What’s one thing you know today that you wish you’d known when you first started out?

That networks are golden! You don’t have to hold every answer to every challenge yourself! Be kind and share your knowledge and others will gladly share their experience and expertise also. This is particularly important for the younger generation navigating their way through the industry. I’d add that I wish I knew that AI was on the horizon all those years ago!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt on your journey to Preconstruction Principal?

Communicate clearly, sometimes there’s tough conversations to be had but by communicating clearly and most importantly respectfully, very early in the process, allows teams to work together to resolve any challenges.

What are the 3 smartest value engineering approaches you’ve seen or used on a project?

Wow, without giving every secret away here!!.....First of all you need a collective view on ‘value’, once that is established, you have a framework of options. Always consider the wider perspective and everyone’s pain points, this is key. No idea is a bad idea but a collaborative approach to map out the ideas always trumps the cold ‘list’, it brings about discussion and either develops or enhances a starting point idea. Bring in your experts/supply chain partners, they are after all, just that!

What’s one change you expect to see in the way projects are delivered next year?

Generally in the market, the workplace is evolving I think we are just starting to see office occupiers feel the benefit of new spaces and great efficient designs. The welcoming environments adapting to new and old generations are becoming normal and the feedback is encouraging for the office revolution!

What’s the most challenging part of delivering projects today, and how do you overcome it?

People are generally feeling the cost of living day to day, it’s no different in construction, we work hard to drive efficiencies and even more so than ever in 2025. Having a smart, effective teams with good visibility of market movements is a distinct advantage. Being on hand to help Customers through their journey, keeping budgets live and accurate with good communication is crucial.

What can clients do that really helps you deliver on time and to budget?

Keep an open mind. Join the journey, welcome collaboration and hold us as designers and contractors, to account!

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of commercial fit-out?

Bringing the buzz back into the city, re-purposing existing stock with consideration of the environment, creating workplaces that respond to humans and normalising flexible spaces. We work in such a creative industry that is often hampered by budget constraints. Welcoming different thinking and creativity can open up a whole world of opportunities for amazing spaces.

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