Tall Stories

In this episode, we sit down with architects Emma Macann and Hannah Andrew to explore how relationships shape not just projects, but careers. Emma and Hannah share insights on building a ‘relationship-first’ culture both internally with teams and externally with clients and communities. They also reflect on the realities of returning to work after having children and how parenthood has informed th...

In this episode of Tall Stories, host Jared Glue, Associate at RCP in Dunedin and member of the Institute’s Southern Region Committee (Dunedin branch), is joined by Jonathan Dutton, Senior BIM Manager at Southbase Construction, and Blair Collie, Senior Project Manager at RCP. They discuss their career journeys in construction and explore the growing role of digital construction and BIM in Aotearoa...

In this episode of the Tall Stories Podcast, host Hayden Blucher, Engagement Lead at The Building Institute Aotearoa, sits down with Tuwhakaraua (Tu) Taute and Alice Carmody for a thoughtful kōrero about leadership, growth, and the changing landscape of Aotearoa’s construction sector. Tu, a foreperson at Naylor Love working on the Wellington Town Hall project and a Special Mention recipient in the...

Hosted by Jamie Summers — Project Director at The Building Intelligence Group in Tāmaki Auckland, Chair of the Institute’s Northern Region Committee, and a Stroke Survivor championing the Health-15 initiative with the Stroke Foundation — this episode features two standout guests: Derek Jannings, General Manager Digital, Infrastructure at KiwiRail, and Kierran Tuhi, Project Manager at Savory Constr...

In this Tall Stories podcast, host Juliana Wilson speaks with Michael Richards, Customer Success Manager at Revizto, and Islam Khaled-Abbas, 2024 Next Gen Winner at the Building People Awards. Michael has carved out a career at the cutting edge of digital innovation. Known for his curiosity, collaborative spirit, and ability to communicate complex technologies in simple, engaging ways, he now help...

In this Tall Stories podcast, The Institute’s Southern Region Committee (Otago branch) member and Associate at RCP, Jared Glue speaks with Mackenzie Barnett and Skye Duncan. Mackenzie is in the early stages of her career in the construction industry, she studied as a Quantity Surveyor and is now learning the ropes as an Assistant Project Manager at RCP in Dunedin. Skye had her start in Architectur...

In this Tall Stories podcast, The Institute’s Southern Region Committee (Otago branch) member and Associate at RCP, Jared Glue speaks with Andrew (Holmsey) Holmes and Blair McGill. Between them Blair and Holmsey have over 70 years of construction industry experience Holmsey is the Project Director Outpatients - Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora on the New Dunedin Hospital, and Blair is the Regiona...

In this Tall Stories podcast, Northern Region Committee member, Juliana Wilson, speaks with Simone Sharp, Director at Rubix, and Anntonina Savelio, Zero Harm Advisor at Hawkins. They discuss: Growing up in Manurewa, South Auckland (something they happen to have in common). Their shared experience of receiving Keystone Trust scholarships and how important the network of support from Keystone Trust...

In this episode of Tall Stories, Sophie Prebble, the Institute’s Marketing and Communications Lead, talks with Justin Flitter. Justin has a background in Tech Marketing, as the Chief AI Officer at AI New Zealand he provides independent and practical advice to help business leaders decide how to leverage AI across their organisation. He is also a Director and Board member at Business Mentors New Ze...

In this episode of Tall Stories, Jamie Summers, Project Director at The Building Intelligence Group and Northern Region Committee Member speaks with Isaac Kett and Jamie Rodriguez. Isaac is a Senior Associate at Frequency, and won the 2024 GIB Supreme Award at our NZ Building People Awards. Jamie is the Sustainability Manager at Winstone Wallboards (GIB) and has had an impressive start to her care...

In this episode of Tall Stories, the Institute’s former Projects Lead, Hannah Nansett, talks with Alex Doyle. Alex is an Assistant Project Manager at The Building Intelligence Group (TBIG) based in Wellington. He's still new to the industry with just a couple of years’ experience under his belt. Alex discusses: Growing up in Timaru and his love of the South Island Getting thrown in the deep end as...

In this episode of Tall Stories Sophie Prebble, the Institute’s Marketing and Communications Lead, talks with Christina de Boer. Christina is the Head of Design Delivery at Summerset and the Chair of the Institute’s Central Region Committee. Born and raised in rural Scotland, Christina always new she wanted a career where she could do something practical. Starting in Engineering, Christina’s natur...

In this episode of Tall Stories Hannah Nansett, the Institute’s former Projects Lead speaks with Emily Newmarch and Professor Robyn Phipps. Emily is the Sustainability Lead, Low Carbon Specialist at Warren and Mahoney and completed her PhD at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Robyn is the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria Uni...

In this episode of Tall Stories Hannah Nansett, the Institute’s former Projects Lead, sat down with James McLean and Emily Hall. Emily is a Master of Architecture student at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and at the time of recording had just started a summer internship as an Architectural Assistant at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott. James McLean has a background in Structural...

In this episode of Tall Stories Adam Baxter one of the Institute’s fantastic Southern Region Committee members sits down with Kyle Pol and Heath Turnbull. Kyle is an Area Manager with CPB Contractors and has been with the company for over a decade. Heath is the Technical Director, Design and Sustainability at Preformance Building Technologies. They discuss: Working overseas on large projects and l...

In this episode of Tall Stories Adam Baxter from our Southern Region Committee talks with Samantha Morris and James Woods. James is Chair of the Institute’s Southern Region Committee and Managing Director of Image Construction. Sam started out her career in Engineering and is now a Project Manager – Red Zone at Christchurch City Council. The three have a wide-ranging conversation covering topics i...

In this episode of Tall Stories Adam Baxter sits down with Steve Kleehammer and Milly Perkins – all three are members of the Institute’s Southern Region Committee. Steve is the Regional Construction Manager at Ryman Healthcare and a member of the Institute’s National Board and Milly is a Project Manager at RCP. The podcast was recorded shortly after the 2024 NZ Building People Awards where Milly w...

In this episode of Tall Stories Hannah Nansett, Projects Lead at the Institute of Building speaks with Dennise Austin and Stewart Peck, two of the Institute’s Central Region Committee. Dennise has been in the construction industry for 26 years working in a variety of sales and business roles across a number of New Zealand companies. Alongside sales roles Dennise is also has her own business as the...

It’s a family affair in this episode of Tall Stories where Hannah Nansett, Projects Lead at the Institute of Building speaks with father daughter duo Stephen and Claire Cummings. Stephen is a Quantity Surveyor with more than 35 years’ experience in the construction industry and is the Director of Pandion. At the time of recording Claire was just finishing up her construction management cadetship a...

In this episode of Tall Stories Hannah Nansett, Projects Lead at the Institute of Building speaks with Gracen Luka and Jake Nash. Jake is the Senior Associate and Digital Support Lead at Warren and Mahoney. He has grown his career with the firm over the past 14 years and is now a leader and mentor to new recruits. Gracen was the winner of the Emerging Leader award at the 2023 NZ Building People Aw...

In this episode of Tall Stories, Sophie Prebble, the Institute’s Marketing and Comms lead sits down with Tess Epton and Mana Ashford. Tess is currently studying a Master’s of Architecture at the University of Auckland and has been successful in a range of extracurricular competitions including being on the winning team in ArchEngBuild 2022 and as a finalist in the Institute’s 2023 Next Gen Awards....

In this episode Mana Ashford, NZ Institute National Board member speaks with Jane Jujnovich and Darren Knight. Jane is a Project Director at Kāinga Ora and has been with the organisation in a number of roles for over 20 years.  In 2023 Jane won the Innovation Award at the Institute’s NZ Building People Awards for her work leading the transformative Te Mātāwai project in Tāmaki | Auckland. Darren i...

In this episode Mana Ashford, NZ Institute National Board member and Capability Development Manager at MBIE speaks with Natasha Possenniskie and Olly Steele. Natasha is also a member of the Institute’s National Board and is Director of Urban Outcomes Limited. Olly is the Projects Control Lead at The Building Intelligence Group. They discuss: The challenges of being a woman in the construction indu...

Guy Marriage, academic, architect and author, hosts this episode with guests Julianne Manuguid and George Russell. Julianne is completing her Master’s at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Architecture. She is a member of both the Institute’s Central Region Committee and the Young Professional Advisors, plus she’s done some excellent contract work for the Institute. Ge...

In this episode academic, architect and author, Guy Marriage talks with Matamoana Nuku and Simoné Wright about their life and career journeys. Simoné and Matamoana both work at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott in their Pōneke office, Simoné as Business Support Manager and Matamoana as a Senior Associate. They discuss: the challenges they’ve experiences in the industry of ‘fitting in’ and the importan...