In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re having a kōrero with Professor Charles Clifton — legendary structural engineer, longtime HERA collaborator, and newly named Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

From early experiments to revolutionising the way Aotearoa designs for seismic and fire resilience, Charles reflects on his incredible four-decade career in engineering. We explore the big turning points that shaped his journey, the often-overlooked capabilities of structural steel in extreme conditions, and the technical breakthroughs that changed how we build.

Charles also shares what continues to inspire him, what he hopes the next generation of engineers will take on, and the one thing he wants to be remembered for.

💡 Whether you're just starting your engineering journey or have been in the game for years, this episode offers insights on leaving a lasting legacy and designing for impact.

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we’re having a kōrero with Matt Ensor.

AI strategist and industry innovator — he unpacks what the rise of AI really means for the construction sector. From practical tools to mindset shifts, Matt shares his take on where we’re already seeing AI in action (even if we don’t realise it), the challenges we need to prepare for, and how to take the first step if your business hasn’t yet made the leap.

We also chat about the risks of being left behind, what the future of work could look like, and why getting comfortable with disruption might just be your biggest advantage.

💡 Whether you're an engineer, designer, or industry leader — this episode will give you food for thought and a few nudges to get ahead of the AI curve.

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re having a kōrero with Maryam Hasanali.

Maryam is a structural research engineer at HERA and the brain behind the scenes driving our newly launched software tool, CompWebPen.

Join us as we dive into the thinking, coding, and collaboration that brought CompWebPen to life – a tool designed to simplify the analysis and design of composite steel–concrete beams with web penetrations. Maryam shares the real-world pain points this software solves for engineers, how it integrates with existing tools, and why it’s a game-changer for accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.

🎧 Whether you’re an engineer, designer, or just curious about the brains behind digital tools in construction – this kōrero offers valuable insights into building smarter with confidence.

🔗 Resources & links
– Learn more about CompWebPen: https://www.hera.org.nz/resource-compwebpen-launch/
– Explore our Composite Beam & Slab Tool: https://www.hera.org.nz/resource-composite-design-tool/
– Subscribe to our podcast: https://www.hera.org.nz/podcasts/

📬 Got questions or feedback? Reach us at info@hera.org.nz