Our People

Jason Smith

Principal Naval Architect & MID Manager

MRINA, CEng

Jason joined MID as a Naval Architect with previous experience with RoRo Passenger Ferries, High Speed Ferries, high speed catamarans and luxury superyachts. Jason leads our team and is responsible for delivery of design output across the MID capability including Superyachts, Fishing boats, Ferries, Barges, Work Boats, Naval vessels, Commercial vessels.

Nicholas Crawford

Principal Naval Architect

MEng CEng CMarEng MIMarEST

Nic has extensive experience of structural design, stability and control analysis, failure investigation and regulations from working at the Martime and Coastguard Agency in the UK as a surveyor (principal and flag state). Prior to that as a consultant naval architect provding marine design consultancy specialising in survey, design, project management and legislative requirements. Nic suports all facets of MID design activity and has responsibility for managing Navy design delivery.

Gram Schweikert

Principal Architect/Marine Engineer

MRINA C.Eng

Gram has an extensive background of yacht design in the USA and then fast ferry design in NZ. Gram provides naval architectural consultancy experience in hull design, stability, powering, structural, seakeeping and systems.

Nigel Hay-Smith

Senior Naval Architect

C.Eng MRINA

Nigel has experience with the design, construction and survey/class compliance of vessels in aluminium, composite and steel; ranging from 5m boats to 110m fast ferries and super maxi racing yachts. Based in our Nelson office, Nigel provides consultancy, design, stability analysis and structural engineering expertise for commercial and Navy work.

Corne Kleinloog

Regional Principal Naval Architect

C.Eng MRINA

Corne has 20years plus design experience in the marine industry. He has extensive knowledge of boat design, structures, stability and systems. Corne leads our Nelson office providing design services to the South Island and supporting wider MID activity including our Naval activity for our parent Babcock.

Kris Decke

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

BEng MRINA C.Eng

Kris brings a combination of real world experience onboard international superyachts and a degree in engineering that allows him to produce practical designs that he knows will work onboard the vessel.  Kris is an integral part of our enginering team and responsible for structural and mechanical engineering and design support to larger projects and local shipyards providing design detailing, engineering systems layout design cut files, modelling, including FEA structural analysis of designs

Kevin LeMeur

Regional Principal Naval Architect

MIEAust CPEng NER PMP

Kevin has a strong background of 15 years plus in design consultancy with several years in Australia working for the offshore industry. He has extensive experience in structural design to statutory and class regulations. At MID Kevin holds is responsible for delivery of projects and design from our Perth office, supporting commercial and Naval design activity.

Jarrod Gibson

Principal Lead Designer

Jarrod has many years experience in 3D design, drafting, modelling and laser scanning. Jarrod leads our design drafing team and provides CAD Management for MID, he combines a practical hands on boat building apprenticeship with marine design draughting experience from New Zealand and overseas. Jarrod is responsible for structural, mechanical and electrical design draughting in support of our design engineers.

Rocio Gandarias

Naval Architect

BEng (Hons) Yacht and Powercraft Design MSc Maritime Engineering, C.Eng MRINA

Rocio has a strong background in yacht design with 7 years experience in composite and metal design for newbuilding manufacture of yachts and more recently for a mast builder. Rocio is very competant in 2d and 3D design and has solid structural engineering skills.

Charlotte van der Wateren

Naval Architect

BEng Naval Architecture

Charlotte gained her shipbuilding experience working for Dutch shipyards building luxury super yachts and then came to NZ to continue her design career. She has experience in 3D modelling, weight studies, class approval and 2D drawing. She provides technical support to our commercial and naval activity.

Renee Fuller 

Naval Architect

B.Eng Naval Architecture (Hons), MRINA

Renee graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2017 and joined MID in 2022. Renee undertakes stability analysis, 3D modelling, structural design and general Naval Architectural duties. Renee also supports our Naval activity in the Devonport dockyard.

Phil Wampold

Senior Naval Architect

M.Eng P.Eng

Phil has experience in marine asset management providing support to Canadian Navy vessels, steel and fibreglass survey and design, specifications, stability analysis, systems design, welding specs, 3d modelling and technical documentation. Phil provides these skills to MID designs.

Dave Cross

Senior Designer

FdSc Marine Engineering - Foundation Science Degree (Distinction)

Dave started out as a marine pipefitter & fabricator with Babcock in 2008 working on super yachts to submarines, then he transitioned to a structural design role working on UK Navy surface ships and subs. Dave has deep experience in 3D desigjn and modelling for naval and commercial vessels.

Leon Schoemaker

Design Draftsperson

Leon is a highly experienced CAD draftsperson with 3D and 2D modelling skills. Leon draws on experience from a range of boat yard operations, new build and refit , with structures and systems drafting and design. Leon is part of our Whangarei team.

James Bridgefoot 

Naval Architect 

 MEng, MRINA, CEng Naval Architecture

James has 9 years experience working as a Naval Architect for Babcock International in Rosyth UK before moving to work for MID in November 2022. James has worked on projects including offshore topside design and construction, Royal Navy aircraft carrier build support, laid up and in service naval support, and most recently the structural design of a new Royal Navy vessel. He has experience in weight management, structural design, stability investigations and inclining experiments. James is based in Auckland and supports MID commercial activity and in-service support to the RNZN as well as other Naval Architecture duties.

Joost Colon

Naval Architect 

 MEng, Naval Architecture

After graduating from the Delft University of Technology, Joost spent 5 years designing and engineering large steel superyachts in the Netherlands. He joined MID in 2023 and specialises in weight and stability analysis, designing according to class rules, and 3D modelling.

Chris Mills

Design Draftsperson 

Chris started as a boat and luxury coach builder and has been designing boats for 35 years, originally as a boatbuilder at Alloy Yachts International, before moving to the engineering office as an engineering designer. Following this he was with a Superyacht Interiors company designing and 3D modelling complete interiors for project overseas after which he transitioned to a Project Manager role, overseeing numerous Superyacht projects internationally.   He has deep experience in modelling, systems and structural design.   Chris also has many years experience in project and production management for vessel new builds, superyacht interiors and factory production.  Chris provides 3d modelling, 2d drafting and laser scanning and processing capability.                   

Pesala Prabath

Marine & Mechanical Design Engineer

CMarEng, CPEng CMEngNZ 

Pesala has nine years engineering experience with a comprehensive understanding of marine engineering, 2D AutoCAD, HVAC, fire, engineering procurements and specially diesel engine based propulsion systems. Experienced in sailing, machinery maintenance/repairs and workshop handling, dry dock repairs, FRP constructions, designing HVAC systems and fire fighting systems.

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Mechanical Design Engineer

Our experienced mechanical design engineer has a background in shipyard Superyacht design and provides mechanical engineering design across all our commercial and naval delivery projects. They also have many years experience in product and tooling design for manufacture.

Peter Allan - Contracted

Projects Manager

NZR Elect, RTC II MRINA

Peter has many years of experience in marine newbuild and refit/conversion projects including, electrical design and installation on marine projects ranging from workboats and tugs, luxury superyachts and large commercial cargo vessels.  Peter is our Projects Manager looking after the management and control of major projects including assisting clients in the preparation of specifications, tender documents and project control. He is also our senior electrical design engineer responsible for electrical/electronics specification, design, detailing, construction supervision, and project management.