Meet our 2024 Emerging Leader Award finalist Sam MacKay
The ACE New Zealand Emerging Leader Award, sponsored by Tonkin + Taylor, recognises consultants who show excellent leadership skills and a strong commitment to their own personal growth. Meet one of our three 2024 finalists, Sam MacKay.
Sam is a Technical Director and the Ground and Underground Engineering Practice Leader for Aurecon New Zealand. She specialises in engineering geology, ground risk management and site investigations delivery for infrastructure projects across transport and energy sectors.
Sam is passionate about supporting clients and communities through resilient design, and her goal is to make the complex simple and embed best-in-practice ground engineering services.
For most of her career, she has been based on construction and remote mining sites in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Throughout these experiences, she has worked to create positive health and safety cultures across projects and teams.
She is passionate about advocating for and engaging with emerging professionals and cultivating inclusive teams. Her focus is providing platforms for aspiring engineers to explore opportunities and develop meaningful careers across the engineering industry.
What the judges said
The Emerging Leader Award judges said Sam stood out for her leadership impact – she has invested significantly in face time and relationship development with her team. Under her leadership, the engagement, strategy and pathways survey scores have shown marked improvement, reflecting her effective approach and dedication to enhancing these areas.
The judges said her roles in community and business leadership often intersect, showcasing her versatility. Her experiences as a woman in mining, including the challenges she has faced, have only strengthened her confidence and growth.
The judges appreciated her comment that “ACE serves as the glue” providing cohesion within the industry and fostering a common language. Her commitment to this vision is both insightful and valuable.
Sam’s experience and journey are truly inspiring. Her willingness to contribute and celebrate leadership within the industry highlights her dedication and the diverse roles in leadership.
Winner to be announced at 2024 ACE Awards Gala
The winner of the 2024 Emerging Leader Award will be announced at the ACE Awards Gala in Christchurch on Thursday 24 October.