Christian Harold Udanga, Laboratory Manager at Higgins Lower North Island Laboratory in Wellington, focuses on all things technical, safety, and quality. He also serves as a Radiation Safety Officer for the region. "A typical day starts with quick check-ins to see how the team is tracking for the day. It’s also my way of figuring out if I need to jump in and lend a hand on the floor."

Christian’s journey to Higgins began overseas in Qatar, where his Kiwi manager quickly recognised his passion and talent for asphalt and bitumen labs. Impressed by Christian’s energy and expertise, the manager encouraged him to bring that same drive to New Zealand. After returning to NZ in 2018 and joining Higgins, the manager kept in touch.

In 2022, Christian made the move too, officially joining the Green Team – a proud moment for this dedicated Filipino. Migrating to a new country came with its challenges – a new environment, new systems, unfamiliar jargon, and specs. However, Christian embraced these challenges, always aiming to do things right and safely the first time. “This mindset has helped me overcome tough times.”

Christian was able establish himself as a Key Technical Person in the industry. “It was a huge step for me and opened chances to grow what we do in the lab – more testing capabilities, more connections in the asphalt space, and just more ways to keep improving.” He hopes to prepare the team for their next big career steps, making their time at Higgins memorable for everyone involved.

Christian takes every opportunity to share the Filipino approach to work with his team. “Filipinos are known for being cheerful and friendly, and are all in when it comes to work, taking pride in what they do and ensuring it's done well. I believe this really helps us in our jobs.”