The Whakatāne District Council has appointed Inka Krawczyk, an engineer with more than 20 years of international experience in major infrastructure projects, to manage the development, construction and start-up of the Matatā Sewerage Scheme.
The selection panel which assessed the short-listed candidates included the Chief Executive of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Mary-Anne MacLeod and the chairperson of the Whakatāne District Council’s Matatā Projects Governance Group, Councillor Russell Orr.
WDC Chief Executive Marty Grenfell, who also sat on the selection panel, says the Regional Council’s involvement reflects the significant stake it has in the project through a $1.88 million contribution towards the estimated $10.8 million capital cost of the scheme. “Given the relationship between Mrs Krawczyk and our General Manager Infrastructure, Tomasz Krawczyk, it was important that an independent panel was established to consider the merits of each applicant in an objective manner. As a result, Mr Krawczyk had no part in the selection process. Ms Macleod’s involvement ensured there was external input from a senior local government professional with significant experience in this area.”
Ms MacLeod says shortlisting the 18 applicants for the role was relatively straightforward. “We interviewed three strong candidates, but Mrs Krawczyk clearly had outstanding credentials and experience for what will be a complex and demanding job, which also involves meeting a number of critical Ministry of Health subsidy funding project milestones,” she says. “In that respect, the fact that Mrs Krawczyk has been able to start work immediately is very beneficial.”
Mrs Krawczyk holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering and has worked extensively in Europe, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. She has particular expertise in strategic infrastructure project development, including feasibility studies; planning and environmental consent applications; and tender evaluations and negotiation. Her involvements have included a wide range of management roles in major transport, energy and municipal sanitation infrastructure projects.
The project manager role is a two-year fixed-term appointment which will conclude once the Matatā Sewerage Scheme has been successfully commissioned.