Rhys Farrand

Rhys Farrand

Role:
Executive General Manager – Major Projects

 
Rhys Farrand leads McKay’s major projects division and sits on the Executive Leadership Team, bringing two decades of expertise in electrical engineering and project management to some of New Zealand’s most complex construction programmes. Known for his precise approach and hands-on leadership style, Rhys has spent the past 15 years at McKay ensuring that large-scale projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard of quality. 

Rhys is McKay’s Executive General Manager – Major Projects, responsible for leading the delivery of the company’s most complex and high-profile programmes nationwide. He joined McKay in 2011 as an Electrical Engineer and has since progressed through the business into project management and senior leadership roles, ultimately taking on responsibility for McKay’s Major Projects division before stepping into his current position.

With a career spanning the full spectrum of engineering and construction delivery, Rhys brings extensive experience across electrical engineering, procurement, and construction management. His early technical roles provided a strong foundation in design, installation, and commissioning, before moving into project management positions where he led multidisciplinary teams delivering complex, high-stakes infrastructure projects. This progression has given him a deep, practical understanding of how large engineering programmes are delivered successfully from concept through to completion.

At McKay, Rhys has played a key role in the delivery of major national projects, including the Waikeria Prison development, the New Zealand International Convention Centre, the Wellington Sludge Minimisation Facility, and early involvement in the New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building. In his current role, he oversees engineering, procurement, and construction teams, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to McKay’s high standards of quality and performance.

Rhys also provides strategic and operational leadership across the Major Projects portfolio, balancing technical delivery with commercial outcomes, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. He is focused on building strong, collaborative teams and ensuring consistent execution across highly complex environments.

Known for his calm, methodical, and solutions-focused leadership style, Rhys combines strong technical expertise with clear communication and a steady presence under pressure. He is respected for his ability to lead large-scale projects with clarity and control, supporting teams to deliver consistently high-quality outcomes across McKay’s major projects division.