Simon Croft

Background

About Simon Croft

As Managing Director of Encounter Solutions Ltd (ESL) for over a decade, I lead a New Zealand-based technology and professional services company delivering innovative wireless monitoring and automation solutions to challenging and remote landscapes. Our work spans conservation, biosecurity, agriculture, energy, and beyond — with a particular passion for biodiversity conservation and restoration. My journey began as a civil and geotechnical engineer, where I spent years involved with geotechnical and water resource engineering projects, hydrology, and large-scale infrastructure initiatives. This technical grounding shaped my problem-solving approach and respect for the realities of site-based work, which I now apply to creating practical, robust, and adaptable technology solutions. Through our Celium networks, we’ve redefined what’s possible in remote monitoring, from supporting the largest feral cat eradication program on a populated island (Kangaroo Island, Australia) to facilitating ecological restoration in the Galápagos and safeguarding endangered species in the Pacific. I remain hands-on, from field deployments to in-situ training, ensuring that our solutions meet real-world and customer needs. Integrity, collaboration, and tangible impact drive everything I do — because technology should serve people, communities, and the environment. Key Achievements- Led development and ongoing refinements of Celium, a robust landscape-scale wireless sensor network with applications spanning multiple sectors - including conservation, biosecurity, civil infrastructure, primary industry and energy- Built partnerships with governments, NGOs, research bodies, and Indigenous organisations to address pressing biodiversity challenges- Delivered innovative solutions in road safety, dam safety, wildlife management, and biosecurity- Recognised as a finalist in the New Zealand Innovation Awards and Hi-Tech Awards (2016) and semi-finalist for New Zealand Innovator of the Year (2017). Specialties: • Wireless monitoring and automation technologies • Conservation and biodiversity technology solutions • Civil and geotechnical engineering for water and transportation infrastructure • Dam design, dam safety and geotechnical engineering • Project leadership and strategic partnerships