The AFI team is comprised of automation, software, IT, instrumentation engineers and industrial electricians all with extensive experience and a range of backgrounds in industry.
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.
Callum Murton
Automation Engineer
Callum graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Mechatronics, from Massey University, Wellington.
Callum’s experience includes the design, development, and implementation of many large scale PLC and SCADA projects, including the development of site-wide programming standards, and the authoring of functional specifications and supporting documentation.
Before becoming an engineer, Callum graduated with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Visual Communication, from Victoria University, Wellington, and worked as a graphic designer for seven years. This amalgamation of training provides the perfect backdrop for developing intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing SCADA systems.
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.
Sylvain Farcy
Automation Engineer
Sylvain is the all-rounder of the AFI team. He tackles any task with enthusiasm until it is completed to the highest level of quality.
Sylvain has worked as an automation engineer and project manager for over eighteen years, specialising in industrial design, programming, documentation (writing user and technical procedures and electrical wiring schematics), troubleshooting and training. Ten of those years have been in New Zealand working in a range of industrial environments from the deep south to the far north on nearly every make and model of automation equipment that has been released.
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 seven years’ experience in water/wastewater automation across treatment plants and telemetry systems. This includes 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).
Michael Thomson
Automation Engineer
Michael graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology, majoring in Mechatronics, from the Wellington Institute of Technology.
Michael joined the AFI team in search of more challenging opportunities after leaving his role as a successful process control & systems engineer at Whittaker’s.
Michael is registered as an electrical engineer with EWRB. He has a range of skills with SCADA (InTouch / System Platform, FactoryTalk View), Allen Bradley and Schneider PLCs.
Michael has six years’ industrial experience working at Whittaker’s and supporting factories with AFI.
Elizabeth Bouchet
Administration / Documentation
Lizzie has a wealth of experience in administration and QA documentation. She expertly manages the behind the scenes, day-to-day operation of AFI.
Lizzie has been with the AFI team for many years and assists the director with administration, payroll, invoicing, QA processes, documentation, and general office management. Lizzie is the AFI Health and Safety representative and she takes this role very seriously, ensuring that we meet all obligations under the current Health and Safety at Work Act.
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.
Wayne Guest
Automation Engineer
Wayne is the newest member of our team. He completed NZCE in 2001 from the Waikato Institute of Technology and became a registered Electrician in 2007.
Wayne has 20 years of industry automation experience working mostly in the dairy sector, including roles as an automation engineer for Open Country Dairy Ltd and Fonterra.
He has a range of skills with SCADA (InTouch/System Platform, Proficy iFix) and Allen Bradley PLCs.
AFI is a leading provider of industrial automation in NZ. We offer practical, robust solutions to a wide range of novel manufacturing and process control challenges.
CONTACT
Phone: (+64) 4 589 8652
Email: info@afi.co.nz
Addresses:
North: PO Box 33 348, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, New Zealand
South: Ground Floor, 8 Stafford Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand