Simonne Eldridge recently became T+T’s first female Fellow of the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ). As one of only 26 women who currently hold this honour, it is a very public endorsement of her skills and expertise. She was elected for her substantial contribution to creating engineering works and improving waste management practices and for her work in mentoring young engineers and assisting women in the profession.

Simonne specialises in all aspects of solid waste minimisation and residual management including planning, design, implementation, rehabilitation and aftercare. A recognised expert in waste minimisation options, landfill design, leachate management and treatment, risk management, alternative energy solutions, landfill gas management and landfill closure and capping design, she has led projects for a wide range of international and local public and private sector clients.

Simonne is a Board Member of WasteMINZ, the Board Champion for the Construction and Demolition Sector Group and the Chair of the WasteMINZ Landfill and Residual Waste Sector Group.

She also chaired the Waste Technical Advisory Group appointed by the New Zealand Government to implement the Emission Trading Scheme for the Waste Sector and provided technical assistance to the Ministry for the Environment for the drafting of the resulting Regulations, together with providing expert opinion on the development of the New Zealand Green House Gas Inventory.