Associate Professor Piet Beukman, FIPENZ, AFNZIM, has 35 years international experience in the field of engineering, technology management and commercialisation of technology, as well as training at university and industry level. He is highly regarded in New Zealand and internationally as a practitioner with a sound track record of achievement who uses a practical, but rigorous, approach.

Piet’s experiences are many and varied and include being the Chief Engineer of an airline, Systems Development Advisor to the South African Air Force, 20 years working in the South African defence, marine consulting engineering and aerospace industries, and Director of Technology Commercialisation at the University of South Australia. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Canterbury Innovation Incubator and Christchurch's Recovered Materials Foundation, taking the project from concept to being its founding CEO.

Piet is currently Director of the Master of Engineering Management programme and a former director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Canterbury. Piet mentors CEOs, consults with businesses and he also delivers training workshops.

He has presented numerous short courses and custom in-house workshops for local and international organisations including technology companies, district and city councils, electricity companies, infrastructure companies, government departments, and sports organisations.

Piet has developed a unique training style that combines underlying theory, practical examples and case studies into an integrated programme. He believes that learning should take place in a relaxed and friendly environment and that underlying principles should be taught first, before specifics, applications or tools are addressed. Participants therefore gain a thinking framework that can be readily remembered and applied over a wide spectrum in the workplace.