Connection to Nature has been proven to have a positive impact on our wellbeing, and my design philosophy of Energy Based Design does just that. My designs connect to Nature through form, materiality and texture, as well as considering the energetic flow of the spaces to create spaces where people thrive.

 
 

WORKPLACE STRATEGY

Your workplace has the potential to positively impact your business by:

  • Creating a positive user experience for both staff and visitors

  • Attracting and retaining the right people

  • Increasing productivity and engagement

  • Enhancing staff wellbeing

  • Creating mobility and flexibility of people and space

  • Supporting collaboration and creativity

  • Identifying strongly with your brand and culture

  • Making better use of your real estate assets by optimising what you have

I can help you realise that potential, for both new and existing workplaces, by creating the right strategy to transform the way you work, creating a new model that is unique to you,  meeting your business vision, drivers and goals.

I am fully independent, committed to creating sustainable workplace environments that connect and inspire people.

With a proven track record leading successful workplace transformation projects into new models and ways of working including Activity Based Working and Agile. With clients from a wide range of businesses including BNZ, PwC, Beca, Vocus, Genesis Energy, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Tasman District Council, I have a unique understanding of how workplaces are shaped and how they can influence staff engagement, wellbeing, productivity and satisfactionNow, more than ever is a great time to think about your workplace strategy and how it can support the way you would like to work.

 

office design

I have been responsible for many office designs over the years, as both the client creating the brief and leading the project, and as a designer listening to the client’s needs.

My strength is in being able to build a brief that aligns with your workplace strategy and tells your story. This leads to designs that create positive experiences that support your staff health, wellbeing and productivity as well as amp up your brand presence.

Part of the process will include defining the Sustainability strategy for the project. Sustainable buildings and interiors are healthier for occupants and can increase staff perception of a business as well as having a positive impact on attraction and retention of staff, productivity and absenteeism.

Choosing which sustainability strategy is right for you is sometimes hard and as an independent advisor I can help you make that choice. I understand how to build sustainability into a project in a way that meets your business strategic objectives having both designed and managed the design and delivery of projects for clients including Beca, Meridian Energy, Kiwi Income Property Trust, Cooper and Co. ,BNZ and Fonterra.

 

residential design

My first residential design, Waraki House, completed in 2021, is an exploration of Sustainable Design methodologies and technologies that follows Biophilic Design principles and has Wellbeing at its heart.

My strength in this space lies in listening, understanding your wants and needs and developing your brief, so that the outcomes meet your expectations, and represent you.

workplace project leadership

I provide workplace project leadership to allow you to focus on your business as I deliver on your goals.

Successful projects are built with the help of great teams and methodologies. With years of experience delivering workplace transformation projects on the client side and as a project manager in both new and existing buildings I can help deliver the project in a collaborative and positive way.

In my roles at BNZ, PwC and Fonterra I was responsible for leading their corporate property programmes, providing solutions tailored to meet the business needs.

Managing a multidisciplinary team of consultants as well as internal stakeholders my approach is to focus on creating strong team relationships and an agreed methodology of how to work together to produce the best outcomes for the business.

My skills include:

  • Defining the project strategy and brief

  • Workplace strategy creation

  • Business case preparation

  • Engaging with the business

  • Building the design brief

  • Procuring and managing the team

  • Managing the internal workstreams e.g. HR, Technology, Facilities Management, Procurement, Change, Sustainability

  • Furniture procurement

  • Managing delivery of the project

 

2021-2024: FONTERRA GLOBAL WORKPLACE MANAGER

In my role at Fonterra I was responsible for the workplace strategy for all regions, as well as multiple global projects including new offices in Bangkok and the Waikato as well as workplace optimisation of the head offices in Auckland.
The Auckland Optimisation took place post Covid and embraced the new hybrid workstyle, providing different spaces and places for staff to come together to socialise, collaborate and innovate.

2019-2021 RABOBANK: HAMILTON HEAD OFFICE WORKPLACe STRATEGY AND DESIGN

The Rabobank head office relocation from Wellington to Auckland required a deep understanding of their aspirations and key business drivers to enable me to develop their workplace strategy and concept design. The office design is down to earth and reflects the Rabobank brand and values, demonstrating the bank’s commitment to its clients and the wider agricultural sector. Materials showcase the best of New Zealand, with a custom wool carpet from three of Rabobank’s clients. The scope of work encompassed strategy, concept design and furniture selection, with Spaceworks as partners for detailed design and delivery.

 

2019 BECA: NELSON OFFICE STRATEGY AND DESIGN

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Opened in July 2019 the Beca Nelson office is designed using a human-centric approach. Staff were consulted throughout the strategy and design process and the design reflects the unique Nelson team and environment. Designed using Biophilic principles to bring a natural palette inside echoing the surrounding landscape.

 

2019 TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL: WORKPLACE STRATEGY

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The Council wanted a workplace strategy to be a blueprint for their future property projects. Working with the Leadership and Project Board and Team, I helped them create a strategic vision for their workplace which aligns with their vision and business drivers.

 

2017-2019 BECA: WORKPLACE STRATEGY AND DESIGN

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I led the creation of a Workplace Strategy for the Northern Region which had high levels of staff engagement to co-create the future vision for how Beca Northern Region will evolve the way that they work. The was an interesting project as the approach was very human centric, co -creating solutions with staff from all levels of the business which was both fun and challenging!

As design lead for the Beca Property Strategy Group I was responsible for design of spaces in their existing Auckland premises, as well as feasibility studies for growth. The Beca Nelson regional office is the latest project I have led, due for completion in July 2019 it uses biophilic design and sustainable principles to create a workspace focussed on staff wellbeing.

 

2017-2019 Dunedin City council: strategy and DESIGN

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I worked with Dunedin City Council from 2017 to 2019, creating a short term workplace strategy and design to fulfill their needs in the Civic Centre Building. Part of this work has been to create a staff cafe with an environment that encourages people to pause, connect and engage with one another which was completed in late 2018. The latest project is a customer facing area which aims to create a better customer experience. Working within the constraints of an existing building and with limited budget to provide positive outcomes has been the greatest challenge and success for these projects.

 

2015-2017 BNZ Centre christchurch: project leadership and design

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The creation of BNZ Centre Christchurch brought together teams displaced during the earthquakes into one workplace with a next generation Partners Centre. Staff consultation and engagement was key to this project being a success and I led the project and transformation of how the Christchurch BNZ teams work into a new Activity Based flexible working environment. “Being Together” was the key driver and I feel that this project succeeded by bringing staff from all areas of Christchurch under one roof in a safe, collaborative environment that promotes community both internally and externally.

 

2016-2017 PWC: project leadership

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As Property Lead at PwC from 2016-2017 I was responsible for all aspects of the design and delivery of the major new premises projects in Wellington and Auckland which sees PwC move to a new way of working model.

This involved engagement with all levels of the business and management of the design team as well as liaison with the basebuild teams.

Communication and engagement is key to the success of these projects as is a robust change management strategy.

2011-2017 bnz 80 queen street: workplace strategy and programme leadership

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Workplace transformation at BNZ is a programme of physical, technology and cultural change that commenced in 2013 and is ongoing throughout the BNZ network of offices. As Workplace Design and Delivery Manager from 2011 to 2016 I was responsible for creating the workplace strategy which formed the blue print for this change as well as leading the transformation programme, with the first project being delivered in 2013 at 80 Queen Street with only a 6 month programme from commencement to completion. This was the pilot project for the BNZ moving to Activity Based, or Flexible Working and it was so successful it became the model for subsequent transformation work.