELD TEAM LEADER

Dan is the CMT Field Team Leader for Geotechnics based in Auckland. His role involves overseeing a team of Field Technicians, organising site visits and testing, liaising with clients and engineers to understand the scope of work, and informing clients of test results.

He has extensive testing knowledge having spent time working in both the sales and calibration teams as well as working in an IANZ-accredited testing laboratory, and as a Field Technician on a variety of land development projects.

DANIEL MCKAY

AUCKLAND FIELD COORDINATOR

Dan is the Auckland CMT Field Coordinator. He orchestrates site visits for CMT Field testing and communicates with clients as well as engineers regarding test results.

He began his career working on major projects, where he honed his skills acorss diverse domains including roading, rail, earthworks, and residential projects. This experience has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of project intricacies.

FRASER BAINBRIDGE

GROUND INVESTIGATION PROJECTS MANAGER

Fraser Bainbridge is the Ground Investigation Projects Manager at Geotechnics. With significant experience in managing geotechnical investigations, he focuses on project oversight, team support, and ensuring quality outcomes for clients.

Fraser also plays a key role in developing strong relationships and providing guidance across various projects.

WILLIAM ROADS

SITE INVESTIGATION TEAM LEADER

William is the Site Investigation Team Leader for Geotechnics based in Auckland. He has extensive knowledge and experience in Paleoceanography, Palaeontology, Petroleum Geology, and Geophysics, and has also carried out research in the fields of climate science and biogeochemistry.

He is responsible for coordinating the Site Investigation, Geophysics, and Pavements team to ensure the delivery of quality Site Investigation reports used in engineering projects throughout New Zealand. This covers all aspects of a project, from initial contact with a client, scope assessment, health and safety management, data gathering, and report production and presentation.

Fergus Goldie

P2W LABORATORY SUPERVISOR

Fergus is our P2W Laboratory Supervisor. He currently leads the Auckland Soils and Aggregates Labs, bringing with him six years of valuable experience in the Construction Materials Testing (CMT) field and laboratory environment.

Throughout his career, he has contributed to significant projects including the Puhoi to Warkworth Motorway, Penlink, and Eastern Busway. His expertise spans soil, aggregate, and concrete testing, enable him to provide comprehensive support across various construction endeavors.

HELEN WANG

TRIAXIAL LABORATORY MANAGER

Helen is the Triaxial Laboratory Manager at Geotechnics, and an IANZ signatory based in Auckland. With extensive experience in commercial testing and researching, her fields of expertise include Triaxial, Shearbox, Ringshear, Permeability, Pinhole and Isotropic Consolidation tests.

She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Triaxial Laboratory, providing customers with quality testing services, and supervising junior technicians.

DANO SHAJI

SENIOR CONCRETE TECHNICIAN

Dano is the Senior Concrete Technician for Geotechnics based in Auckland. His role involves overseeing the team responsible for Concrete Field Testing. His responsibilities include providing guidance, training, and support for his team. As well as this, he conducts field work, collects samples and performs on-site testing.

Dano's proficiency in conducting laboratory tests and experiments based on field samples, is due to his previous experience as a Laboratory Technician.

STEVEN ANDERSON

OPERATIONS & TECHNICAL MANAGER

Steven is Geotechnics' Operations & Technical Manager, based in Auckland. He has over 30 years of experience in a range of civil engineering laboratory and field tests on materials such as concrete, aggregate, rock, and soil.

Steven is also a Project Director, coordinating testing work on many large investigation and construction projects such as Northern Gateway SH1, Grafton Gully Arterial redevelopment, Redvale Landfill, Whitford Landfill, as well as other regional and national projects.

ANTHONY GILLILAND

CLIENT AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

Anthony is Geotechnics’ Client & Operations Manager. His role centres around Business Development, nurturing existing and building new client relationships, identifying new opportunities and supporting the wider team in winning work.

With extensive experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects, including the set-up of two satellite laboratories for NZTA projects, Anthony also leads the pricing and resourcing of major projects. He is also an IANZ signatory across field, laboratory, and concrete testing in the Auckland and Pūhoi offices.

DANIEL BRASTING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FIELD TEAM LEADER

Dan is the CMT Field Team Leader for Geotechnics based in Auckland. His role involves overseeing a team of Field Technicians, organising site visits and testing, liaising with clients and engineers to understand the scope of work, and informing clients of test results.

He has extensive testing knowledge having spent time working in both the sales and calibration teams as well as working in an IANZ-accredited testing laboratory, and as a Field Technician on a variety of land development projects.

LIAM MULLEN

HAMILTON TEAM LEADER

Liam is the Hamilton Team Leader for Geotechnics. He has experience in site investigation, instrumentation, earthworks testing, environmental monitoring and factual reporting along with a BSc in Earth Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Geology.

Liam is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the field work in Hamilton as well as the wider Waikato area.

DANNY WYATT

PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL MANAGER

Danny is the Projects and Technical Manager for Geotechnics, working across our Hamilton and Tauranga branches. He has over 25 years of varied experience in the civil engineering industry, having managed several laboratories and worked extensively in the fields of aggregates and Engineering Geology.

Danny is responsible for expanding our client base and service offerings throughout the country, as well as providing technical assistance to our wider team. He is also the current chair of the Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand (CETANZ) and an IANZ Technical Assessor.

FRANCOIS FONTERNEL

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND LABORATORY MANAGER

Francois is the Laboratory Manager for the Central North Island, working across our Hamilton and Tauranga branches. He has extensive experience in a number of different fields such as Concrete, Asphalt, Field, and Soils, and a total of 14 years working in the industry.

He is responsible for the overall management of laboratory operations in the Central North Island, including day-to-day operations, supervision and training of technicians and ensuring our customers receive quality testing services.

DANNY WYATT

PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL MANAGER

Danny is the Projects and Technical Manager for Geotechnics, working across our Hamilton and Tauranga branches. He has over 25 years of varied experience in the civil engineering industry, having managed several laboratories and worked extensively in the fields of aggregates and Engineering Geology.

Danny is responsible for expanding our client base and service offerings throughout the country, as well as providing technical assistance to our wider team. He is also the current chair of the Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand (CETANZ) and an IANZ Technical Assessor.

CHARLOTTE MELLAR

TAURANGA MANAGER

Charlotte leads Geotechnics' Tauranga team, supporting both field and lab technicians to deliver exceptional results. Her collaborative approach ensures smooth operations and strong client relationships.

With experience as a Team Leader on P2W and working closely with the Cirro team, Charlotte combines technical knowledge with leadership to drive innovation and efficiency.

RYAN MILLIGAN

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Ryan is the Development Manager for Instrumentation at Geotechnics and Cirro, based in Tauranga. He has a high level of understanding and knowledge in the areas of materials testing, geotechnical instrumentation and project management, with a particular interest in delivering challenging and innovative geotechnical instrumentation projects.

He is responsible for the development of services in the Bay of Plenty/Waikato area as well as new and innovative technologies nationwide. He is also an IANZ signatory for the Tauranga area.

FRANCOIS FONTERNEL

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND LABORATORY MANAGER

Francois is the Laboratory Manager for the Central North Island, working across our Hamilton and Tauranga branches. He has extensive experience in a number of different fields such as Concrete, Asphalt, Field, and Soils, and a total of 14 years working in the industry.

He is responsible for the overall management of laboratory operations in the Central North Island, including day-to-day operations, supervision and training of technicians and ensuring our customers receive quality testing services.

DAVE BENNETTO

TAURANGA LABORATORY LEAD AND FIELD LEAD

Dave Bennetto is our Tauranga Laboratory Manager and Field Lead. He has extensive experience assisting with and managing key projects, including P2W, and has contributed to instrumentation and Cirro initiatives.

Dave looks after the Field and Lab team in Tauranga, providing them with support as well as providing clients with dependable results.

ALAN BENTON

WELLINGTON MANAGER

Alan is the Wellington Manager for Geotechnics. He oversees the staff in the Wellington office and manages a range of projects including installation and monitoring of geotechnical instrumentation, geotechnical site investigations, environmental sampling and monitoring (soil, water and gas), as well as field and laboratory testing.

He is also an IANZ signatory for Wellington area

JAMES GREEN

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

James is a Laboratory Technician for Geotechnics based in Wellington. He joined Geotechnics in 2012, and has completed a BSc in Geology and Mathematics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Geology. He has been involved in a wide range of projects that include both laboratory testing and site investigations.

He is also an IANZ signatory for the Wellington area.

COREY PAPU-GREAD

CHRISTCHURCH MANAGER

Corey is the Christchurch Manager for Geotechnics. He oversees the staff in the Christchurch office and is responsible for coordinating the laboratories to ensure accurate results and quality assurance. He has experience in geotechnical field and laboratory testing throughout Australia and New Zealand, working on projects of all sizes from large scale mining to small residential site investigations.

He is the IANZ and NATA signatory for the Christchurch area, and is a Committee Member of the Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand (CETANZ).

JEREMY BROKENSHIRE

SENIOR GEOTECHNICAL TECHNICIAN

Jeremy is the Senior Geotechnical Technician for Geotechnics Christchurch. Jeremy is responsible for delivery of projects across the South Island and oversees the Christchurch field testing team. He also has experience in CPT testing, drilling, Laboratory testing, Instrumentation testing, construction monitoring and renewables energy projects. Some notable projects he has worked on across New Zealand include, Puhoi to Warkworth Motorway (NX2), Kainga Ora Housing Delivery System (Project Velocity), Kōwhai Park Solar Farm and Kate Valley Landfill.

He is the lead CPT operator for Geotechnics, is an IANZ Key Technical Person (KTP) and is a member of the Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand (CETANZ).

COREY PAPU-GREAD

CHRISTCHURCH MANAGER

Corey is the Christchurch Manager for Geotechnics. He oversees the staff in the Christchurch office and is responsible for coordinating the laboratories to ensure accurate results and quality assurance. He has experience in geotechnical field and laboratory testing throughout Australia and New Zealand, working on projects of all sizes from large scale mining to small residential site investigations.

He is the IANZ and NATA signatory for the Christchurch area, and is a Committee Member of the Civil Engineering Testing Association of New Zealand (CETANZ).

STEVEN ENRIGHT

SENIOR GEOTECHNICAL TECHNICIAN

Steven is a Senior Geotechnical Technician for Geotechnics in Nelson. He has a BSc in Geology, Geography and Anthropology from the University of Canterbury, and is responsible for the continued growth of Geotechnics in the Nelson/Marlborough region.

Previously, he was based in Christchurch where he was involved in a wide range of post-earthquake projects from geotechnical investigations to instrumentation installation and monitoring.

About us

Founded in 1959, Geotechnics is NZ’s foremost civil engineering testing company. We operate at an international level, serving the geotechnical, environmental and civil engineering industries with a suite of testing and monitoring services, conducted both onsite and in our laboratories. In addition to this, we also supply, hire, service, calibrate and repair civil engineering testing equipment.

The nature of our work requires precision and clarity above all else. That’s why we employ the industry’s sharpest minds, most meticulous methods and state-of-the-art technology, to always produce data that you can rely upon. Our portfolio of work spans a wide range of projects including the Waterview Connection (2012) and the Kaikōura earthquake recovery (2016).

Our accomplished team have unparalleled experience in their field and love nothing more than coming up with innovative solutions to complex problems. When you combine that with our leading health and safety record, it’s no wonder we have one of the highest customer experience ratings in the industry.

At Geotechnics, we’re all about sharing our knowledge to benefit both the industry as a whole, and our customers. We do this with the goal of creating a better, more sustainable world through the excellence of our work and the values we promote in our everyday lives.

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