Meet our Team
We are based nationwide
At DB Consulting Engineers our strength lies in our great team – a diverse group of dedicated professionals who all share similar values. We make sure our engineers and their supporting teams of technicians and administrative staff are given the opportunity to continuously develop their professional skills to the highest level. We also aim to support within the company a culture encouraging both experience and personality.
So, get to know the people behind DB Consulting Engineers, and the team members that you will be working with on your project.
Managing Director & Chartered Structural Engineer
After graduating Derek worked in the UK for two years before moving to work in Bahrain (Middle East) for three years.
Then after 6 months travelling he arrived in Taupo on a clear, frosty November morning and decided that this would be a great place to live. Good decision. Derek stayed and worked in Taupo for 5 years before heading back overseas, first working for a year in Bahrain again and then in Hong Kong for five years.
Derek started the engineering business, Derek Booth Consultancy, in 1984 after returning to Taupo. He also stepped up farming from a 30-hectare block with 250 goats to a 130-hectare farm with 100 cattle and 1000 sheep. Too labour intensive, the sheep were later to be replaced with 300 dairy heifers.
The business grew, becoming DB Consulting Engineers and moving from a shared office to a shop in Hilltop Shopping Centre, then to its own premises on Spa Road, and finally to the current head office site. The business now also has offices in Hamilton and Auckland.
Away from work Derek has had various interests over the years including running, four-wheel-drive rallying (with Land Rover series II and Suzuki sj560 vehicles) and sailing Young 5.7 and 7.8 yachts. He is a keen mountain biker and also owns horses, enjoying stock work, hunting, eventing and endurance riding.
Favourite Project
The Adventure Tourism stuff has always been the most exciting. The Taupo Bungy platform took quite a while to get through resource consent, but then fabrication and construction took place in December 1991 (including working through Christmas) and the first commercial jump happened on the 1st January 1992.
Passtime
Bungy is my current horse of all work. He is a willing lad and generally calm, but can get fired up in the excitement of a Cross Country Event. His Dressage is limited by the abilities of his rider.
Qualification
Bachelor of Science with HonorsGeneral Manager
In 1996 Carolyn started working with Derek Booth when DB Consulting Engineers was in its infancy.
Initially working one day a week as the only office administrator she has overseen the business as it has thrived and grown, and at the same time managed to develop and expand her own experience. Having done most of the jobs in the office during her career she knows the business and client base in detail.
Both Carolyn and Derek have always focused on running a family orientated business with extremely high ethical standards and producing top quality work. They both believe that work should be a happy, interesting place where the team and clients are both greatly valued.
Carolyn loves living and working in Taupo with her husband – particularly during the wonderful sunny summers. Outside of work her interests revolve around family, friends and fun ways to keep fit and healthy. She makes sure to have regular trips away with family and friends.
Favourite Project
Derek designing the Gravity Canyon Flying Fox in Taihape. To see this challenging project from concept through to completion was great, and even better was getting to go on it when it reaches speeds of up to 160km/hr!
Passtime
Rachel Fox organises the DB Consulting Engineers Round the Lake Team run/walk every year and it is such a wonderful team event. When you cross the finish line at the end as a team (‘Stronger together’) it really is an awesome feeling.
Senior Engineer & Team Leader - Hamilton
Jeet joined the DB Consulting Engineers team in 2010 after completing his post-graduate Master of Engineering studies at the University of Auckland.
Previously he had worked for five years with an engineering consultancy in Hamilton. During his time there he was responsible for set up their overseas office, drawing on the experience he had gained from his Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from Wintec, Hamilton.
Jeet now successfully manages the DB Consulting Engineers branch office in Auckland. He believes there is a great deal of potential for the business to expand and grow in the booming Auckland building market.
Outside of work Jeet enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends and watching movies.
Favourite Project
I have had quite a few exciting projects since my time with DB Consulting Engineers, but I am still waiting for that big one to come my way which I can then proudly call ”My Favourite Project”
Passtime
Catching up with friends every weekend
Qualification
Master of Engineering Studies (MEngSt)Manager of Engineering & Team Leader Taupo
Barry joined DB Consulting Engineers in 2003 bringing with him a wide range of experience from the construction engineering trade in the UK.
Whilst working for 10 years with International Consultant Ove Arup & Partners in London Barry qualified as an Associate Member of the Institute of Structural Engineers. He then worked for a further 20 years as a Senior Engineer at two other engineering consultancies in the UK where he was responsible for residential and retail jobs (both refurbishments and new built) which ranged in budget from small to $16-million projects.
Barry moved to New Zealand from England with his wife and three sons one of whom, Joe, now also works for DB Consulting Engineers. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, swimming, running, competing in local sports events – and fishing. He is also a keen imbiber of New Zealand wines.
Favourite Project
Working on the bridges, boardwalks and handrails for the fantastic Taupo Great Lake Trail. This fitted well with the mountain biking which I enjoy, and I went to parts of Waikato that most people will never see.
Passtime
Cycling followed closely now by fishing. The photo shows a Mahi Mahi caught in Raraotanga one fantastic day when no one else turned up – I was the only one on the charter boat!
Qualification
Associate Member of the Institute of Structural EngineersChartered Structural Engineer
Neil joined DB Consulting Engineers in 2013 bringing with him substantial and wide-ranging experience in both civil and structural engineering. He had previously been working with WSP Global Group in the Middle East and Asia specialising in high rise buildings and was involved in a number of the high-profile building projects in the region.
Since his engineering career started in 1991 he has become one of the few engineers in the Philippines to be awarded with the status of Specialist in Structural Engineering from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.
Neil is a professional Member of IPENZ (The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand) and a member of various international engineering organizations such as ASCE, SESOC, NZSEE, ISSEP, ASEP and PICE. He is also an International Professional Engineer / APEC Engineer and a Chartered Professional Engineer in the ASEAN Community.
Outside work, Neil enjoys spending quality time with his family.
http://90seconds.com.sg/neil-parina-engineer-dbcon-consulting-engineers
Favourite Project
I really enjoy working in earthquake assessments and strengthening.
Passtime
Spending quality time with my family
Senior Engineer
Abegail graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila in the Philippines. She then worked as an engineer in Singapore and New Zealand before joining DB Consulting Engineers in 2009.
She specialises in cold formed structure design such as portal shed buildings and storage racking. However, she is also experienced in producing engineering designs with other materials such as timber, concrete and structural steel.
Abegail met her husband in Taupo and now considers this her new home. They have two daughters, and Abegail appreciates the great balance between continuing her career and enjoying family life that working with DB Consulting Engineers offers. She says, “It feels great to be able to cook dinner and be productive work-wise, without feeling exhausted at the end of the day.”
Favourite Project
The structure involves design for structural steel, tilt panel and bored footing with timber framing for infills. The job is more personal as it is in Taupo, and I managed to see the construction from start to finish- including the opening of Lone star restaurant.
Passtime
I love to cook, and be outside in my free time. Just spending time with my family makes my day complete!
Qualification
Bachelor of Science major in Civil EngineeringTechnical Building Advisor
Kelvin was born in Taupo over 50yrs ago and lives on a lifestyle block with his wife
Andreia, he has a daughter studying accounting in Wellington. Kelvin is a qualified
builder and has a diploma in architectural design, Kelvin has been with the Taupo
District Council for over 25yrs starting as a building inspector then as an in-house
architect plus doing project management before moving back to building
consents as a manager.
Passtime
Getting away to the beach to relax and to go fishing with mates, spending time at
the race track working on race cars or mucking around in the garage at home
Qualification
Licensed Member BOINZDiploma Building Surveying (Level 6) small, medium & large construction
Technical Leader – Geotechnical Chartered Structural Engineer
Michael provides specialist geotechnical expertise to our projects. Michael graduated in 2000 from University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Engineering and gained Chartered Engineer status in 2008.
He has spent three years working in the UK and Canada on various civil engineering projects before joining the Auckland based Tonkin & Taylor in 2004, where he specialised in land-slip assessment and remediation, and larger basement foundations projects. Michael moved to Taupo and joined the DB Consulting Engineers team in 2013.
Michael provides support to our civil and geotechnical jobs across the company, as well as expanding on structural engineering work. Michael is Chartered in both Geotechnical and Structural disciplines, and provides a cohesive link between the two engineering fields.
Favourite Project
The Whio Conservation project down at the Turangi Trout Centre. Very satisfying being a part of building an aviary structure to house young Blue Duck and have a part in their conservation.
Passtime
Spending time in the outdoors with my Other Half, be it biking, skiing, climbing, hiking, kayaking, or just general exploring.
Qualification
Bachelor of EngineeringSenior Civil Engineer - Hamilton
Ethan was born in Auckland but bought up in Coromandel. He now lives in Hamilton with his wife and two daughters.
Ethan’s training and work experience is in geotechnical, structural engineering, and slope stability work. Having recently built his own home, he combines practical skills with design experience and is an excellent engineer contact for the Hamilton office. His past engineering experience also includes surveying, road and utility construction and building.
Ethan enjoys both watching and taking part in sports. He keeps up-to-date with boxing and UFC and watches the CrossFit games each year. When he gets the opportunity he heads to Coromandel to do some adventure racing, and is aiming to complete the Spartan Race in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and cousins.
Passtime
Taking the Kids Swimming at one of the many white sand Coromandel Beaches, wood fire pizza’s on the deck at the in laws, playing tennis, rugby, soccer, golf you name it (mostly social), going out to the movies, music, enjoying time with family and friends, one on one time with my 2 girls, building, travelling (at least I aim for It to be one of my favourite past times, staying fit to keep up with the kids.
Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering), Chartered MemberCivil Engineering Technician
I started my career as a Site Trainee Engineer working on a massive metro rail project in New Delhi, India, after my Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. I always wanted to move overseas to explore different cultures and different countries, so, I decided to move New Zealand which was a really good life decision.
I completed a Graduate Diploma in Engineering Highways in Hamilton which helped me to understand New Zealand construction. I love working in the geotechnical field and its related projects. I find the work interesting and enjoy getting out and about for testing and inspections.
Passtime
Watching food and travel shows, Watching old cricket matches, Playing cricket.
Qualification
Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Graduate Diploma in Highways EngineeringStructural Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Anthea brings environmental engineering specialty to the team and has been consulting for DB Consulting Engineers since 2014 on a range of wastewater, stormwater and environmental projects. She joins us from the University of Auckland where she has worked for over eight years as a lecturer and course co-ordinator in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She previously worked for three years at URS on civil and wastewater projects. With a BE in Environmental Engineering and a PhD in Civil Engineering, Anthea has been involved in a range of research projects in phytoremediation, contaminant fate and transport, and wastewater treatment.
Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental EngineeringCivil Engineering Draftsperson – Hamilton
As a draftsman, I enjoy drafting and creating models that meet Engineering
Standards as well as customer needs. I started my career as a CAD draftsman in
Fiji. I worked in the Solomon Islands and Nauru for the last seven years before
moving to New Zealand in May, 2019, with the goal to develop my drafting skills
professionally.
Passtime
Watching old sevens rugby matches, travelling and social networking
Qualification
DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (FIJI)Civil Engineer
Andy graduated from Auckland University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering.
For five years before joining DB Consulting Engineers in 2016 Andy had been based in Nelson working for a contractor to Transpower. His roles included providing engineering support, maintenance and project managing for the electrical power transmission line up-grade.
Previous to this Andy had a wide range of experience in the engineering business including working on the water and waste water infrastructure for Auckland, engineering carbon fibre for manufacture and testing air emissions in saw mills and factories in the North Island.
And all this while managing to run away and travel around New Zealand and overseas.
Passtime
Rock climbing, tramping, mountain biking or any excuse to play around in water.
Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)Field Supervisor/ Engineering Technician - Hamilton
Joe’s main passion lies in cars. In the short 5 years behind the wheel, he has owned 11 vehicles, working on all of them in his garage. He enjoys getting his hands dirty working on other cars as well as his own. When he’s not in the garage he’s usually enjoying a cold beer with his friends.
Engineering Technician - Taupo
Engineering Technician - Hamilton
Engineering Technician - Hamilton
Jamie started with DB Consulting Engineers at the beginning of 2016, he manages the site inspection administration for the Waikato Region whilst also undertaking onsite work. Jamie’s passion is in the sports and outdoors especially wake boarding, regularly travelling back home to Taupo to make the most of the river and lake. Jamie is also an avid car enthusiast – owning 4 sports cars over the last 2 years.
Your favourite pastime
Wake boarding in the summer with family and friends.
Passtime
Wake boarding in the summer with family and friends. The photo is taken at Anarchy board park in Taupo.
CAD Draftsperson
With six years experience in the construction trade Paul joined DB Consulting Engineers in 2012. As a CAD draftsperson he is responsible for drawing up and amending plans for both commercial and residential buildings.
Paul’s favourite project has been Lusty’s Lagoon – the swimming pool, grotto and bar at the Taupo Top Ten Holiday Park. It was very different to all the previous plans he had drafted and he enjoyed watching it take shape as the project progressed.
When not at work Paul like to get out into the bush with his young son Lachlan for some pig hunting, although they spend more time looking for puddles for Lachlan to ride his bike in than looking for pigs.
Favourite Project
Swimming Pool, Grouto & Bar at the top ten hoilday park has been my favorite project so far. Being something different & watching it take shape has been good.
Passtime
Getting out in the bush pig hunting with my son Lachlan. At the moment we spend more time looking for puddles for Lachlan to ride his bike in than looking for pigs. No doubt this will change as he gets older.
CAD Draftsperson
Mark and his wife moved to New Zealand in 2008. He joined the DB Consulting Engineers team in 2016 as a CAD draftsperson drawing and amending structural engineering design plans.
During his career Mark has been a draftsman in the mechanical, electrical and civil industries, and still enjoys the trade, learning new things all the time.
In 1999 Mark took up scuba diving and he has since dived 265 times, spending a total of 8 days (192 hours) under water. His favorite dive experiences have been with manta rays and snorkeling with humpback whales.
Passtime
Scuba Diving has been Marks favorite pass-time since 1999. So far he has dived 265 times, spending a total of 8 days (192 hours) under water. Diving with Manta Rays and snorkeling with Humpback Whales are the absolute best!
Accounts Manager & Administration Team Leader
Barbara joined DB Consulting Engineers in 2011 and since then her role has grown as the business has grown. From just a few hours a week she now works full-time in her current role as Accounts Manager.
Originally from Ireland Barbara and her family have spent the past fifteen years moving between Ireland and New Zealand but now she calls Taupo home.
Her favourite past-time is to get out for long walks on crisp winter days, when the is sun shining.
Passtime
Though I definitely don’t do enough of it, I love to get out for long walks on crisp winter days, when the is sun shining.
Client Relationship Manager – Hamilton
Mary and her family relocated to Taupo after living in Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia for 5 years.
When not at work Mary enjoys being in, on or near the water whether that is sea, lake or river.
Ko Maungapohatu te mā
Ko Ohinemataroa te awa
Ko Mataatua te waka *
Ko Tuhoe Potiki tōku tīpuna *
Ko Tuhoe tōku iwi
Ko Waikirikiri tōku marae *
Ko Mary tōku ingoa
The mountain that I affiliate to is Maungapohatu
The river that I affiliate to is Ohinemataroa
The waka that I affiliate to is Mataatua
My (founding) ancestor is Tuhoe Potiki
My tribe is Tuhoe
My marae is Waikirikiri
My name is Mary
Passtime
Being in, on or near the water – sea/lake or river.
Accounts Administrator
Jenny has recently joined the DBCON Team, returning to Taupo after 8 years away. Easy to forget how cold it gets here but easy to remember the fantastic scenery. When not at work you’ll find her in front of the fire with a glass of wine watching rugby on TV (far too cold to go out and exercise). Come summer you’ll see her out walking, swimming and enjoying the lake.
Your favourite DB Consulting Engineers Project:
Very new to this type of work, however I am enjoying learning all the different aspects of structural, geotechnical, civil and environmental engineering.
Your favourite pastime
Catching up with family and friends, especially with the kids – daughter in Christchurch, son in Auckland.
Favourite Project
Very new to this type of work, however I am enjoying learning all the different aspects of structural, geotechnical, civil and environmental engineering.
Passtime
Catching up with family and friends, especially with the kids – daughter in Christchurch, son in Auckland.
Health and Safety Administrator
Rachel grew up in Taupo but enjoyed her young adult years in Port Douglas, North Queensland, Australia. She joined DB Consulting Engineers in 2016, re-entering the work force after embarking on motherhood.
Rachel and her husband have chosen her hometown of Taupo to raise their three children. They all have a huge love for the great outdoors and use Taupo to its full potential.
Rachel loves being a part of the DB Consulting Engineers team, “Everyone has been so warm and welcoming”, DB Consulting have mastered the work /life balance, its an awesome family friendly environment. They have made the transition back into the workforce extremely enjoyable.
Favourite Project
Working from start to finish on the Re Brand 2018 From DBCON to DB Consulting Engineers .
Passtime
Living in Port Douglas, Nth Queensland Australia, enjoying my young adult years and freedom.
Customer Services
Moving to Taupo in 2001 with my husband and two sons was the best thing we ever did.
Being an Air Force brat I have lived all around NZ and Singapore.
My background is in banking and then admin & accounts. I have done a lot of travel, but would love to do more.
Passtime
Water-skiing & jet-skiing have been passions for a long time. We have just recently purchased a jet-ski. It will tow perfectly behind our classic car for weekends away.
Qualification
Life ExperienceHR Advisor
Catherine recently moved to Taupo from north of the Bombay Hills joining DB Consulting Engineers in 2018.
She has a background in technical recruitment where she was working with design, manufacturing and contract engineering businesses. She is looking forward to get to know and support DB Consulting Engineers’ customers with their projects.
She and her husband are currently building a home on a bare land section and plan to make it an equestrian delight for their horses.
Qualification
BSc, Dip. Secondary Teaching, Dip. ManagementClient Relationship Manager - Hamilton
I’m married with 2 beautiful children, we moved to New Zealand from South Africa in 2008 and from 2016 I can proudly call myself an adoptive Kiwi after taking New Zealand citizenship. We are living semi off grid and enjoying the country lifestyle, trying to achieve a more self-sufficient way of life.
Passtime
I enjoy quiet weekends at come cooking up a storm or working in our garden growing & harvesting our own veggies, in summer its ideal to spend as much time outdoors whether at home, on the beach or enjoying walking tracks around New Zealand, building memories with my family.
