Alastair Cook

Director / Automation Engineer

Alastair graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Technology (Honours), majoring in Automation and Engineering, from Massey University, Palmerston North.

Alastair spent the following twenty years developing and commissioning control systems of all makes, models and sizes – and is now regarded as a national leader in water and wastewater control systems. He founded AFI in 2007 and now manages a team of specialist automation engineers.

On top of his expertise in control systems, Alastair has proven skills in project management, consultation, process design, instrumentation, electrical design and fault-finding, network / IT design and implementation.

Alex Smith

Automation Engineer

Alex graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology, majoring in Electrical and Mechatronics, from the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Alex has honed his skills in the automation and control system industry – designing, developing, and commissioning control systems in a range of environments.

Alex possesses a range of skills in IT, networking, and electrical design. He has proved to be very capable at adapting to and excelling in new environments – able to efficiently and reliably resolve the task at hand.

Phill Mckenna

IT / Automation Engineer

Phill has extensive experience in SCADA architecture, network designs and implementation, co-ordination, and correspondence with IT staff, and integrating SCADA with 3rd-party software and systems.

Before joining the AFI team, Phill was a Technology Infrastructure Manager at KCDC. He designed, installed, and maintained their SCADA (Intouch / System Platform), RTUs (QTech), entire WAN/LAN/radio network, and everything in between.

Highly competent in a range of software including Microsoft Windows Server, Hyper-V, VMWare and Virtualbox Virtual Environments, Phill holds several industry certifications including MTCNA, MTCWE, CAS, CAS-Q and CASE.

Phill is ITIL v3 certified and undertook Bachelor of Information Technology studies from The Open Polytechnic.

Nick Martin

Automation Engineer

Nick graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Engineering, majoring in Automation and Controls, from Massey University. Following that he received a scholarship to complete a Master’s in Technology.

After his post graduate studies, Nick spent 20 years working in the industry including roles as an automation engineer for NZ Aluminium Smelters at Tiwai Point and AIC Solutions in the UK. This was followed by work as an automation engineer and then team leader for RCR Energy Systems and automation manager at Windsor Engineering.

Nick has a particular interest in quality systems and ensuring that the work we do at AFI is of a reliably high quality and that best practices are consistently followed. This allows the AFI team to unfailingly deliver world-class solutions.

Kyle Duncalf

Automation Engineer

Kyle graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology, majoring in Mechatronics, from the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Kyle joined the AFI team after leaving his role as a control system engineer at Wellington Water in search of more challenging opportunities.

Kyle possesses a range of skills with SCADA and has many years’ experience in water/wastewater automation across treatment plants and telemetry systems, having worked in the industry since 2014.

Skills include InTouch / System Platform, Citect, Aspex, Datran, FactoryTalk View, Allen Bradley PLCs, automation protocols (DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, IO-Link), RTUs (ADR Riley & QTech), and networking (LAN & radio).

Cameron Jones

Automation Engineer

Cameron graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Electronics and Computer Systems, from Massey University, Palmerston North. He worked for six years as an electronics and automation engineer before joining the AFI team.

Cameron has experience programming PLCs and RTUs, as well as several industry-leading SCADA systems.

Jesse Chalmers

Automation Engineer

Jesse started with AFI in 2022 and contributes a wealth of knowledge from his experience in the marine industry.

Jesse graduated in 2011 with a Diploma in Engineering, majoring in Electrotechnology.

He then began his electrical apprenticeship whilst developing a variety of electrical, electronic and automation skills in the marine sector. Over this ten-year period, he successfully installed, commissioned and repaired a variety of systems and equipment. He now provides support to our valued customers across a range of platforms.

Erica Hanlon

Office Administrator

Erica provides support to the director and team, using her proficiency in accounts and administration to manage the behind the scenes, day-to-day operation of AFI.

With experience in both small and large businesses, Erica enjoys the variety offered by working in financial management, communications, payroll, and general office administration.

Having worked in dairy, retail, health, education, and construction organisations she uses her broad range of skills to support the AFI team to a consistently high level.

Matthew Law

Automation Engineer

Matthew graduated in 2019 with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Electronic Systems Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University, followed by an MSc in Automotive Engineering from Cranfield University in 2020.

Matthew brings a wide range of skills, knowledge and ingenuity to AFI, having been an integral part of growing an agricultural start-up to an international market leader. Alongside involvement in Quality Management and Research & Development, he focused on Control and Automation, developing the functionality of PLC controlled robotic cells.

A keen learner, Matthew is excited to develop new skills and competencies with AFI.

Brodie Tou

Automation Engineer

Brodie graduated in 2024 with a BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

Brodie has recent experience in the motor control industry, where he has been involved in the design and testing of soft starters and electronic speed controllers. He also has a background in industrial automation, having developed PLC and SCADA systems for projects in refrigeration, meat processing, and wastewater treatment.

Troy Turner

Automation Engineer

Troy is an IT/Automation Engineer with many years of practical experience, having been enthusiastically hands on with technology since his youth. He has a background in electronics, application and web development and an interest in all forms of computer-aided control and programming.

Troy developed customised software and electronics before moving into automation where he has been involved with SCADA and PLC development, fault finding and support, gaining experience with Allen-Bradley and Schneider PLC and SCADA platforms, iFix and Ignition.

Troy has worked in a wide range of industrial environments since 2005, from food production, dairy, power and water services throughout the greater Southland region and beyond.