We are delighted to introduce you to Ali Ataee, one of our recent Alumni from CPEE Graduate Certificate Asset Management. Managers, including Ali, the Development Engineer at the City of Salisbury, frequently recommend their staff for CPEE training. This highlights their confidence in their team’s growth potential and emphasises a commitment to professional development and organisational excellence. Two subjects in particular were considerably beneficial to Ali - Road Asset Management and Project Management. Ali commented that “these subjects significantly improved my decision-making abilities and helped me in my current role.” Ali said that “After completing the course, we considerably improved our asset management systems, including asset condition and other related processes.”

Since the course, Ali said that he learnt to “stay confident, learn from past decisions, consider the consequence and asset management is a journey, not a destination.” Wise words, Ali, and congratulations!

Meet another CPEE Master - Andrew Bethune, Global Operations Director Mobility - Arcadis. Andrew told us he agonised over several years in contemplating undertaking the Master of Pavements, the additional effort and challenge especially with a busy day job. Once he made the call, it was one of the best decisions and most fulfilling experiences of addressing knowledge gaps, challenging thinking, but best of all it was material from his industry, and delivered by industry experts, so very relevant to his profession. He said CPEE is unique, how many higher education courses address this. It helped build on his technical confidence, forced him to think about engineering fundamentals again, and has made him a better problem solver. Thank you, Andrew. You are a true legend in our industry and we are delighted you are part of the CPEE family as an Alumni.

I have really found the course practical and enjoyable. I have been able to apply my learning through the course elements to my day to day work in particular how to manage a project and implement projects.

It can be challenging juggling a young family whilst studying a post graduate course, however planning is critical and helps to manage for success. Company support also really helps with some time allocation during working hours.

Rob is the Engineering Manager for Temora Shire Council. Rob was one of our first successful students graduating last year 2023 for the CPEE Graduate Certificate in Asset Management. Rob first attended a short course in Asset Management delivered by CPEE in partnership with IPWEA. After benefiting from this initial course, he decided to further his knowledge by enrolling in additional study units. This commitment allowed him to complete his CPEE Graduate Certificate. Rob said, “At a time where many Local Government organisations are under significant financial pressure and the local communities we serve are more complex than ever, it has become of utmost importance that Councils understand in detail the significant infrastructure assets they own and operate to deliver community services.”

The Graduate Certificate in Asset Management (GCAM) offered by CPEE provides in-depth asset management learning in a way that is practical, relevant, and applicable to government organisations. Rob commented, “I found the GCAM program to be extremely beneficial in broadening my general asset management knowledge in a way that is very relevant to my day-to-day work as an infrastructure manager in Local Government.” Congratulations, Rob!

Studying my Masters with CPEE was flexible and has allowed me to strengthen and deepen my specialist pavement expertise, giving me the confidence and knowledge to be able to tackle and solve real-life roads and pavement challenges.

I was keen to do a Post Grad. Master’s and after research found that CPEE program was the best fit for me. The program allowed me the flexibility to study well living and working in Canada and then on my return to NZ and it took me about 4 years to complete.

The CPEE masters of pavement Technology programme gave me credentials to become as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Maintenance, Operations and Asset Management. The program definately enhanced my career progression.

My role is Client Director – Asset Network Performance with WSP NZ. I am the current President of Āpōpō and a Director of WPiAM and Member representative of GFMAM, also I am Fellow member of Engineering New Zealand and CPEng.

Several colleagues from a previous employer had undertaken some of the CPEE short-courses and had provided positive feedback about the courses.

My previous role as an engineering geologist working on mining projects highlighted the boom-and-bust cycles associated with mineral commodities prices and the impacts on career progression. Public infrastructure projects involving pavements are typically more resistant to such drastic changes. The Master of Pavement Technology program was an opportunity to diversify my technical skillset and transition into different markets. It took me less than 6 months from identifying the need to upskill to applying for the Master of Pavement Technology program.

The flexible and remote learning enabled me to complete the program in various locations throughout the world.

The CPEE Master of Pavement Technology program gave me the technical skills to transition from my previous role as an engineering geologist to focusing solely on becoming a full-time pavement engineer.

My role - Senior pavement design engineer at Higgins. The technical skills developed as a result of completing the Master of Pavement Technology course enabled me to apply for roles that I would previously not have been considered for.

After graduating from the University of Adelaide in 2012 with Bachelor of Engineering: Civil & Structural I began work as a Site Engineer, gaining experience working on projects such as wetlands, subdivisions, train stations and various road upgrade projects.

In March 2015 I joined Adelaide Airport in the role of Civil Engineer, working within the Projects Delivery Team. In this position I worked on delivering capital projects, with a focus on airside civil works, large resurfacing/overlay projects and road works.

Upon completion of my Masters in 2020 my role transitioned to Airport Engineer.

My current role includes; Design of engineering works, managing nominated capital works projects; and management of runways, taxiways, aprons and roads.