Christian Harold Udanga, Laboratory Manager at the Higgins Lower North Island Laboratory in Wellington, oversees technical operations, quality, and safety across the lab. He also serves as the region’s Radiation Safety Officer. For Christian, every day starts with checking in with his team.

“A typical day starts with quick conversations to see how everyone is tracking. It’s also my way of figuring out whether I need to jump in and lend a hand on the floor.”

Christian’s journey to Higgins began in Qatar, where he worked under a Kiwi manager who quickly recognised his passion and talent for asphalt and bitumen laboratory work. Impressed by Christian’s energy and expertise, the manager encouraged him to bring that same drive to New Zealand.

After returning to New Zealand in 2018 and joining Higgins remotely, Christian kept in touch with his future colleagues. In 2022, he made the move himself, officially joining the Green Team. It was a proud milestone for the dedicated Filipino, who embraced the opportunity despite the challenges of adapting to a new country, new systems, and unfamiliar industry terminology and specifications.

“I’ve always tried to do things right and safely the first time,” says Christian. “That mindset has helped me navigate some tough times and keep moving forward.”

Since joining Higgins, Christian has established himself as a key technical leader within the industry.

“It was a huge step for me,” he says. “It opened opportunities to expand what we do in the lab, increase our testing capabilities, build stronger connections across the asphalt industry, and keep finding ways to improve.”

As a leader, Christian is passionate about helping others grow. He hopes to prepare his team for the next stage of their careers and ensure their time at Higgins is both rewarding and memorable.

Christian also takes every opportunity to share the values he grew up with.

“Filipinos are known for being cheerful, friendly and hardworking. We take pride in what we do and want to do it well. I believe that attitude helps us build strong teams and achieve great results together.”