When Harsha Datti arrived in New Zealand from India in 2015, he faced the challenge of rebuilding his engineering career from the ground up.

“I had to start over to gain New Zealand qualifications and local work experience,” he says. “Living in the Waikato, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Highway Engineering and started working as a labourer.”

In 2017, Harsha joined Higgins Waikato as a Quality Assurance Technician on the CityEdge Alliance team delivering the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway. During the project, he steadily expanded his responsibilities, first becoming a Hi-Lab Design and Manufacturing Engineer before taking on the additional role of Asphalt Project Engineer. In that position, he helped deliver 120,000 tonnes of asphalt while managing both roles concurrently.

Following the completion of the expressway in 2022, Harsha stepped into a Project Manager role with Higgins Waikato in Hamilton. Today, he leads a team of 40 as Paving and Production Manager, specialising in asphalt operations.

Reflecting on his journey, Harsha credits hard work, perseverance and the opportunities available across the business for his career progression.

“I’ve always believed that hard work eventually pays off, and Higgins has proven that throughout my journey,” he says. “I started as an Asphalt Quality Assurance Technician and am now the Paving and Production Manager for Waikato. Higgins has such a broad range of services, which has given me opportunities to learn, grow and progress throughout my career.”

From starting over in a new country to leading a high-performing team, Harsha’s story is a testament to the opportunities that come from embracing challenges and continuously striving to learn and improve.