Event Details

Join us on Thursday 17 October at 5:00pm for an exciting panel and networking event hosted by The Infrastructure Collective - Auckland Chapter and our sponsor TSA Riley. This event is aimed at young professionals looking to make their mark in the infrastructure sector!

The panel discussion will feature mid-career professionals who remember what it's like to be in your shoes and are now climbing their way to the top. They will share their insights into a range of topics, including career progression, business development, networking and more. After the panel, stick around for some networking and light refreshments, generously provided by TSA Riley.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with like-minded individuals in the industry!

Presenter Details

Mat Snowden - Senior Manager, Infrastructure Advisory, EY

Mat is a seasoned finance professional, with over ten years experience supporting projects in New Zealand and abroad. He is currently a Senior Manager in the Infrastructure Advisory team at EY, where he provides financial, commercial, and strategic advice on large-scale infrastructure projects and transactions. Prior to this, he held significant in-house finance roles across the Energy, Tech, and Healthcare sectors. His ability to manage diverse teams and deliver high-value projects has earned him a reputation as a reliable and forward-thinking advisor.

Laressa Mills - Senior Associate, Dentons

Laressa is a leading dispute resolution lawyer and strategist at Dentons. She has experience advising a diverse range of clients including principals, contractors, subcontractors and consultants on complex and high-value construction law and major projects across a range of industry sectors. Laressa is currently on secondment with the Downer legal team. 

Prior to joining Dentons, Laressa worked in London at a top global consulting firm, managing teams of experts and lawyers on large multi-million dollar construction claims on projects around the world, and executing claim strategies.

Laressa was a committee member of The Infrastructure Collective from 2021 and Chair from 2022 until December 2023. 

Durga Ragupathy - Lead Engineer - Water, Aurecon

Durga is a Civil Engineer in Aurecon, with 12 years of experience in consulting across New Zealand. Her expertise spans wastewater hydraulic modelling, flood modelling, land development, and project management, from design to close-out. She manages her own team and leads multiple project teams, ensuring successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects.

Durga is a passionate civil engineer committed to making a difference, currently applying her skills across engineering disciplines and leading her company's cultural pillar to promote diversity, equity and inclusivity. Her experiences working with diverse teams have fuelled her desire to address broader societal challenges. This, combined with her dedication to creating resilient solutions, motivated her pursuit of a master’s in disaster management, where she aims to further contribute to community safety and preparedness in the face of global challenges.

Preeyeta Mala - Project Manager, TSA Riley 

With six years of experience in infrastructure, Preeyeta has progressed from a graduate engineer at Downer NZ to a Project Manager at TSA Riley Auckland. Preeyeta's career journey has included rotations and projects across various sectors, including roading, water, defence, within and outside of Auckland, and the Samoan aviation project. As part of this, she has worked with government agencies like Waka Kotahi, Auckland Council, and Watercare, as well as private clients. 

Preeyeta's experience as a Regional Lead for the Department of Corrections contract showcased her leadership skills, which led to promotions to Site Engineer and Project Engineer. Seeking new challenges, Preeyeta left Downer to join TSA Riley and is now working towards a Senior Project Management role.