Outstanding engineers

The outstanding achievements of BPC engineers Dara Patrick and Mark Seymour were celebrated at the 2025 Bay of Plenty Civil Contractors New Zealand Awards.

Dara (pictured) won the Emerging Leader award. The judges said he had shown exceptional resilience and initiative, teaching himself advanced mathematics to complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) while working full-time. “Dara has since delivered on complex civil projects including stormwater pump station upgrades and the Ōmokoroa Water Treatment Plant, where his proactive approach prevented costly rework,” the judges said. “Recognised for his leadership, mentoring, and calmness under pressure, he brings the same discipline from ultra-marathons and diving into his engineering career. He represents the next generation of civil engineers who combine technical expertise with foresight and people-focused leadership.”

Mark, who has nearly 20 years’ experience in civil construction, was Highly Commended in the Outstanding Individual category. The judges said he had progressed from Graduate Engineer to Project Manager delivering some of New Zealand’s most complex and award-winning projects. “Mark is recognised not only for his technical excellence and disciplined project leadership, but also for mentoring the next generation of engineers, supervisors, and project managers,” the judges said. “His blend of foresight, structure, and people-first leadership has made a lasting impact on Brian Perry Civil and the wider industry.”

Congratulations Dara and Mark!