Winning the Rising Star Award at last year's Future Roads conference has given Auckland Transport delivery manager Fatima Leung-Wai greater confidence as a leader and mentor to others in the roading industry.
The award - presented for the first time last year - recognises a standout person in the sector under the age of 40.
As well as acknowledging Leung-Wai's prior contributions to the wider industry, the award has encouraged her to continue to improve, step into leadership roles and share her experiences with others.
"Sometimes we don't know where we are in the New Zealand construction industry. So for me to be recognised it's definitely something that has given me confidence in the work that we do, that we're leaders and have a responsibility to be examples," she says.
It has empowered her to contribute to the development of student engineers, acting as a judge for one of the University of Auckland's Case Club development programme finals earlier this year.
She has also been involved with industry body South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence, as a mentor for a student wanting to get into the industry.
"The key is to just keep growing and to keep learning, taking responsibility for my own learning and growth and encouraging others in achieving their goals and helping them be who they were created to be."
Progression
Leung-Wai joined GHD in December 2021 as an electrical engineer and project manager.
Her rapid progression saw her move to Auckland Transport as a senior project manager, then principal project manager, and now construction delivery manager for the CBD and central area of Auckland.
She successfully managed the Point Chevalier to Westmere improvements project - which is now finishing, closing out with final reporting and financial reconciliation.
Her current focus is on the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Section 4B project.
The contract was awarded in early March, before the site was established in late April with Ngati Whatua Ōrākei involved in an opening karakia and sod turning event.
Construction has started on the current set up and staging, with the first temporary piles in place to allow access.
She notes the complexity of the project conditions, including consent requirements around working in the coastal marine area, avoiding trees and tree roots, and accidental discovery, with cultural protocols in place reflecting archaeological conditions in the area.
Leadership
Leung-Wai manages a team of construction delivery project managers who she also supports on their projects.
Her leadership extends to interns, who she is training and guiding through their initial exposure to the construction industry.
While the experience of being onsite is normal for her, she realises that she takes it for granted.
"The whole experience for them being in their PPE gear, going to site, knowing the safety requirements and just being safe overall and getting inducted - for them, it is new, but for me it is the norm," she says.
"It's really nice to contribute to their growth and even teaching them about financial management, contract management and how to communicate."
But it isn't just interns who benefit from continued learning. Leung-Wai emphasises the need for continued development all round.
"We did a whole series of lessons learned workshops for Point Chev, and those actions or lessons learned are shared to the wider business, so people are applying those to other projects."
She says being able to create and deliver an impact in the local community and wider Auckland would not have been possible without the support and hard work of project teams, especially construction workers on the frontline "who use their bodies, hands, feet, eyes to physically build new infrastructure in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau."
Those are the people whose safety she thinks about, ensuring they go home safely to their families.
Contributions
Leung-Wai encourages others to put themselves or others forward for the Rising Star award this year.
She says winning the award last year has "definitely" helped her, while also keeping her humble.
"I am responsible for my decisions and actions as an engineer, project manager, construction delivery manager and a resident of Auckland when I go to site or the office, reset and start from day zero every day."
When she sees something that doesn't look right, or if someone's not looking after their safety, she knows she needs to be the one to speak up, to be courageous and talk about it.
"Always having safety as a high priority on our construction sites is crucial to delivering successfully."
She attributes her award win to those priorities and the support of her team, especially AT's director of infrastructure and place Murray Burt, former head of active modes Adrian Lord and delivery manager - construction Remi Cruz.
Applications for the 2025 New Zealand Roading industry Rising Star Award are open until 5pm, Friday 15 August. Request your entry form and see more information here.