Is this your first alliance experience?
No, this is my sixth alliance, spanning a period of nearly 20 years in Australia and New Zealand.
How has your experience been working on an alliance?
I love working on alliances, they bring together such diverse groups of people, all with a common purpose. Not something that you get on your average project.
How have your previous roles contributed to what you do now?
I started my engineering career as a geotechnical engineer, and my last role was as the tunnel design manager on City Rail Link. In between, I have undertaken a broad range of geotechnical and civil engineering, project management, design management, discipline management and contract management roles. These roles have helped shape me as a manager and leader. It taught me that no matter how stressful it gets, projects always come and go, and stress won’t make it go any faster.
How does the work you are doing now compare with your previous roles?
My current role is a combination of all of the above squeezed into one, with leadership responsibilities thrown in for good measure.
How do you choose projects to work on?
I think about projects that will have a long-term impact that my future grandchildren could be proud of. My guiding principles are a great purpose, good community and social outcomes. Piritahi fits the bill.
What strengths do you bring to the Alliance Management Team (AMT)?
I bring a strong background in design delivery. I like leading and growing teams to be high performing and to achieve good things.
Do you have a vision for the AMT?
I‘d like to get us to a point where we can say this is what great looks like, this is what high performance looks like and what better alliancing looks like.
What’s working for us here at Piritahi?
Strong decision making and not being afraid to challenge existing approaches to the way we have done work in the past. The fresh approach that Mark Crowle and the new Alliance Management Team bring is what we are doing well. We’re growing a good team of people; we have huge potential as an alliance. We’re setting ourselves up for success.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A fighter pilot. I didn’t quite make it all the way to Top Gun, but had an awesome first career in the RNZAF, flying on P3-K Orion Aircraft all over the world for five-and-a-half years.
What’s your favourite quote?
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts” - Marcus Aurelius
What’s your claim to fame?
I’m sixth cousin to King Charles through an English-German-French connection. We can trace it back to 1066 to the Battle of Hastings. I’m still waiting for an invitation to the palace.
What are you reading right now?
How to Make the World Add Up by Tim Harford. A recent book I really enjoyed was Humble Pi – a Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker.
What advice would you give to young engineers early in their career?
Be open minded, look for opportunities. Don’t be too quick to say no. Broaden your vision, get out on site, don’t focus too soon on a single thing. Put your hand up if you need help, don’t worry if you’re struggling, we all do sometimes.
Is this your first alliance experience?
No, this is my sixth alliance, spanning a period of nearly 20 years in Australia and New Zealand.
How has your experience been working on an alliance?
I love working on alliances, they bring together such diverse groups of people, all with a common purpose. Not something that you get on your average project.
How have your previous roles contributed to what you do now?
I started my engineering career as a geotechnical engineer, and my last role was as the tunnel design manager on City Rail Link. In between, I have undertaken a broad range of geotechnical and civil engineering, project management, design management, discipline management and contract management roles. These roles have helped shape me as a manager and leader. It taught me that no matter how stressful it gets, projects always come and go, and stress won’t make it go any faster.
How does the work you are doing now compare with your previous roles?
My current role is a combination of all of the above squeezed into one, with leadership responsibilities thrown in for good measure.
How do you choose projects to work on?
I think about projects that will have a long-term impact that my future grandchildren could be proud of. My guiding principles are a great purpose, good community and social outcomes. Piritahi fits the bill.
What strengths do you bring to the Alliance Management Team (AMT)?
I bring a strong background in design delivery. I like leading and growing teams to be high performing and to achieve good things.
Do you have a vision for the AMT?
I‘d like to get us to a point where we can say this is what great looks like, this is what high performance looks like and what better alliancing looks like.
What’s working for us here at Piritahi?
Strong decision making and not being afraid to challenge existing approaches to the way we have done work in the past. The fresh approach that Mark Crowle and the new Alliance Management Team bring is what we are doing well. We’re growing a good team of people; we have huge potential as an alliance. We’re setting ourselves up for success.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A fighter pilot. I didn’t quite make it all the way to Top Gun, but had an awesome first career in the RNZAF, flying on P3-K Orion Aircraft all over the world for five-and-a-half years.
What’s your favourite quote?
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts” - Marcus Aurelius
What’s your claim to fame?
I’m sixth cousin to King Charles through an English-German-French connection. We can trace it back to 1066 to the Battle of Hastings. I’m still waiting for an invitation to the palace.
What are you reading right now?
How to Make the World Add Up by Tim Harford. A recent book I really enjoyed was Humble Pi – a Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker.
What advice would you give to young engineers early in their career?
Be open minded, look for opportunities. Don’t be too quick to say no. Broaden your vision, get out on site, don’t focus too soon on a single thing. Put your hand up if you need help, don’t worry if you’re struggling, we all do sometimes.