Engineer and business leader awarded honorary doctorate
23 January 2019
Visionary business leader, engineer and philanthropist, Dr Ian Parton, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Auckland today.
Dr Parton studied at the University’s School of Engineering its Ardmore days, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1969 and a PhD in 1972, both in Civil Engineering.
His engineering career has spanned more than 40 years, during which time he was instrumental the transformation of New Zealand’s business and export engineering service.
This includes being managing director of Worley Group where, under his leadership, the company grew to become one of New Zealand’s oldest engineering and management consulting firms and one of our largest employee-owned consulting firms, active in over 40 countries.
He was in 2007 awarded the William Pickering Award for Engineering Leadership.
Dr Parton’s philanthropic contributions to the University of Auckland are many and varied, and include being on the committee for the University’s current philanthropic campaign, For All Our Futures.
University of Auckland Dean of Engineering, Professor Nic Smith, says Dr Parton’s career is remarkable for its longevity, diversity and the profound impact he has made as an Engineering Leader across multiple sectors.
“In his long relationship with the University, he has brought his strengths and passion for the profession, making a huge and highly valued contribution to the increasing vigour of the discipline of Engineering at the University of Auckland.”