A Journey to Excellence
Kia Ora, a few weeks back I was lucky enough to attend the New Zealand Property Council Awards representing BPM alongside Dan and Alex, as the two/fiftyseven office fit-out project I had been involved with was up for not one but two awards. The project achieved an Excellence award in two categories: the Commercial Office Property Award and the Green Building Property Award. Coming off this massive high I took some time to look back upon how I even ended up here and appreciate the journey travelled so far.
It all started back in 2016 when I was weighing up what I wanted to study at Uni. I always knew I wanted to do something in construction, I just wasn’t sure what. My interest in construction comes from my father. From a young age I was intrigued by what he was doing when he went to work each day. I had a meeting with the career advisor at my school and she recommended a new course at Victoria University of Wellington called Building Science. I did some research and never looked back.
2017 was the beginning of my time in Wellington. Coming from Auckland I instantly loved the city, the accessibility of everything and the student life was awesome. I was thoroughly enjoying my course and couldn’t wait to get stuck into the real thing. Three years, a few all-nighters and a newfound love for coffee later, I had graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Building Science majoring in Project Management and Sustainable Engineering Systems.
Now came the next stage in my life… finding a job. I was working for my dad as a trades assistant in Auckland and had sent a few emails out. I reached out to Dan at BPM and to my surprise Dan asked if I would like to meet for a coffee the next day. I didn’t think twice. I jumped on an overnight bus from Auckland and came all the way down to meet him. Fortunately, he offered me a part time job.
In February of 2020 I started at BPM on a part time basis and two weeks in Dan offered me a full-time job… I was ecstatic. I was lucky enough to be taken under Dan’s wing and mentored by him, getting direct access and working side by side was invaluable to my development. After a month or so I was assigned to my very first project, the two/fiftyseven office fit out. The two/fiftyseven project had a core focus of sustainability, something I was passionate about due to studying it at university. Working as Dan’s assistant we tackled two/fiftyseven together, with Dan as the face of the project and myself doing the “donkey work”. Along came Covid to throw a hurdle in our way, however with Dan’s assistance, this hurdle didn’t seem so big. I was thrown into the deep end and swum, but it didn’t come without long days and nights and many ups and downs, which only solidified that this was what I wanted to do. Pressure makes diamonds and performing under pressure is something I love to do.
Attending the awards and being recognised to this level for my very first project was something I will never forget. Being able to rub shoulders with some of the biggest dogs in the industry and take them on has only further ignited my drive to exceed in the construction industry. Next February marks my 3-year point with BPM, but it doesn’t feel like I have worked a single day. Being able to do what I love and with multiple projects now under my belt has been very rewarding. If it wasn’t for Dan and the rest of the BPM Team I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.
Grateful for all that has happened and excited for all that is to come!
Jack.