ACE wins global award for competency framework
ACE New Zealand's competency framework The Pillars took home an award at the 2025 FIDIC Global Infrastructure Awards Gala Dinner – and our Chief Executive Helen Davidson and Board Member Penny Kneebone were there to accept it.
The Pillars was launched by ACE New Zealand in response to a gap in the consulting engineering sector: while technical skills are well-supported, there was a lack of guidance and resources for developing essential non-technical skills such as relationship management, business acumen and professionalism.
Research and member feedback highlighted the need for a top-down, organisation-level approach to training and development, especially as the sector faces challenges from AI and work heading offshore.
The framework was designed to set minimum standards for professional services consultants, providing clarity in career progression and supporting both large organisations and SMEs with accessible, practical resources.
Since its launch in mid-2024, The Pillars has become a central tool for many of our member firms. It's been widely adopted, with high engagement and positive feedback from members, and has helped organisations make informed decisions about staff development, talent retention and diversity.
Its digital companion, developed cost-effectively using AI, allows users to interactively assess and plan their professional growth, making the framework accessible and practical for all levels of staff.
The Pillars was awarded highly commended at the FIDIC Member Association Excellence Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, on 23 September during FIDIC’s annual Global Infrastructure Conference.
The awards, now in their sixth year, highlight the achievements and campaigning successes of FIDIC's international member associations and the work they do in representing the global engineering consulting industry. This year the judging panel made four awards – two highly commended entries and two winners.
The Pillars Competency Framework
Find out more about The Pillars – what's included in the framework, who should use it and how to get the most out of it.