Our People

Directors

Sam Richards

CPEng, MIPENZ, BE (hons)

After graduating from the University of Canterbury, Sam worked in small and medium sized engineering consultancies and with local government, before establishing Richards Consulting Engineers in 2009. He has design and construction management experience across a range of sectors including residential, commercial, education, industrial, agricultural and flood protection.

Nick Baker

CPEng, BE(hons)

Nick started with Richards Engineers as a Graduate Engineer in 2013 in Christchurch. After completing a wide range of projects for the Christchurch team, Nick shifted to Auckland in 2017 to start-up the Auckland Office.

Nick has worked on a wide range of civil and structural projects throughout New Zealand. The bulk of his experience includes; structural assessments including Initial Seismic Assessment (ISA’s) & Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA) & strengthening design, complex geotechnical structure design, and design of low-rise commercial, multi-lot residential developments, multi-storey residential and educational structures.

Chartered Engineers

Chris Burrell-Smith

CPEng

Chris has been with RCE since December 2010. Following the Darfield earthquake in September 2010 he decided to put aside further ski seasons and put his degree to good use. Chris has worked as a graduate engineer and has managed to work up to a position of senior engineer and manages the company’s technical development.

Chris was born and raised in Christchurch and attended the University of Canterbury in 2005 where he obtained a BE(hons) in Civil engineering. Chris still enjoys heading up to the mountains and getting in as many ski days as possible in the winter seasons.

Hansel Etschmaier

CPEng

Hansel graduated from the university of Pretoria in 2012, and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in July of 2019. He previously worked as a structural engineer in South Africa on Residential and commercial projects. As a new arrival in New Zealand he is keen to travel and explore the country and it’s diverse cultures.

Henry West

CPEng

Henry graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2017, and primarily worked on a mixture of light commercial and industrial projects while based out of Hawke’s Bay. In October of 2019 he shifted back to Christchurch, where he began working with Richards Consulting Engineers. Outside of the office, Henry enjoys bouldering, biking and longboarding.

Matthew Beddow

CPEng

Matthew graduated Canterbury University in 2019 and begun working in Richards Consulting’s Christchurch office. In 2023, he moved up to Wellington and has been working hard to establish a foothold in the region. Matthew has worked on a range of residential and commercial projects and enjoys collaborating with local designers on challenging projects. Outside of work, he enjoys getting outdoors, biking and exploring New Zealand.

Zane Quensell

Zane is a recent graduate from the University of Auckland, and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in November of 2018. He has always had a passion for understanding how things fit together and has greatly enjoyed his time with the team so far. Outside of work Zane plays pool, enjoys social sports, and loves to travel and explore New Zealand.

Andrew Steel

CPEng

Andrew graduated with a first-class BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering at the University of Canterbury in 2019. He joined Richards Consulting in 2020 as a graduate structural engineer. Andrew has a passion for structural design and enjoys being tested with challenging engineering problems. Outside of work, he enjoys working on car projects and catching up with mates.

Design Engineers

Daniel Hyndman

Daniel is a recent graduate from the University of Canterbury and started at Richards Consulting Engineers in November 2018. Before university Daniel worked in the construction industry for 8 years and completed a carpentry apprenticeship. Outside work Daniel enjoys the outdoors and playing sport especially rugby playing for the University of Canterbury.

Emery Ning

Emery graduated from the University of Auckland at the end of 2019 and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in February 2020. Emery enjoys the tangible and rewarding aspects that structural engineering brings and is always focussed on developing his skills. In his spare time, he enjoys playing social sports and hiking adventures around New Zealand.

Hamish Kennedy

Hamish recently graduated from the University of Canterbury with BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering and joined Richards Consulting at the end of 2020. He enjoys solving structural engineering problems and viewing the practical application of his jobs. Outside of work, he enjoys taking part in the occasional mountain biking race and playing touch.

Joshua Jam

Joshua graduated from the University of Auckland at the end of 2020 and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in November of 2020. He enjoys the problem-solving aspect of engineering and developing new skills. In his spare time, he enjoys powerlifting and going to the beach.

Joshua Rodgers

Josh, hailing from the land of Invercargill where the sheep outnumber the people, recently graduated from the University of Canterbury with a BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering Management (MEM)—because two degrees are better than one, especially if you're trying to impress a bridge. He joined Richards in early 2023, where he’s been delighting in structural challenges and soaking up knowledge from his team like a caffeinated sponge. When he’s not engineering the next big thing, Josh can be found engaging in sports or enjoying the great outdoors, proving that even civil engineers need a little adventure in their blueprint for life.

Guan Chuan Tay

Guan Chuan Tay has years of experience as a structural engineer, working on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects. He joined the team in 2025, bringing with him a strong background in structural design and seismic assessment, along with a practical, solutions focused approach. Guan enjoys the collaborative nature of engineering and works closely with clients, architects, and contractors to deliver well considered, efficient structures. Outside of work, Guan enjoys playing badminton and spending time with his family.

Raymond Lai

Raymond recently graduated from the University of Auckland and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in June 2021. Raymond is passionate about structural engineering and is eager to develop his skillset as a young graduate. Outside of work, Raymond enjoys playing badminton, board games, and going on hikes.

Sean Houlahan

Sean recently graduated from the University of Canterbury with BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering and joined Richards Consulting at the beginning of 2022. He enjoys an engineering challenge and learning from those around him but also challenging himself to find innovative solutions. Outside of the office, Sean dabbles in playing musical instruments, enjoys getting out on any sport field and strives to find the best value for money restaurants in the city.

Graduate Engineers

Ayush Patel

Ayush is a recent structural engineering graduate from the University of Auckland with a passion for creating innovative and sustainable designs. Focused on building resilient structures, Ayush enjoys applying new techniques and working with diverse teams to bring projects to life. Outside of work, Ayush loves traveling, playing social sports, and staying active with outdoor adventures.

Ella Gu

Ella is originally from China. She graduated from the University of Auckland and joined Richards Consulting as a Graduate Engineer in February 2024. She enjoys problem solving and learning from other members in the team. In her spare time, she loves travelling around New Zealand and looking for delicious food.

Jack Kendall

Jack is a recent graduate from the University of Canterbury and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in early 2025. He has a strong interest in Structural Engineering and enjoys solving problems. Outside of work Jack enjoys spending time outdoors doing activities such as football and golf.

Jayden Bracey

Jayden is a recent graduate from the University of Canterbury and joined Richards Consulting Engineers in late 2024.

Matthew Kim

I graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelors of Civil Engineering (Hons) at the end of 2022. I’ve recently moved to join Richards Consulting Engineers after working for 3 years as a Site Engineer for HEB Construction down at Tauranga for the Takitimu North Link Project. Outside of work, I enjoy going bouldering or going skiing down at Mt Ruapehu during the Winters. I also enjoy trying new cuisine and discovering new flavours to fill my palette.

Raffael Hamblett

Raffael graduated from the University of Canterbury with a BE(Hons) in Civil Engineering including a minor in Structural Engineering. He joined Richards Consulting Engineers at the end of 2025 where he has continued to learn and develop his skills through involvement in a wide variety of projects. Raffael has a keen interest in the outdoors, and can often be found out on the water – surfing and volunteering with the coastguard – or in the mountains tramping and snowboarding.

Samuel Twose

Samuel graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2025 with a BE(hons) in Civil Engineering and a minor in Structural Engineering. He started with Richards Consulting at the beginning of 2026 and is enthusiastic to learn more in his field. Outside the office, Samuel loves spending time in the hills on his bike or a set of skis.

Paul Jung

Paul is a recent graduate from the University of Auckland and joined Richards Consulting in February 2026. With experience as a tradie prior to his studies, Paul enjoys applying his on site experience to practical solutions in the field. Outside of work, Paul enjoys travelling abroad or around New Zealand and playing sports such as basketball and golf.

Engineering Technicians

Callum Hayes

Originally from the UK, Callum arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of 2021. He graduated with a Bsc (Hons) in Architectural Technology in 2015 and soon after worked in an architecture practice in his home town. Later, he decided to do some travelling and moved to Whistler, BC. Canada to enjoy mountain biking and snowboarding, he then moved over to New Zealand to be with his partner. Callum joined RCE in February 2021 to further his career and develop new skills and interests in structural engineering.

Pip Mason

With a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, I work as a Structural Draughter, producing clear and professional drawings that help bring engineers’ designs to life. I’m known for being a collaborative team player who’s always keen to learn and take on new challenges. Outside of work, I enjoy getting lost in a good book, playing team sports, and exploring anything creative or crafty.

Tomas Beisinas

Tomas graduated from Ara Institute of Canterbury with Bachelor of Architectural Studies. Tomas enjoys architectural design and especially where architecture intersects engineering. He enjoys sports like Muay Thai Kickboxing and relaxing by going outdoors. He likes reading, drawing and watching movies.

Isla Banks

Isla joined Richards Consulting in 2023 as a Draughtsperson and has a Diploma of Architectural Technology. In her spare time, she likes to go indoor rock climbing and mountaineering every now and then.

Finance Controller

Lucy Richards

LLB, BCom

Lucy has responsibility for the financial aspects of the business. Her role includes invoicing, payroll and credit control. Lucy works part time around her young family. Prior to taking up the financial controller role, Lucy worked as a lawyer for almost 10 years.

Project Manager

Steve Priest

Steve joined Richard Consulting Engineers in February 2024 in a project co-ordination role with over 30 years’ experience in Manufacturing and Product Design. Outside of work Steve enjoys mountain biking and is a keen golfer with a passion for continuous improvement.

Administration

Amy Dunlop

Meet Amy, the powerhouse behind our administrative operations, boasting over a decade of experience! With a talent for turning paperwork into punchlines, she effortlessly keeps our office in tip-top shape and everyone on their toes. Whether navigating scheduling chaos or tackling inbox antics, Amy handles it all with a smile. Need a laugh or a snack? She is your go-to person! Outside of work, Amy enjoys quality time with her family puppy, Nova and embarking on adventures with her kids.

Emily Calvert

Introducing Emily, our office administrator with eight years of experience. Beyond her organisational skills and dedication to keeping our workplace efficient, Emily finds joy in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Whether she is hitting the gym, enjoying outdoor walks or meal prepping. Emily incorporates a perfect blend of professional skills and personal fulfilment. Her commitment to both her career and well-being sets a shining example for our team.