Canaan Setefano’s journey with Project New Grad
At a glance
Meet Canaan Setefano, one of our Graduate Water Engineers currently participating in the Project New Grad Programme. Canaan is embarking on a three-year development journey with 12-month rotations across three key organisations in Auckland’s water sector: Watercare, Fulton Hogan and GHD. This programme is designed to empower engineering graduates with a diverse set of skills and experiences, providing them with an understanding of our industry from the perspectives of a client, contractor and consultant.
Our Project New Grad Programme also extends to Tauranga, where we collaborate with Fulton Hogan and Tauranga City Council to offer a broad range of experiences in the region's water sector.
Get to know Canaan as he shares his career highlights, insights from his journey as a graduate engineer and the influences that have guided him so far.
Let's start at the beginning. Where did you grow up and where are you now?
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’d say like most Kiwi boys, I dreamed of becoming an All Black and playing in the World Cup. I also had ambitions of being a famous musician or producer, thanks to growing up playing the piano and drums. But, as you know, times change, and you realise that some childhood dreams are a bit more out of reach than you’d hoped… though, never say never!
What sparked your interest in engineering and led you to choose it as your career?
What projects have you been working on lately?
One of the great things about working at GHD is the chance to be part of projects beyond Aotearoa New Zealand. Right now, I’m involved in a project in Gawler, South Australia, where we’re upgrading a 1.28ML water supply reservoir with a new 3ML concrete tank. I’m part of the team handling the Civil and Mechanical design, and my role includes incorporating feedback from our client, South Australia Water and the McConnell Dowell Diona Joint Venture.
I’ve been working closely with our senior engineers to ensure our design meets South Australian Water standards. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with our Manila office, tapping into their CAD modeling expertise to deliver detailed drawings. This experience has taught me how to effectively communicate design directions through an iterative process until everything is clearly laid out on the drawings.
A goal of mine is to one day book a flight to Gawler and see the project in person!
What’s been the most intriguing thing you’ve learned in your role so far?
What are you most excited about leading into the next phase of the programme?
As a first-year grad, GHD is my starting point and in the past six months, I’ve already learned so much in the Technical Design space. With more project involvement on the horizon, I’m excited to see what the rest of the year has in store.
Every few months, Project New Grads from different companies get together for presentation evenings where we share what we’ve been working on. With my next rotation at Fulton Hogan (Contracting) in 2025, I’m really looking forward to transitioning from detailed design work at GHD to seeing those designs come to life in the field at Fulton Hogan.
What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?
Who has had the biggest impact on your career journey?
I always go back to my Pasifika roots and the belief that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ The values and beliefs my grandparents and parents instilled in me from a young age feel more relevant than ever in today’s industry. There’s a Samoan proverb, ‘I le ala o le pule o le tautua,’ which means ‘the pathway to leadership is through service.’ It’s easy to get caught up in deadlines, costs and hours when working on projects, but it’s humbling to remember that our work serves a greater purpose—to serve the community through our technical delivery.
So, I’m grateful to my grandparents and parents for all I’ve accomplished so far, especially in my career. They keep me grounded, reminding me to never forget where I come from.