Gretchen Kivell forged a path for women in engineering, inspiring others to enter the profession.
Gretchen was born and raised in Dunedin. She began her tertiary study at the University of Otago before moving to Christchurch to complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Chem) from the Engineering School at the University of Canterbury, graduating in 1971.
Gretchen embarked on a career as a chemical engineer. She worked as an Assistant Engineer for Fletcher Timber and as a Scientist in the chemical engineering division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research before taking a job in the UK as a Product Engineer. She gained experience in design and production in large chemical production plants.
Returning to New Zealand in 1980, she joined KRTA as a Senior Chemical Engineer and Project Manager. She then moved into management and completed an MBA in 1989.
From 1989 she worked in leadership roles in tertiary education, first at UNITEC in Auckland and then at the University of Otago.
Gretchen was a member of Council, Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE), 2000–2003, a director of the Worley Group Ltd, 1994–1997, a member of Council, International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), 1996–2000 and a member of the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA), 1999–2004.
Her involvement with IPENZ began in 1981 when she joined the Auckland Branch committee, becoming Chair in 1984. She joined the IPENZ Governance Board in 1988 and became the first woman President in 1998. Gretchen was a member of the IPENZ Foundation from 2007-2013, becoming Chair in 2010.
She was conferred as a Distinguished Fellow in 2005.
