Ramon Strong

Experience

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  Beca

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1990

  Geotechnical Technician
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  Kingston Morrison (now Jacobs SKM)

  Jan 1994 - Jul 1995

  Civil Engineer
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  Manawatu Wanganui Regional Council (now Horizons Regional Council)

  Jul 1995 - Nov 1997

  Investigations Engineer
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  Connell Wagner (now Aurecon)

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2002

  Civil Engineer

  Civil engineer based in the Wellington office specialising in River Engineering/ Civil Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering. Involvement included residential, commercial, roading, local authority stormwater/ wastewater and flood hazard assessment projects. Those projects included various State Highway realignment projects in the lower North Island/ upper South Island, investigating, designing and preparing tender documents for the construction of an 800mm dia. 5km long pressure sewer rising main near Blenheim, the development of a stormwater management strategy for the Tauranga suburb of Papamoa, quantifying the flood hazard that the Buller River poses to Westport, assessing the potential for detention storage in the Hutt River catchment, assessing the Norman River (NW Queensland) floodplain hazard and managing a number of EQC retaining wall projects around Wellington City. Show less

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  WS Atkins Limited

  Jan 1998 - Nov 1998

  Hydraulic Modeller

  Sewer and stormwater network modelling of large urban catchments principally along the south coast of England, developing options to alleviate flooding in problematic areas using primarily HR Wallingford software. Open channel modelling for various projects including modelling the River Bollin as part of the second runway development at Manchester Airport (the river passes beneath the new runway).

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  Environment Canterbury

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

  Project Manager

  Part of ECan's river engineering team focused on three main areas; managing large construction projects, overseeing the operation of the Waimakariri River Scheme and developing asset management systems for Council's flood protection assets. Key projects included the Lyell Creek Floodwall behind the Kaikoura Town Centre (a project that received an Ingenium [IPWEA] Gold Medal Award), further development of the Waimakariri River flood defences west of Christchurch and increasing the standard of flood protection to Ashburton. Show less

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  Otago Regional Council

  Jan 2004 - Nov 2014

  Engineering Manager

  Primary focus - management of the flood protection and land drainage schemes administered by the Otago Regional Council. Key technical role in monitoring and evaluating scheme operation and strategy development, managing/ overseeing numerous civil construction projects, developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and managing both Capex and Opex budgets (including driving LTP preparation and consultation). Notable projects: design, consenting and construction of a river training line on the Shotover delta near Queenstown, staged reconstruction of approximately 3km of stopbank on the Taieri Plain, modifications to main Taieri Plain pump station and the implementation of flood hazard mitigation works for the Water of Leith through the Otago University Campus. Stage 2 of this project received a merit award from the Civil Contractors NZ Association in 2015. Show less

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  Christchurch City Council

  Dec 2014 - Dec 2015

  Land Drainage Manager

  Primarily involved with the implementation of Council's Land Drainage Recovery Programme (LDRP) intended to return land drainage/ flood protection standards for the City of Christchurch to pre-earthquake levels, providing technical oversight and representing Council as asset owner across the range of investigation, design and construction projects, total estimated cost in excess of $650M. That asset owner role also extended to other non-LDRP capital projects being delivered within Council, primarily growth projects (eg treatment/ attenuation structures associated with new subdivisions). Managed a small team responsible for operational delivery of land drainage and flood protection (Heathcote, Avon and Styx Rivers). Represented CCC on matters relating to land drainage and flood protection including fronting both the media and public meetings. Show less

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  Horizons Regional Council

  Feb 2016 - May 2021

  Group Manager River Management

  Part of the executive team leading a team of 40 focused on providing river management services to the region. My focus was where you’d expect it to be - ensuring operating risks are adequately managed, developing and maintaining key stakeholder relationships and leading community engagement. I placed particular emphasis on a collaborative approach with the region’s Territorial Authorities advancing key projects that addressed particular flood risks and enabled economic development. River management in the Manawatu and Whanganui required a strong strategy focus with no shortage of challenges, top of the list being climate change. That drove a particular focus on resilience initiatives, culminating in the allocation by central government in 2020 of $27M for climate resilience projects in the Manawatu. Iwi relationships were of particular importance and the values associated with Te Awa Tupua/ Tupua Te Kawa (https://www.ngatangatatiaki.co.nz/our-story/tupua-te-kawa/) left a big imprint on me that I will endeavour to carry with me and honour. ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au. Show less

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  Environment Southland

  May 2021 - Mar 2022

  Manager Catchment Operations

  A role combining leading river management BAU delivery and the roll out of $18.5M of Climate Resilience Projects in Murihiku. A hands on role with a substantial technical component to it that drew on my full set of technical, managerial and leadership skills, transitioning from something of a catchment board approach to a more outward facing and integrated approach to service delivery. It also involved tackling a range of legacy issues spanning gravel management, river management strategy development and community engagement. Show less

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  Pattle Delamore Partners

  Mar 2022 - now

  Technical Director Water Resources

  The national lead for river engineering and river management as well as Invercargill office manager, working with a wide range of clients.