OUR COMMITTEE

Zaid Essa (Chair)

Professional Project/Programme Manager and Engineer and people leader, with more than 24 years of experience in investigation, designing, consenting, land acquisition and construction, and in working with various major capital and infrastructure projects. I’ve been volunteering with SIGIE and supporting international Engineers in New Zealand since 2009 for which I became one of the first two Lifetime members with the group. Currently I am the Principal Project Manager and Team Leader for Auckland’s Project Delivery (Transportations-Major Projects) team for WSP

Yana Averianova (Vice Chair)

Yana is a qualified mechanical and civil engineer. Yana immigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and has been with SIGIE since 2017. She is very passionate about helping others to settle in NZ via sharing her experience and local knowledge.

Vincent Selvakumar (Secretary)

Vincent is a Mechanical engineer with 8 years of overall experience in India And New Zealand. He is currently working as a Passive Fire Engineer in a Fire engineering consultancy based in Auckland. When not working, he is actively involved in sports & volunteering. He has been a part of the SIGIE committee since 2019, he is passionate about helping SIGIE members gain employment and widen their professional network.

Nitin Sahare (Treasurer)

A professional engineer with more than 15 years of experience, including more than ten years in large and complex civil infrastructure projects in New Zealand and worked on some of the most significant and most complex projects in the country over the past ten years. After pursuing his master’s in construction management from AUT university in 2010, Nitin started working as a contract engineer for a roading project. He later continued working with the construction companies in New Zealand in various roles and is currently working as a senior project manager with Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. He loves practising yoga and has been practising since 1994.

Ken Hu (Communications Coordinator)

Ken is an Associate Structural Director and Team lead with Beca, with 16 years of experience in Structural Engineering, Project Management, R&D, as well as Client Relationship Management. Ken has led a few landmark building projects across New Zealand and overseas before and after he came to Aotearoa.
As an immigrant engineer, Ken fully understood the challenges and opportunities of doing professional work in a new country. This is one of the main reasons he volunteered for SIGIE and would love to give back the support he received to the growing group of immigrant talents in New Zealand.

Cindy Xiao (Event Coordinator)

Cindy Xiao is a transport planner at WSP with a passion for facilitating the success of emerging immigrant professionals. In 2024, she serves as an event coordinator in SIGIE. Beyond her professional pursuits, Cindy finds joy in outdoor activities such as cycling, swimming, and kayaking.

Razel Ramilo (Website Coordinator)

Razel is a chartered professional engineer, project manager, and team leader at Tonkin & Taylor Limited with 20 years of experience in geotechnical and civil engineering. Hailing from the Philippines, Razel spent her formative years there before kickstarting her career in Singapore in 2004, and immigrated to New Zealand in 2012. Razel has wide experience in major projects and has been involved in major roads and highways, and land development projects in Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Australia. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering and continuously works towards creating more opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities in these fields.

Joy Chen (Past Chair)

Joy immigrated to New Zealand in 2000 as a water engineer with a hydrology degree and got her master’s degree in geography information system (GIS) at University of Auckland 2004. Currently, Joy is a Location Intelligence APAC Service Line Leader in a large international engineering consulting firm-GHD, and leads a location intelligence team in NZ to deliver digital solutions on various engineering projects. Joy has been with SIGIE since 2015, she is also volunteering for New Zealand Chinese Women Association and NZ Esri User Group currently. Joy is very passionate about helping immigrant engineers to settle in NZ through shared experiences on culture challenges with the SIGIE family together

Kundan Singh

As a seasoned Electrical Engineer with a diverse and accomplished career, I bring a wealth of experience in designing and implementing innovative electrical systems. Holding a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification underscores my commitment to excellence and proficiency in managing complex projects.
My professional journey has instilled in me a passion for contributing to technological advancements and fostering collaborative environments. Beyond my technical skills, I am driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on a broader scale. As an aspiring member of the special immigrant group of engineers, I am eager to bring my skills and dedication to a community that values diversity and excellence.
My goal is to not only continue advancing my career in electrical engineering but also to actively participate in initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and the exchange of ideas within the special immigrant community of engineers. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the vibrant and dynamic landscape of this group, bringing my unique experiences and skills to drive positive change and innovation.