The judging panel for the New Zealand Roading Industry Rising Star Award has selected four exceptional finalists for 2025, representing a diverse range of expertise and achievements across the sector.
Following a comprehensive evaluation process, the panel has agreed on finalists they say exemplify the breadth of talent driving innovation and excellence throughout New Zealand's roading industry.
The Rising Star Award recognises the standout individual aged under 40 in the New Zealand roading sector, based on their career achievements to date. The award is presented annually to celebrate emerging talent and provide role models for the future workforce.
The 2025 finalists are:
Martha Arifin - construction delivery manager - south and east, Auckland Transport
Beginning as New Zealand's youngest bitumen specialist, Arifin has transformed struggling programmes into models of excellence. Her leadership of Auckland Transport's Local Board Transport Capital Fund programme increased satisfaction scores from 40 per cent to 78 per cent across 21 local boards, while her pandemic response delivered more than 120 safety improvements across 50 sites in three months.
Nick Brewer - asset information and systems manager, HEB Construction
Brewer has revolutionised emergency response through GIS-based apps that tracked more than 1000 network issues during the May 2025 Selwyn floods, helping secure $13 million in emergency funding. His collaborative mapping systems with Marlborough's wine industry contributed to winning the 2024 NZ Workplace Health and Safety Award for Collaboration.
Anton Benadie - senior project manager, Higgins Contractors
As Eastern Busway Alliance pavement manager, Benadie achieved 20 per cent efficiency gains and eight-week programme reductions. His Pakuranga intersection optimisation saved $1.28 million while reducing traffic disruption from 34 to eight weeks, demonstrating how international experience translates to local excellence with defect rates of just 0.21 per cent.
Sloan Gunn - principal civil engineer, AECOM
Leading complex projects from Christchurch's An Accessible City to Te Awa Kairangi Alliance, Gunn champions digital innovation, including federated modelling and twin technologies. A first-generation university graduate, he combines technical expertise with authentic leadership, mentoring emerging engineers and developing tools that save hundreds of design hours.
The New Zealand Roading Industry Rising Star Award, now in its second year, was established by Freeman in consultation with the sector to promote emerging talent, showcase diversity and inclusion, and provide role models for workforce attraction and retention.
The award ceremony will be held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton on Wednesday 19 November at the Future Roads conference dinner. Tickets are available for the dinner only, or with conference registration from the Future Roads website.
Early bird registrations close on 24 September.
Find out more about the finalists here.