Tait Staff Spotlight: Dr. Alan Murray And His Lasting Impact on STEM Education

Alan’s Special Mention Award 

At our recent quarterly One Tait Awards, Lead Design Engineer Dr. Alan Murray received a Special Mention Award, personally nominated by Tait CEO Dr. Yoram Benit. The award recognises Alan’s exceptional contributions to STEM education and his long-standing commitment to growing future engineering talent in New Zealand. 

Alan has a strong relationship with the Tait Trusts (Tait Foundation and Contel Charitable Trust). He has become a trusted advisor, helping guide funding decisions that support meaningful, mission-aligned initiatives across Canterbury and beyond. 

“I would like to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions Alan Murray has made towards one of Sir Angus Tait’s corporate objectives of benefiting the community and the country by helping enlarge the pool of technical and commercial resource within the country.” said Yoram. 

Mentorship As a Mission 

Alan has played a key role in strengthening Tait’s partnership with the University of Canterbury, turning sponsorships into mentorships. This year, he offered personal guidance to two undergraduate scholarship recipients, connecting them with engineers and real-world projects. He also hosted a workshop in early January for the WiE CAN Residential Programme, a well-received activity challenging students practical and creative problem-solving skills.   

He also regularly hosts Tait campus tours for students, lecturers, and university leaders, giving them a firsthand look at the scale and innovation behind Tait’s manufacturing and work beyond. 

Building Bridges with Ara and Lincoln   

Alan’s influence has extended to Ara Institute and Lincoln University, both now supported by the Tait Trusts. He helped Ara align with the Trusts’ vision of Christchurch as a center of manufacturing excellence, even inspiring them to purchase a cobot after seeing one in use at Tait. 

At Lincoln, Alan recognised the engineering relevance of their scientific work, helping secure support for their programmes from the Tait Trusts. 

A Lifelong Advocate for STEM 

Alan’s passion for education and mentorship extends well beyond Tait. He has partnered with Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Auckland and currently serves as an industry supervisor for master's and PhD students at Canterbury. 

He’s also a long-time judge at the Canterbury Science Fair, where Tait sponsors a prize for the best use of electricity. Thanks to Alan’s advocacy, the prize pool has expanded, with the Tait Foundation funding two additional prizes. These winners have the opportunity to visit Tait, and leave inspired by the possibilities of technology. 

Alan also supports the Tait Foundation STEP program, which brings teachers to Tait for tailored tours and discussions, helping them better understand the industry and inspire their students. 

Alan Beyond the Community 

Beyond the STEM efforts Alan is embedded in, his day job is critical to Tait, with Alan leading our Custom Specific Development (CSD) team. This team is tasked with providing our customers with bespoke solutions, as for many customers there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some of our greatest innovations come from our CSD team, and you can discover more about their work here.  

Alan also partakes in some very exciting hobbies and can often be seen E-Scootering around the extensive cycle ways of Christchurch, or Magnet Fishing in the surrounding waterways. Other interests include exploring the Waimakariri River on his racing 700c Yamaha quad bike. 

Thank You, Alan 

Alan’s dedication to mentoring, education, and community impact continues to shape the future of engineering in New Zealand. His work reflects the values at the heart of Tait and the legacy of Sir Angus Tait. 

Thank you, Alan, for your leadership, your passion, and your commitment to growing the next generation of innovators.