Tall Stories
Tall Stories: Tales from the Built Environment is a podcast by the Building Institute Aotearoa where we hear people’s career journeys in the build environment. Our guests come from across the construction industry in New Zealand - they share their stories, backgrounds and advice.
Tall Stories: Isaac Kett & Jamie Rodriguez
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 career in the emerging area of sustainability.
They discuss:
Pivotal moments in their careers including moving overseas and back again and shifting tack to follow your passions and interests. Learning lessons...Tall Stories: Alex Doyle
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 a positive Having influential mentors who bring different perspectives – being ‘a sponge’ and learning from everyone. The importance of building trust and strong personal relationships – then followi...Tall Stories: Christina de Boer
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 natural leadership qualities quickly led her into management roles and then onto Design Management. Meeting and marrying a Kiwi led her to a life here in Aotearoa.
Christina discusses:
Workin...Tall Stories: Robyn Phipps & Emily Newmarch
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 University of Wellington and was named as a Fellow of the Institute in 2023.
They discuss:
Their shared passion for sustainability in construction Overcoming imposter syndrome – including advice such as trusting...Tall Stories: James McLean & Emily Hall
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 Engineering and is a project Manager at LT McGuinness working most recently as the Project Manager on the ambitious Living Pā project.
Both James and Emily were successful at our 2024 NZ Build...
Tall Stories: Kyle Pol & Heath Turnbull
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 lessons they brought back with them to Aotearoa. Technical challenges on previous projects. The rate of change in the industry – are we moving fast enough? How can we nurture that chan...Tall Stories: Samantha Morris & James Woods
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 including:
Finding and building on your core strengths to get the most out of your career The changes in the industry over time particularly in how people treat each other and the...Tall Stories: Milly Perkins & Steve Kleehammer
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 was part of the winning Collaboration team who worked on the Papa Hou project in Ōtautahi | Christchurch.
They discuss:
Milly’s part in the winning project team and...Tall Stories: Dennise Austin & Stewart Peck
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 Director of ChainCraft NZ & AU.
Stew is a Senior Project Manager at Naylor Love and has worked in a number of roles between Naylor Love and McKee Fehl si...
Tall Stories: Stephen Cummings & Claire Cummings
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 at Maycroft, she’s since been promoted to Project Manager at the company.
In their discussion they cover:
Sticking to the family business of construction and being excited to go to wor...
