Darrin Hawkes is an engineering leader, business owner, and qualified mechanical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience across engineering, fabrication, and industrial maintenance. A former boilermaker and welder by trade, Darrin founded Mainstream Engineering (now MEL 2020 Ltd) and has grown it into an award-winning engineering company delivering major multi-million-dollar industrial projects across New Zealand.

Holding a Bachelor of Engineering with First Class Honours from the University of Canterbury, Darrin is known for solving complex problems, mentoring young engineers, and championing practical solutions that strengthen New Zealand’s industry, infrastructure, and economic resilience.