University of Canterbury engineer Associate Professor Keith Alexander has picked up a prestigious award at the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

Professor Alexander was presented with the 2010 New Zealand Engineering Innovator of the Year award at a gala event in Wellington last night (24 November) attended by more than 350 people.

Initiated in 2005, the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for the engineering professionals of New Zealand.

The innovator of the year award recognises an engineer, engineering technologist, or a team engaged in engineering activities, who has/have demonstrated a commitment to innovation in engineering.

Professor Alexander has been staff member at UC since 1996. His earlier career included time as design manager with Hamilton Jet, and some time in engineering consultancy.

He has developed a reputation for being both an innovative engineering designer and a great practical teacher.

“At a time when academic staff are being drawn more heavily into published research it is vital that New Zealand has academics like Keith Alexander,” said Institution of Professional Engineers Chief Executive Andrew Cleland.

“He is not only a leading teacher of innovation in design and a commercially successful innovator, but also an engineer whose innovative designs are directly serving the community.”

Responsible for many innovative solutions, Professor Alexander has worked on a diverse range of projects including the water jet system of the Hamilton jet boat, a patient lifting system, a quiet propulsion fan for a hovercraft, a snow probe for predicting avalanche risk and a pin-jointed press system for wool. He has also been involved with the ongoing development of the Martin Jetpack.

However, he is best known for the Springfree Trampoline which has vastly reduced injuries. This design won the 2010 Consumer Product of the Year Award in the United States following earlier awards in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In total, there are 19 patents to protect his novel elements of the design. Over 35,000 units per year are sold worldwide.

Professor Alexander was not the only award-winner with UC connections. Alumnus Matthew Lander won the prestigious Young Engineer of the Year award for 2010.

Mr Lander is an Associate – Structural Engineering at Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner in Wellington and was one of three finalists for the prestigious award. He holds a Master of Engineering with distinction in civil engineering from UC and is a chartered professional engineer. He has worked for nine years as a structural engineer and has been the lead structural engineer on several major projects, including structural engineering manager for the new BNZ building on Wellington’s waterfront.

“Matthew has delivered both technical and personal leadership at an exemplary level on an exciting and leading edge project,” said Judge Carron Blom. “He is obviously an energetic and very highly regarded individual that is passionate about the role of engineering and its interfaces with both other professions and those that use and interact with the outcomes.”

NZi3, the New Zealand ICT Innovation Institute based at the University of Canterbury, won the 2010 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Award for Sustainability and Clean Technology award.

The building has already been recognised with several awards including the New Zealand Green Building Council 5 star education design award, the Designers Institute Gold award for interior design and the New Zealand Institute of Architects Canterbury Architecture award. NZi3 was also short listed for the World Architecture Awards in 2009.



For further information please contact:
Stacey Doornenbal
Communications Officer
Communications and External Relations
University of Canterbury
Ph: +64 3 364 2984
stacey.doornenbal@canterbury.ac.nz