Author Archives: HGB

Connell Contracts Manager wins Young Engineer of the Year

Connell Contract Manager Lana Sheerin was recognised as the Electricity Engineers’ Association’s Young Engineer of the Year at a ceremony last month.

The EEA Young Engineer of the Year Award recognises an outstanding young engineer in the New Zealand electricity supply industry.

Judges recognised Lana for her achievements in her career, and the passion and dedication she brings to projects she works on.

“[Your character] shone through your application with the commitment demonstrated to mentoring, promoting diversity and community involvement. We think you show strong leadership characteristics and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for you.”

As part of the award, Lana will be travelling overseas next year to take part in the International Electricity Council’s Young Professionals Programme: an international forum for young engineers and managers in the electrotechnology sector to connect.

Lana also received the Engineer of the Year award at the Civil Contractors New Zealand Waikato Branch awards evening earlier this year.

The Connell team are immensely proud of Lana’s recent successes and are very pleased to see her thriving, says Connell general manager Fabian Bracken.

“Seeing staff like Lana who are young in their careers reach these heights and levels of success is an immense moment of pride for all of us. Lana is a fantastic member of the team and contributes so much to every project.

“We watch with great excitement at where she goes in her career – she’s destined for great things.”

Civil contractor Connell up for national award

National civil contractor Connell has been named as a finalist in a prestigious award for their work on key infrastructure upgrade projects across the North Island.

Critical upgrade work on the Kawerau Substation landed Connell a position as a finalist in the Civil Contractors New Zealand – Waikato awards (Category $2M-$5M).

Connell General Manager Fabian Bracken said the nomination was a huge win for the team.

“Recognition as a finalist in awards like these reinforce why we do what we do and embody the dedication we have as an organisation to deliver the best work.

“It’s a fantastic commendation for the team and a testament to the work they do up and down the country.”

As part of the Kawerau T11 Transformer demolition, T10 Civil and 33kV Switchroom Works in Kawerau, civil contractor Connell Contractors delivered complex civil works within a live operations substation environment for clients Eastland Generation Limited.

The project formed a critical component of network reliability and generation capacity.

One key aspect of works was minimising disruption to the grid while keeping site staff safe and delivering key works efficiently and effectively.

Working in a constrained footprint next to a state highway and alongside external site staff and stakeholders, the Connell team delivered a range of works including the demolition of an existing transformer foundation; modifications to an operational switchroom; an extension to the existing switchyard; the construction of the new T10 transformation foundation; and the wider installation of new cable infrastructure and oil containment systems.

Taking seven months and requiring significant additional site planning, Connell Contracts Manager Matt Dean and Supervisor Jesse Hart helped deliver the project safely, with no injuries recorded on site.

“In spite of significantly elevated risk of injury or damage to person or property, proactive site planning and people management ensured we delivered the project with no injuries recorded. This was the benchmark of success for the team especially in a live environment with no shortage of hazards.”

The Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards will be announced at the Conference Awards dinner on 14 August.

Embracing challenges with Connell

Meet Tom, Fabrications Manager at Connell at our Taranaki office!

Tom had set his eyes on a job with Connell because of the great chance to grow his skillset and career at a trusted organisation.

“Working for Connell seemed like such a good opportunity. There’s more room for growth, and I get to be a lot more hands-on with the management side of the business.”

Tom’s role is a core component of our service offering to customers and he acts as a key touchpoint throughout an entire project.

“We handle the full delivery of fabrication components, generally this involves site visits, pricing, procurement and management of relevant subcontractors.”

“We’ll be engaged a client early, visit the site, review the tender drawings and price the job.”

He’s driven by challenges, and loves it when clients approach him with problems they need a unique solution for.

“I like a challenge. I want to be given something difficult for me to figure out. Give me a tight time frame, critical work, and logistical challenges.”

“We have great clients who come to us looking for solutions to ideas and asking how we can help… trying to overcome problems that they might not have encountered before.”

Tom played a role in Connell’s award-winning Potou Intake and Tunnel Erosion Repair project in 2023 for Genesis, repairing the Potou intake within the Tongariro Hydro Scheme.

The project had raised significant health and safety risk including confined spaces, water management and isolated works.

For Tom, that meant finding solutions for the civil and fabrication side of the process, including working safely two hundred meters up at the inlet pipe in a tight, five-week timeframe.

The project won Connell several awards including the $1-$5 million project category, Health and Safety award and overall Supreme award.
Tom’s made good friends with the Taranaki team.

“Some of the guys here are now my best mates. They’re people you can ring up for a yarn or hang out with outside of work. Just a good group of people – and very proactive as a team.”

In his spare time, Tom is hanging out with his wife and kids, spending time in the family caravan or looking after the animals on his lifestyle block.

Connell Contractors thrilled to confirm Fabian Bracken appointed as General Manager

Leadership Announcement

We’re proud to announce the appointment of Fabian Bracken as General Manager of Connell Contractors.

Fabian has been part of the Connell team for nearly a decade and is a valued member of our Senior Management Team, most recently serving as Regional Manager – Taranaki. Following a comprehensive external recruitment process, it was clear Fabian is the right person to lead Connell Contractors into its next phase of growth.

He brings deep industry experience, strong leadership, and a genuine understanding of our people, our customers, and the markets we serve. Just as importantly, Fabian has the full support of the business as he steps into this role.

Fabian is currently Acting General Manager, working closely with CEO Lester Foxall to ensure a smooth and well-supported transition. He will formally take on the role from 1 September 2026, at which time Lester will transition into an advisory role. Together, they will be engaging with our teams, customers, and partners over the coming months.

This appointment reflects the strength of our internal talent and provides continuity, confidence, and clear direction for the future.

Please join us in congratulating Fabian on his appointment and thanking Lester for his leadership and ongoing support.

Exciting News: Connell Contractors Joins Northpower Group!

Waikato-based civil contracting firm Connell Contractors has been acquired by integrated energy infrastructure company Northpower, as announced last week.

Connell Contractors is an expert in the civil infrastructure sector and brings four decades of experience to the many highly specialised projects they work on each year.

Celebrating 40 years in the civil sector this year, Connell’s more recent business focus has leaned heavily towards the renewable energy sector including substations, wind and solar farms, hydroelectric dams, geothermal generation, and hydrogen refuelling stations.

Northpower a 100% Kiwi-owned integrated infrastructure company, with a team of over 1,400 staff and more than 90 years’ experience. It is well known for its innovation and excellence in the electricity supply sector. As a network owner, Northpower provides essential electricity and fibre services to more than 63,000 customers in Whangārei and Kaipara. Northpower’s Energy Services business providing engineering, construction and maintenance solutions to the transmission, distribution, fibre and generation sectors across the North Island. Connell will continue to operate as a standalone business, within the wider Northpower Group.

Connell Chief Executive, Lester Foxall, who will continue to lead the company, said the Connell senior leadership team were excited about the future and joining Northpower Group.

“Northpower’s focus on the energy industry, professional service, and skills development aligns closely with Connell’s commitment to our clients.”

This acquisition aligns with Northpower’s plan to strengthen its capabilities in New Zealand’s energy sector. Both companies operate in the transmission and distribution sectors and support renewable energy projects including solar and battery storage.

Northpower Chief Operating Officer – New Business Ollie O’Niell said the acquisition was an opportunity for growth for both organisations.

“For Northpower, we are pleased to be able to add our expertise to support the growth of a business that makes a critical contribution in our sector.

“For the Connell team, we hope the acquisition sends the message that we are keen to see that extended.”

The Connell leadership team said it will remain business as usual for the teams currently working on projects up and down the North Island, delivering exceptional service to clients.

Both Connell and Northpower are working together to create a smooth transition for employees, customers, and suppliers.

And for Connell founders Dave and Margo Connell, it’s a sense of satisfaction to see the company move into the next stage.

“We are thrilled to see the next chapter for Connell Contractors play out with Northpower.”

Forging a career in the civil sector with Connell Contractors’ Lana Sheerin

Leave a reply

For project engineer Lana Sheerin, a scholarship out of high school has led to a rewarding career in the civil engineering industry.

Lana will have been with Connell for a year in October after joining from civil engineering firm Fulton Hogan.

“I joined Connell for the opportunity to grow and progress in my career. In a company like Connell, there’s always more to learn, more to do and more exposure.

“A key thing for me is growth, and not just personally, but also the chance to put together teams where everyone has an opportunity to grow and learn. I think that benefits the civil industry overall.”

Lana, originally from South Auckland and now living in Waikato, said her career in the sector began with a high school scholarship and mentorship programme through her high school, Mangere College.

Following a three-year scholarship with Fletcher Building, she then graduated with honours with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Auckland University.

Lana gained valuable experience with civil engineering firms around the North Island and worked on key projects such as the Hamilton Expressway.

She joined Connell Contractors last October.

There’s a lot for someone new to the sector to learn and a lot to do at Connell, says Lana.

“I’m enjoying working on one of our current projects in Whitianga [Coromandel]. It’s been great to be part of it from beginning to end and managing the project, from the initial tender stage through construction, until we close it out and hand it over to the client.”

She said she made the move to Connell Contractors to develop new skills and explore new projects, including some exciting work in the renewable energy sector, which she said will play a key role in the future of civil engineering.

“I think renewable energy is the direction New Zealand is moving into. The construction industry is turning to more sustainable options and a lot of investors are wanting to invest in New Zealand and make it more sustainable.”

Creating a strong team culture and offering valuable opportunities to learn and grow from others is key to encouraging more women to enter the industry, said Lana.

She said being a woman in a male-dominated industry would have been unusual 20 years ago, but nowadays, it was becoming more common to see women in the field.

“I was once the only woman in my office. Now, some offices are 90 percent women.

“I think it’s about what the civil infrastructure industry can offer women. Previously, there weren’t any kind of mentorship programmes encouraging women to get into the industry. There are more of those around now offering visibility for women in the industry.”

She said the career pathways that exist nowadays are prompting more women to pursue civil engineering as a career.

“Most of my friends in the industry are women and I’ve worked on a lot of projects that are more women based than men in some settings. We need to keep building on that to establish it as part of the next generation.”

Foreman Allan builds his career with Connell

Leave a reply

Since joining the Connell team five years ago as foreman, Allan Richards has ticked off an impressive list of qualifications and has developed a broad set of skills across civil contracting.

Before joining Connell, Allan was working throughout New Zealand in a shutdown role in the oil and gas industry.

“I wanted to find something closer to home, with more opportunities to build a career.”

Allan applied for a job at Connell, and never looked back.

Allan says he’s completed ‘quite a few’ BCITO and Connexis courses and qualifications since he started.

“I’ve completed Level 3 infrastructure works, Level 4 site supervision, Level 5 project management, Level 5 contract management, and Level 4 BCITO concrete course. I’ve achieved them faster than the suggested timeframes, which is cool,” says Allan.

Reflecting on the projects he’s helped deliver at Connell, Allan recalls Junction Road Substation as one of the most memorable.

‘It was such a big project, which was exciting to be part of. We constructed the foundations for the new Junction Road 110/11 Kv substation, and supplied and installed the associated equipment.”

Allan says Harapaki Windfarm was another memorable project, in which Connell delivered the civil and building works for two substations at New Zealand’s second largest windfarm.

“We were working in the Maungaharuru Range in Hawke’s Bay. It was an interesting location and project – we even had snow!” says Allan.

Allan is looking forward to starting new projects in 2024. “New sites, new cities – there’s always something happening,” says Allan.

When asked what he enjoys the most about working at Connell, Allan says it’s ‘the atmosphere, culture and interesting work.’

“Everyone has a similar mindset, and I’m working with people a similar age to me. There’s lots of jokes and banter.”

Allan’s advice for anyone looking to start a career in civil is to ‘put your hand up for courses and as much stuff as you can. Just go for it!’

‘Stepping back and seeing what you’ve built’: Best part of the job for site supervisor Ricky

Leave a reply

Connell contractors site supervisor Ricky Codd

Site supervisor Ricky Codd joined Connell two years ago, after arriving in New Zealand from South Africa.

With a background in commercial and residential housing and civil contracting, Ricky had worked in England and South Africa before migrating to New Zealand.

In his role as site supervisor at Connell, Ricky specialises in infrastructure works, and has helped deliver many high-profile projects across the North Island.

Since joining Connell, Ricky has completed his Connexis Level 4 Site Supervision. He is now undertaking the Level 5 Project Management qualification.

Ricky enjoys applying new technology to the projects Connell delivers, such as the use of Total Stations – a surveying instrument that combines an electronic theodolite and an electronic distance metre to accurate measure angles and distances.

“We’re moving more toward Total Stations for surveyors to accurately plot points on the building. This technology makes us more accurate and efficient, enabling us to capture up-to-date imagery from a site.”

When asked what he enjoys the most about the role, Ricky says, “I like the complexity of the large structures – all the fine details and how the pieces fit together.”

“You take a 2D plan and then you make it into a real thing, from setting it out, making sure it’s in the right position, and at the right heights.

“I like stepping back at the end and seeing what you’ve built – the creativity of it.”

Ricky says he also enjoys learning the ways different countries operate and work.

“Things are very different everywhere you go. I’ve learned a lot, both in the way that New Zealand operates, and how people work here.

“Take health and safety, for example. It’s a far bigger focus in New Zealand than South Africa,” says Ricky.

Ricky’s advice for anyone considering a career in civil contracting is ‘commit.’

Diploma opens doors for Connell Estimator TJ

Leave a reply

A Diploma in Quantity Surveying opened the doors to the civil contracting industry for Connell Contractors’ estimator/quantity surveyor TJ Sadhar.

TJ joined Connell in 2016, shortly after completing his Diploma through Wintec in Hamilton.

“I was looking for a job where I could keep learning and growing – and Connell offered that,” said TJ.

As an estimator and quantity surveyor, TJ helps determine and manage the costs of construction projects, and helps ensure projects run smoothly and efficiently.

TJ has taken his study even further since joining the team, progressing to a Bachelor in Construction through Massey University, which he is set to complete in 2024.

“Studying while working has been a challenge – but I’m lucky to have a really good team, and supportive bosses and family around me,” TJ says.

TJ said he was attracted to a career in civil contracting because of the resilience of the industry.

“There’s plenty of opportunities and unique challenges, and there’s always exciting projects on the horizon,” TJ says.

This year, TJ is looking forward to developing his skills and experience in the renewable energy space.

“We have more renewable energy work in the pipeline, and I’m excited for that. It’s rewarding to know you’re contributing to positive change,” says TJ.

TJ’s advice to people considering a career in estimating and/or quantity surveying is ‘work hard and you’ll go far.’

“Don’t be afraid to jump into it. It will get challenging but if you put your head down, you’ll succeed.”

Connell helps power New Zealand with greener energy

Leave a reply

WAIKATO-BASED CONNELL CONTRACTORS IS CEMENTING ITS PLACE IN A
GREENER FUTURE ASSISTING WITH A SECOND SOLAR FARM FOR NEW ENERGY,
INFRATEC AND LOADSTONE ENERGY.

Following the success of the Kaitaia Solar Farm, the 32MW Edgecumbe Solar Farm is
poised to be a game-changer, providing clean energy to over 6,000 small businesses,
farms, homes, and apartments annually, and Connell is playing a critical role in its
success.

Nationally award-winning Connell has been instrumental in shaping the physical
foundation of Lodestone Energy’s vision. Since early 2023, Connell’s dedicated team
has been on-site, transforming the landscape to accommodate this milestone in the
Far North.

“Our extensive planning and preparation, coupled with the right people and resources,
allowed us to overcome challenges, particularly in the demanding winter conditions.
We’re proud to have played a pivotal role in maximising Aotearoa New Zealand’s
renewable energy output in a sustainable manner,” says CEO Lester Foxall.

Connell Contractors continues to be a key player in New Zealand’s green infrastructure
development, helping lay the foundations for vital energy projects. As Lodestone Energy’s
Edgecumbe Solar Farm takes shape, Connell’s commitment to excellence is helping pave
the way for a greener and more sustainable future.