Tony is a Geotechnical Engineer with over 10 years of experience spanning both the private and public sectors. Currently, he works in the Building Performance and Engineering team within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a Geotechnical Engineer focused on providing sound geotechnical engineering advice to support work across MBIE in relation to the building regulatory system and its performance. Prior to joining MBIE, he worked in a consultancy environment to assist with Canterbury post-earthquake remediation. His work included both carrying out geotechnical investigations and design for both residential and commercial developments. He holds an Engineering Degree from the University of Auckland and is based in Christchurch.

Kiran Saligame is a senior geotechnical engineer employed with Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Building System Performance (BSP) branch where he leads and manages geotechnical programme of work for the ministry. He provides expert geotechnical engineering advice to support work across the branch and wider MBIE on complex issues in relation to NZ Building Code, NZ Building Act, various compliance documents, standards development, amendments to verification methods and acceptable solutions. Kiran is also a passionate leader (client management and strategic growth) with strong project management skills and possess high level knowledge of programme management in a public policy/regulatory environment.

Natasha de Andrade is new to the civil engineering and asphalt industry. As an analytical chemist she has participated in various areas of testing but focused on the physical testing field of batteries and material testing. Her expertise and focus lie with quality management systems and has achieved and maintained accreditation for various laboratories.

Thorsten has over 30 years of experience in the design and construction of both existing and greenfield pavements. He is currently the Senior Principal Pavement Engineer at Downer and served as the Lead Designer for the T2W accelerated rehabilitation project. Having spent most of his career working for a contractor, while also gaining valuable experience as a consultant, Thorsten developed a strong interest in the “art” of granular pavement layer compaction. Out of necessity and passion to achieve uniform density of pavement layers he drafted the initial guidance document for performing the Plateau Density test in 2020.

Marko is a dedicated and results-driven professional with a passion for civil engineering material testing, with many years of experience in supporting the industry in New Zealand through a blend of technical product understanding and sales management. He is committed to staying ahead of industry trends and collaborating with others to develop further knowledge on test methods, specifications and cutting-edge test systems. Marko believes in fostering a positive and collaborative environment and thrives on establishing mutually beneficial arrangements.