So when the head of the architecture, building and engineering school at Otago Polytechnic, John Findlay, was for meritorious service awarded the silver medal from the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ), he felt humbled.
Mr Findlay received the honour in recognition of his contribution to the National Engineering Education Plan project.
The project is a collaborative research and development venture between major participants and stakeholders in the New Zealand engineering education sector.
Mr Findlay said its purpose was to develop a coherent national plan for ensuring the right number of engineers in each discipline were becoming qualified, in order to meet New Zealand's changing needs.
Mr Findlay had produced desired project outcomes, including new national qualifications to replace the certificate in engineering. IPENZ chief executive Andrew Cleland said that during the three-year project, Mr Findlay had put in hundreds of extra hours.
"He showed extraordinary commitment at many levels, he attended almost every consultation meeting with industry, and managed the relationships with industry training organisations and institutes of technology and polytechnics in an exemplary manner, " Mr Cleland said.
Mr Findlay was presented with his medal at the annual IPENZ fellows and achievers gala dinner in Wellington recently.
"I was honoured to receive the award.
"The project was work, but not work, in the sense that I was passionate about it.
"It was a privilege to have been a part of it," Mr Findlay said.
