In this episode of Tall Stories Hannah Nansett, the Institute’s former Projects Lead, sits 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 Building People awards with Emily coming away as one of the Resene Next Gen Winners and James receiving a Highly Commended in the BCITO Emerging Leader Award category. 

In their conversation they discuss: 

• The importance of networking and mentoring in furthering your career
• The tricky state of the industry particularly for those entering it
• How important it is to take all the experiences and opportunities you can to help your chances
• Working on a cutting-edge ambitious project like The Living Pā including examples of technology used on the project. How being less experienced may have helped when taking on such a challenge project.
• Dreaming big and taking risks to make changes to how the construction industry views sustainability – including the importance of taking lessons learnt from one project to the next.
• Maintaining mental and physical health through physical activity and keeping up connections with likeminded people.
• The opportunities brought by being part of the Institute and entering the Awards. 

Listen for the full conversation. 

When recording Tall Stories we travel around the motu to hear from our people across Aotearoa – this episode was recorded in Pōneke | Wellington at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott.