RILEY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Civil
The accolades say it all: Arthur's skills and service to clients, colleagues, our profession and the community are inspiring.
His 25-plus years in civil and environmental engineering and infrastructure development were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2019. He was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).
In 2018 Arthur received the inaugural Engineering New Zealand (ENZ) Excellence in Service Award to mark 100 years of engineering in Auckland. The award is made to an exceptional engineer who sets high standards in community benefit and industry contribution.
Job Titles:
- Principal Geotechnical Engineer
Brent brings a background of more than 20 years in geotechnical and civil engineering to his Riley role.
His responsibilities include:
• managing engineers, engineering geologists and field technicians
• coordinating fieldwork and reporting
• building client relationships and business development.
Involved in a variety of residential and commercial projects, Brent often provides expert testimony and advice for legal proceedings. He's experienced in shallow and deep foundation design (including ground improvement options) and liquefaction analysis.
During the Canterbury earthquakes recovery, Brent focused on managing geotechnical investigations, analysis and reporting for damaged properties for many large clients. He also assessed properties for increased vulnerability to liquefaction.
OUTSIDE WORK: Brent gets involved in any sport that he can, and likes gardening and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the BOARD
- Project Director - Geotechnical / Company Director ( Riley Board Chair )
Over 30 years as a consulting engineer, Brett has developed in-depth knowledge of investigation, design and contract document preparation. He is also increasingly sought after for technical peer reviews and preparing expert evidence.
Brett manages teams of engineers, geologists and technicians, overseeing and reviewing geotechnical projects, problem solving, and providing advice and alternative solutions. Specific expertise includes:
• slope stability assessments
• earthworks, ground stabilisation and retention measures
• retaining structures, road pavements and foundations.
His Riley Board work adds stretch to Brett's governance skills. It particularly involves reviewing, evaluating and improving our quality assurance policies.
OUTSIDE WORK: A keen sailor, Brett also enjoys spending time at his bach, and fishing, cycling and discovering new wines.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Project Director - Water Resources / Company Director
Don has particular interest and expertise in seepage risks to embankment dams and water retaining structures.
A specialist in dam and geotechnical engineering, he has authored or co-authored various published papers on dam projects and one on internal erosion aspects of New Zealand dams. Don has served on the New Zealand Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD) committee and provided input on past updates to the NZSOLD Dam Safety Guidelines.
Don's career spans more than 30 years as a geotechnical and civil engineer.
He has acted as Engineer to the Contract and managed the geotechnical and civil aspects of numerous projects. These range from large dam construction and wind farm development to subdivision design, roading and cliff stability.
Don has also provided independent peer reviews for a variety of geotechnical, civil and dam projects.
OUTSIDE WORK: A regular skier and tramper, Don enjoys all outdoor activities and follows most sports.
Eli is a chartered engineer specialising in geotechnical and dam engineering.
He has a strong interest in the design of water storage dams, flood protection and irrigation schemes. His skills have been applied to a broad range of geotechnical projects on sites subject to artesian groundwater, soft soils, liquefaction, land instability and flooding.
Eli has designed foundations for buildings, bridges and other large civil structures using shallow, piled and ground improvement solutions. He also has experience with challenging construction projects including those needing temporary construction dewatering.
OUTSIDE WORK: Eli enjoys DIY, tinkering with vehicle projects, and various sporting endeavours.
Job Titles:
- Senior Engineering Technician
Having joined Riley as a field technician, Gareth has since earned a Bachelor of Science degree and worked on many commercial and residential projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.
Gareth's skills lie in geotechnical and environmental engineering, and include investigation, reporting, site supervision and completion documentation.
An authorised trainer for various geotechnical procedures and equipment, Gareth manages teams of field technicians and is a member of our Health and Safety Committee. He also belongs to the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA).
Job Titles:
- Senior Wastewater Engineer / IT Manager
After completing his studies, Grant joined us as a wastewater and environmental engineer. He now leads the Riley consent processing team, providing expert assessments and advice to Auckland Council.
Job Titles:
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Geotechnical Operations Manager
- Principal Geotechnical Engineer
James oversees projects ranging from high-rise buildings with multi-level basements to large multi-lot subdivisions. He also works extensively on residential properties as well as forensic assessments.
He has honed his considerable experience on a broad base of land development projects in varied and often technically testing geological conditions.
At Riley we value his specialist skills in soft ground, rock mechanics, excavation engineering, piled foundations, ground retention and slope stabilisation.
OUTSIDE WORK: James enjoys rugby, cricket, fishing and reading, and is a keen landscape gardener.
Job Titles:
- HR Manager
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Principal Engineering Geologist / Water Resources Operations Manager
- Water Resources Operations Manager
Leah has more than 18 years' experience consulting in New Zealand and overseas and over that time has developed a passion for water retaining structures, particularly in the hydropower sector.
She has worked on a diverse range of projects including dam and water engineering, power and energy infrastructure, large infrastructure projects, and residential, commercial and industrial developments.
Luke is also known for strong stakeholder management skills. He has a proven track record in delivering commercial and residential land development projects, as well as council parks and infrastructure.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association
- Technical Director - Site Contamination
Marcus has 25 years' experience with contaminated land issues, working for national and local governments and the private sector in New Zealand and Canada.
He developed Auckland Council's plans for managing closed landfills and remediating contaminated land. As media spokesperson, he helped demystify the science behind urgent soil remediation at childcare centres and Victoria Park.
Marcus has also helped to develop and review national and regional regulations around contaminated land, particularly the national environmental standard (NES-CS).
A specialist in risk assessment and communication, Marcus is also a founding member of the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA) in New Zealand.
His approach to contaminated land projects is collaborative and solution-focused. It reflects his experience in managing large-scale public health protection and environmental rehabilitation.
At Riley, Marcus reviews our site contamination investigation, remediation and validation reports as a SQEP (suitably qualified and experienced practitioner). He has also served as an expert witness for notified consent applications.
OUTSIDE WORK: Marcus enjoys playing tennis and soccer, and travelling around New Zealand with his family.
Job Titles:
- Senior Environmental Scientist - Land Contamination
A senior chemical engineer, Nicolás specialises in contaminated land investigation, risk assessment, remediation and project management, with a strong technical and result-based focus.
He has worked on many large and technically complex sites for a range of international and local clients in oil and gas, chemical, mining and real estate sectors in South America and Europe.
Nicolás' areas of expertise include:
• passive/active soil gas surveys
• preliminary and detailed site investigations
• chemical analysis interpretation
• conceptual site models
• vapour intrusion assessments
• remediation of soil and groundwater contamination.
Outside work: Nicolás enjoys nature and actively supports a sustainable lifestyle, including involvement in small-scale permaculture projects.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Geotechnical
Riley DNA runs deep in Nigel - one of the first two employees through the door in 1985, a year after founder Peter Riley.
Not that Riley was Nigel's first career stop. He has wide-ranging geotechnical experience, having worked in civil engineering since 1972. His experience extends beyond New Zealand, having completed dozens of geotechnical projects in Fiji, Samoa, Rarotonga, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Today, as one of our Technical Directors he provides key technical inputs and leadership to projects and is sought after as a peer reviewer. He is also a willing mentor to junior staff, sharing his knowledge and wisdom.
Nigel's key specialist areas include:
• vertical building developments
• slope stability assessments
• earthworks, ground stabilisation and retention measures
• retaining structures, road pavements and foundations
• piles foundation design
• compressible soil remediation through pre-loading and surcharging.
OUTSIDE WORK: Father of three and grandfather of five, Nigel is a keen gardener and photographer. He enjoys snorkelling off tropical islands, snow skiing and tramping our Great Walks. Community interests include budget training and serving on charitable trusts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Senior Project Manager
- Civil Operations Manager
Experienced in contract management in line with NZS 3910, Oona is responsible for the effective delivery and administration of construction projects and contracts.
OUTSIDE WORK: Oona can be found cycling, travelling or spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Project Director - Water Resources
Friend to New Zealand's freshwater fish, Paul has become a leading engineer in the areas of river intakes, fish screens and fish passage.
Paul's significant work in this field is just one career highlight of 20-plus years of designing and developing water infrastructure, particularly in hydropower and irrigation. He has a depth of technical expertise in hydrological and hydraulic engineering and his experiences spans:
• concept development
• consent application
• design, construction and operation.
In recent years Paul has made educational trips to Australia and the US to boost his knowledge and understanding of irrigation and fish screens. He also belongs to the Canterbury-based Fish Screen Working Group.
OUTSIDE WORK: Paul likes sea fishing, mountain biking, skiing, basketball and kayaking with whānau. He also spends a lot of time renovating his 1870s villa. And he hasn't missed watching an All Blacks game over the past 45 years!
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Project Director - Water Resources / Company Director
With considerable dam safety experience, both technical and regulatory, Paul works on a range of irrigation and hydropower projects.
His input spans different project stages - pre-feasibility, feasibility, design and construction. He has significant technical experience in:
• dams and intake structures
• canals and pipelines
• penstocks and tunnels
• gate structures and spillways.
Inspiration for this career came to Paul during archaeology study in Thailand in the late 1990s. At Phimai on the Ancient Khmer Highway, people in villages on a large meandering river wanted to know more about the excavation plans.
Peter Riley builds a strong team of future Riley leaders
Job Titles:
- Business Operations Manager
- Managing Director
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Project Director - Geotechnical / Business Operations Manager
In his Riley career, Scott has been instrumental in developing all aspects of the business and over 17 years to 2020 held the roles of General Manager and Managing Director while maintaining significant project and technical input. Following the Canterbury earthquakes he led Riley's geotechnical inputs for a large insurer for five years.
As Business Operations Manager since 2021, he provides strategic direction and oversees day-to-day operations. He is committed to implementing, reviewing, evaluating and improving our objectives and policies around quality assurance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Project Director - Civil / Company Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Member of the BOARD
- Member of the MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Principal Engineering Geologist / Managing Director
In over 20 years of consultancy experience, Steven has developed wide-ranging skills in engineering geology and geotechnical engineering.
His interest in seeking and rising to new challenges has also seen him progress in his career through to management and governance. He will become Riley's next Managing Director from April 2022.
Steven has considerable expertise in engineering geological mapping, investigation analysis and interpretation, and stability assessment. He also has expertise in retaining wall design, foundation analysis and soil settlement.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director - Geotechnical
With 20-plus years in geotechnical and dam engineering as a platform, Titus advocates for technically focused career paths. His leadership has helped shape Riley's talent development framework.
Titus has first-hand experience of the value engineers can add by clearly communicating technical insights across the industry, resource management forums, building control mechanisms and the courts.
A recent focus is our Fiji and other Pacific Island work, for which he has become the business lead.
Environment Canterbury commended Titus for actions in the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquake recoveries, often involving solutions for damaged flood protection schemes such as the Waimakariri/Kaiapoi stopbank. His Christchurch rebuild work included technical input to projects and high-level engagement with insurers and the geotechnical community.
Over his career, Titus has been influential in developing and regulating irrigation storage across the country, overseeing design and construction of many projects, and advising on the safety and consenting of many more.
OUTSIDE WORK: Titus loves spending time with his wife and three children. On weekends he often contributes to church music and youth ministries, or bikes in the Port Hills.