Steven Price is Managing Director and shareholder of Riley Consultants and one of our newly elected ACE New Zealand Board members. We’re delighted to welcome Steven to the ACE Board and asked him about his career and what he brings to the role.
Tell us about your career
I joined Riley almost 30 years ago as a graduate engineering geologist, becoming Managing Director in 2022. In between, I have worked across technical delivery, project and client management, operational leadership and governance.
Most of my career has been in New Zealand, although I spent periods working in Fiji on major infrastructure projects. I am a Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand and studied sciences along with engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Leading a multidisciplinary consultancy has given me a broad perspective on the opportunities, challenges and pressures facing our sector. My role involves balancing our technical and professional standards with the commercial realities of running a business, while keeping a close eye on our people, risk, financial performance, and long-term strategy and sustainability.
I enjoy supporting the next generation entering the profession and I am passionate about STEM development. I regularly guest lecture at the University of Auckland’s School of Engineering and have been involved in supporting scholarships and graduate pathways.
What strengths do you bring to the ACE Board?
- I bring practical experience leading and governing a mid-sized, New Zealand-owned consultancy through some challenging and changing market conditions. This requires listening to different perspectives, making clear decisions and being accountable for the outcome;
- A strong member-firm perspective – particularly opportunities and pressures facing small and medium New Zealand-owned consultancies operating within a diverse sector that includes local, national and multinational firms. I want to ensure all member firms see value in ACE and have confidence their perspectives are understood;
- My technical background also gives me a strong connection to the work our members do, with leadership experience providing practical understanding of commercial performance and governance, risk, health and safety, and people leadership.
What is your strategic vision for ACE New Zealand?
I would like ACE New Zealand to continue developing as a strong, practical and influential voice for consulting and engineering businesses of all sizes across New Zealand, championing our interests and the value we bring.
ACE is moving in a positive direction and initiatives such as the SME Summit have helped strengthen engagement with smaller to mid-sized firms. I want to help build on that momentum while ensuring ACE continues to serve all its member firms.
Fair and sustainable commercial settings should remain a major focus. That includes procurement practices, risk allocation, contract conditions and the value of professional advice. A healthy consulting sector is essential to good outcomes for clients, communities and New Zealand.
Workforce capability is another important priority. ACE can help strengthen links between industry and education, advocate for the skills our sector will need and promote consulting engineering as a meaningful and rewarding career path, in conjunction with other entities.
Tell us something interesting about yourself
As the New Zealand Herald revealed nearly 20 years ago, I enrolled in geology thinking it had something to do with trees. After two hours of lectures without a plant being mentioned, I finally looked up what “geo” meant. It was “earth”, apparently. Fortunately, I turned out to be a good fit. At the end of my first year, I chose geology over chemistry because rocks seemed more interesting than moles, and before long I found myself looking across the road to the engineering school for the next challenge.
Outside work, I am a lifelong motorsport enthusiast and competed for 11 years, with some success, although the Liam Lawson pathway never quite emerged. These days, I build highly detailed models of racing cars and motorcycles and enjoy the people, practical skills and camaraderie that come with the sport. I’m also training for my first (and likely only) half-marathon in a few months’ time, which may prove more challenging than anything the ACE Board can throw at me.