IESL New Zealand Chapter: Our journey from 2015 to 2025
The Institution of Engineers New Zealand (IESL NZ) stands as a prominent overseas chapter affiliated with the IESL. Established in January 2015, the IESL NZ chapter serves as a dedicated platform for Professional Engineers engaged in the field of Engineering in New Zealand.
IESL NZ has developed a distinct strategy to propel the organization forward. Throughout the past decade, the NZ chapter has orchestrated a series of events focusing on knowledge-sharing, networking, and providing guidance to new members.
Over the past decade the chapter was driven through different annual committees under the leadership of relevant chapter Presidents. Below illustrates how these Presidents have driven the chapter to its current state as of today.
Dr. Gregory Shahen De Costa: Inaugural President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2015 to 2016
In the year 2014, the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) was seeking to become a signatory member of the Washington Accord. Engineering New Zealand was hosting the meetings in Wellington, and Sri Lanka’s bid became a reality.
It’s such a pleasure and a joy to note that IESL NZ has from those beginnings today celebrates 10 years as a strong and vibrant organisation uniting and serving the Engineering fraternity both in Sri Lanka and in New Zealand.
Eng. Sirimevan Rangamuwa: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2016 to 2017
Building on from the momentum created by the inauguration of the IESL NZ Chapter we continued to expand and focus our activities on a few useful areas that we thought were beneficial to our SL engineer’s community. Creating a corporate sponsorship fund, inviting industry leading experts to talk about specialist topics.
For me it was an enjoyable experience to associate with many Sri Lankan engineers living and working in New Zealand. We have abandoned our engineering roots in Sri Lanka and embarked on a foreign journey where we had to start our careers afresh. I believe our society helped to ease the burden of this journey by creating a forum to share our individual experiences with fellow engineers.
Eng. Duminda Wijayasinghe: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2017 to 2018
After being mentored by two experienced professionals, I had the privilege of becoming the first president to represent the next generation of the IESL New Zealand Chapter. As the youngest individual to hold this position at the time, my primary objective was to steer the chapter toward engaging the younger demographic by introducing fresh perspectives and new energy into the organisation.
By the end of my 2017/18 term, the IESL NZ Chapter had achieved notable progress: we had doubled our membership, strengthened our financial position, and built more robust partnerships with key industry stakeholders.
Special thanks to the 2017/18 committee, as well as our generous sponsors and industry partners.
Eng. Navin Weeraratne: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2018 to 2019
2018/19 was another year of growth for the NZ Chapter, building on the hard work from previous years, improving efficiencies around delivery of key initiatives and services, and growing our membership.
A range of services and initiatives were delivered by our volunteers and committee members, including mentoring of new migrants and student engineers, hosting of quarterly CPD and networking events, issuing regular newsletters, and in general, providing a local support network for migrant Sri Lankan engineers and their families.
With strong growth in membership and volunteer base, the Chapter was able to achieve several key targets and milestones, including financially, and embed several systems and processes to streamline and deliver core services effectively and efficiently.
Eng. Dayal Withana: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2019 to 2020
Serving as President of IESL NZ from 2019 to 2020 was a fulfilling journey focused on community connection, strategic alignment, and professional growth. We launched a comprehensive Member Satisfaction and Feedback Survey to better understand the needs, aspirations, and talents of our diverse membership. The insights gathered helped shape our strategic direction and ensured our initiatives were inclusive and responsive.
The efforts reflected our commitment to building a resilient, member driven organisation. I’m proud to have led a passionate team that upheld the values of IESL NZ and strengthened our engineering community in New Zealand.
Eng. Sumudu Nishantha: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2020 to 2021
My time as President of IESL NZ was an incredible learning experience, especially since it overlapped with the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning an event and then having to pull the plug just days before was tough on everyone.
But what truly defined my tenure was the amazing team I had. They were not only incredibly capable but also so understanding and adaptable. Their tireless effort and sheer resilience meant we didn’t just give up.
I am genuinely grateful to every single person who helped us navigate those challenges. Because of their dedication, we were able to keep our members engaged and, most importantly, I was able to hand over a vibrant and stable club to the next president.
Eng. Renuka Anthony: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2021 to 2023
As President of IESL New Zealand for 2021–2023, I’m proud to reflect on a rewarding term guided by the theme Our Future Generation. Our flagship Engineers’ Night 2022 brought together over 110 professionals and raised $4,900 to fund scholarships for deserving A/L mathematics students in Sri Lanka.
We launched the HAND IN HAND scholarship program with IESL Wayamba Chapter, supporting five exceptional yet underprivileged students.
My gratitude goes to our sponsors and volunteers. Together, we’ve made meaningful contributions to both local and international communities.
Eng. Duminda Wijayasinghe: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2023 to 2024
After going through several learning cycles, including the challenging COVID period, I was once again honoured to take on the role of Chair in 2023. By that time, IESL NZ had evolved significantly, shaped by experience and the contributions of various leaders.
Together, as a team, we collaborated to create and launch the Annual Strategic Plan, which laid the foundation for ongoing initiatives in the years that followed.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the 2023 committee, our generous sponsors, and the broader engineering community for their unwavering support.
Eng. Krish Jayarathne: President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2024 to 2025
It’s incredible to see the IESLNZ chapter’s steady growth across various areas. A key highlight is our diverse representation of engineers spanning multiple generations and demographics, from senior to junior members, working together towards a common goal, a rare feat for many organizations. We’ve expanded our reach beyond Auckland by organizing activities in other cities; we’ve expanded our help beyond the engineering community by supporting budding engineers through events alongside the Auckland University’s Open Day program.
In addition to our efforts in the Sri Lankan community, we continued to impress the wider Engineering community in New Zealand by showcasing the capabilities of Sri Lankan engineers. Our growth shows the commitment of our committee and membership to inclusivity and adaptability. Our vision is materializing, and I cannot wait to see what’s next.
Eng. Chanaka Dilshan: Current President of IESL NZ Chapter from 2025 to 2026
As the current President of the IESL New Zealand Chapter, I’m proud to lead the organisation into its 10th year, a decade of service, leadership, and dedication to empowering Sri Lankan engineers in New Zealand.
In June, we hosted our first hybrid technical session, enabling both in-person and online participation. With over 150 global registrations, it marked a new chapter of engagement and accessibility.
The year will culminate in Engineers’ Night 2025, honoured by the presence of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, alongside our Chief Guest Eng, Murray Burt, Director Infrastructure and Place, Auckland Transport. This celebration will be followed by technical and family networking events.
We extend sincere gratitude to all past committees and presidents for their invaluable contributions over the decade.
The image below captures a historic moment from the past decade: the official presentation of a plaque by then IESL President Eng. S. B. Wijekoon to Dr. Shahane Gregory De Costa, the inaugural President of IESL New Zealand, in 2015—marking the formal recognition of IESL New Zealand as an overseas chapter.
