Lifetime membership honour for Dave Brunsdon

Dave Brunsdon, of Kestrel Group, has been awarded Life Membership of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering for his “energetic, strong and inspirational leadership” in the earthquake engineering field.

The award, conferred on Dave at the Society’s annual conference in Christchurch in April 2012, recognises his contribution across the building, infrastructure, emergency management and research sectors.

The majority of Dave’s work involves complex multi-agency projects across these sectors including a number at the interface between earthquake engineering and emergency management.

“Receiving the award of Life Membership of NZSEE was a real surprise, and something that means a great deal to me.”

“I have had the good fortune of working with leading engineers, scientists and emergency managers across a range of relatively unique projects for the Society, and it is very gratifying to be recognised for the contribution that I have been able to make,” says Dave.

Dave’s contributions to the earthquake engineering field over several decades include:
• Developing and implementing New Zealand’s national post-disaster building safety arrangements
• Leading the NZ Earthquake Assistance Team that undertook building safety evaluations following the Padang, West Sumatra earthquake in 2009
• Coordinating the building safety evaluation process in conjunction with Christchurch City Council following the 4 September 2010 Darfield earthquake
• Playing a key role in the development of New Zealand’s USAR Engineering capability, and co-ordinating the international USAR engineering response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake