Engineering
Composites
Composites are where most of my engineering lives: choosing fibres, designing laminates and then actually making the parts.
Tools & methodsPrepregWet layupVacuum infusionCNC-machined mouldsCarbon, basalt and flax fibresANSYS ACPAbaqus compositesASTM D790 testing
Why it’s a strength- I co-founded and help lead a 25-person team designing and building two full carbon foiling International Moths for the SuMoth Challenge in Italy in 2027.
- I made and tested 100 specimens across 20 laminate configurations for my Part IV research, so my laminate choices are backed by my own test data.
- At Composite Developments I design ultralight carbon fibre tents and hiking gear around stiffness-to-weight and manufacturability, and brought carbon fibre poles into Orson Outdoor tents for the first time.
Engineering
Prototyping
I'd rather build a rough version early than argue about it on screen. Prototypes are how I find out what actually works.
Tools & methods3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLM, SLS)3D scanningLaser cuttingCNC machiningMilling and turningWeldingVacuum formingUltrasonic weldingArduinoPythonRaspberry Pi
Why it’s a strength- At Navico I developed and prototyped concepts for next-generation marine display systems and enclosures, integrating sensors and embedded systems with Arduino and Python.
- On Kōkako my team prototyped and tested belt, chain and custom cable drives, and built a full-scale test rig and simulator.
- The Hematoma Arm Board went through multiple tested iterations and ended in a clinical trial in a real hospital.
Engineering
FEA
I use finite element analysis to understand how a structure carries load before committing material to it.
Tools & methodsAbaqus (structural, composites)ANSYS StructuralANSYS ThermalANSYS ACPClassical laminate theoryMATLAB
Why it’s a strength- As a University of Auckland research assistant I applied FEA and CFD to a 900 g freestanding tent built for 100 km/h winds, heavy rain and snow, to validate its structure and cut material.
- For MECHENG 701 I modelled the Moth’s one-piece wing bars in Abaqus under defined load cases, comparing cross-sections and carbon–basalt laminates.
- I check models against reality: in my Part IV research I compared flexural test results with classical laminate theory, and I completed structural analysis on a premium economy seat concept for Air New Zealand’s 787 cabins.
Engineering
CFD
Most of what I design moves through air or water, so understanding flow is part of getting the design right.
Tools & methodsANSYS FluentThermofluidsMATLAB
Why it’s a strength- I used CFD alongside FEA to validate an ultralight tent designed for 100 km/h winds, helping reduce material use while keeping it stable.
- Flow drives the projects I care about most, from foil boards and foiling Moths to a human powered aircraft.
- I’ve built my foundation through Thermofluids coursework, and use ANSYS Fluent for simulation.
Engineering
DFM
A design isn't finished until it can be made. I design with the factory, the workshop or the install crew in mind from the start.
Tools & methodsInjection mouldingJig and fixture designComposite manufactureOverseas manufacturer liaisonTechnical drawings
Why it’s a strength- At Absolute Plastics I optimised injection moulding processes and designed jigs and assembly improvements that raised production efficiency by around 50%.
- At ParkHelp I redesigned a parking sensor housing so it could be replaced without excavation, and supported design-for-manufacture improvements across legacy hardware.
- I took Composite Developments’ tents and hiking pole toward production with overseas manufacturers, and wrote manufacturing recommendations for the Moth wing bars.
Design
3D Modelling & Rendering
CAD is how I think through a design in detail, from complex surfaces to full assemblies and final renders.
Tools & methodsFusion 360SolidWorksSiemens NXPTC CreoAutodesk InventorRhino3DBlenderMayaCreaform scanning3D Slicer (CT scans)
Why it’s a strength- I work across six CAD packages, so I can slot into whichever one a team already uses.
- I modelled a complete International Moth in Fusion 360, including foils, wand mechanism, spreaders and gantry, building up from a kayak hull.
- For my foil board I wrote a parametric algorithm that generates the board geometry from the rider’s weight, ability and conditions.
Design
Product Design
I start from the best possible version of a product, the lightest, strongest, most capable, then work out what it takes to make it well.
Tools & methodsSketchingAdobe Design SuiteCADMaterial testingPrototyping
Why it’s a strength- My products have reached real users: ultralight tents and hiking gear heading to market, and a medical arm board trialled in hospital.
- I worked with a designer on a new lie-flat premium economy concept for Air New Zealand, using mechanical design to maximise usable space.
- My personal work, from WIND to ReLume and Tideforms, explores form, material and sustainability. I was also first in course in UoA Design.
Design
UI/UX
Digital products need the same care as physical ones: clear structure, easy flows and testing with real people.
Tools & methodsFigmaFramerAdobe Design SuiteCanvaPrototypingUser testing
Why it’s a strength- I led a team of five on The Grove, coordinating research, prototyping and user testing, and built the interactive prototype in Figma.
- I was the sole designer and developer of OffTrackNZ, designing an interface that still works in remote areas.
- At Navico I worked with the industrial design, hardware, software and OS teams to improve the usability of marine displays.
Design
Human-Centred Design
I design for specific people, and I go and learn from them rather than guessing.
Tools & methodsUser researchStakeholder mappingUsability testingValue proposition design
Why it’s a strength- The Hematoma Arm Board was shaped by clinicians at Auckland Hospital’s Cath Lab, and reduced nurse workload in hospital environments.
- Premiere Vue was designed around visually impaired children and first-time braille learners.
- For Gills we mapped every stakeholder, from shipping lines to ports and researchers, and built the value proposition around them.
Everything
Manufacturing & prototyping3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLM, SLS)3D scanningLaser cuttingInjection mouldingCarbon fibre (wet layup, infusion, prepreg)CNC machiningMillingTurningWeldingVacuum formingUltrasonic welding
Engineering softwareANSYS (Fluent, Structural, Thermal, ACP)Abaqus (structural, composites)Autodesk InventorFusion 360PTC CreoSolidWorksSiemens NXRhino3D3D Slicer (CT scans)Creaform
Design toolsAdobe Design SuiteFigmaFramerBlenderMayaCanvaMicrosoft Office
ProgrammingMATLABSimulinkPythonCRArduino
