Our people

Adam Plimmer knows how to make an entrance. When he arrived in New Zealand from his native UK, he didn't just fly here. Instead, he and his Kiwi girlfriend (now wife) drove as far as they could in his 1988 Land Rover. It was a fun way to travel, and it also showed his new colleagues at Hamilton's Brian Perry Civil that he was ready for a Kiwi way of life.

Since arriving, Adam's found New Zealand's the perfect place to raise his young family. "We have a small farm with motorbikes, tractors, native bush, bonfires. It’s like adventure HQ for the kids," he says. Adam's four boys aren't the only ones having all the fun either. Adam arrived with one Land Rover, but has since added another 10 to his collection, along with three military vehicles and a 1968 Bedford Fire Truck.

He says the biggest difference between New Zealand and the UK is the Kiwi pioneering spirit. "People are really innovative here, the ability for people to build things themselves, help their neighbours out, all that kind of stuff - to me that’s proper New Zealand," he says.

Adam is a Regional Manager for Brian Perry Civil and he's making sure the team is bringing that pioneering spirit to work every day. "This is a business that truly looks after its people, and I think it's important we push people out of their comfort zone to achieve things they didn’t think were possible."

Alex Oakley jokes that he stepped over to the ‘dark side’ when he joined Brian Perry Civil as a senior site engineer.

Now rolling up his sleeves to get into site-based work, the role stands in contrast to his former, more office-based role.

“It was a change I wanted to make and I haven’t looked back,” Alex says.

With structures and concrete foundations now his more specialized area of engineering, Alex has been based in Taupō for the last year working on the Laminex project, but has recently moved to a project closer to home at Z Energy in Mount Maunganui.

“It’s different working on the more technical side of things, but the core project elements remain the same and it’s satisfying getting stuck-in and seeing the finished result.

“I’ve received a lot of support from project supervisors and foremen on the jobs – the older heads who have vast experience, which has made the transition a smooth one.”

Alex has ambitions to explore project management up ahead in his career.

“There’s tremendous support and opportunity to progress your career with BPC.  There are so many pathways you can go down. I’ve seen carpenters progress to leading hand, foreman and site supervisor roles. We have a good management team and strong culture with people who want to see you promoted and further your career.”

Andrew Hills stepped into the coalface of engineering when he joined the team at Brian Perry Civil as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer.

As a specialist ground engineering firm, BPC offered an opportunity to complement his design skills as a consultant engineer with more the practical experience of a contractor.

“While we’re still designers, we’re on site all the time and see our projects being built. You don’t get the same opportunity in the consulting world to experiment with new methods and materials, and recalibrate your design methods based on what you’re seeing and the data collected on site,” Andrew says. “There is more focus on finding and delivering value, which is what engineering is all about.”

The work is faster-paced, as the BPC Geotechnical Team also cover projects across the wider Fletcher Construction and Piletech businesses.

Although he is based in Christchurch, Andrew works on projects nationally, including Wellington’s Te Awa Kairangi programme of work - a highlight, due to the challenge of founding (very) large diameter piles in a regionally-significant aquifer. Others include Auckland Airport’s Taxiway Mike project and designing various screw piling solutions through BPC’s in-house screw pile specialist Piletech.

Andrew’s previous consulting experience coupled with the perspective of a contractor has made him a well-rounded engineer.

“Being able to offer the experience from both sides of the fence is really helpful,” he says.

Working on the Waikato expressway was the job of a lifetime for surveyor Bayley Smith. The project was decades in the making and came to the close in July 2022 with delivery of the Hamilton section where Bayley was working.
 
Bayley started her career as a graduate surveyor with Fletcher Construction, working within the CityEdge Alliance that delivered the final stage of the expressway. One of her favourite parts of the role was bringing drones into the project. When Bayley started, the team was regularly hiring drone pilots to do survey work. She spotted an opportunity to expand her skillset and the team purchased Bayley a drone of her own. "It's paid for itself, many times over, and I'm getting more confident using it."
 
Now the expressway’s wrapped up, Bayley's taking her career to the next level in a newly-created role with our Engineering Services team. 

Blair Landon celebrated 25 years of service at Higgins. He started his construction career as diesel mechanic at Glover Contractors, which we later acquired. He rose in the ranks and in recognition of his leadership and commitment to the business Blair became Higgins Waikato Operations Manager in 2019. He currently leads the Transportation Team and ISO 9001-certified workshop, supporting the wider Waikato operations business.

Blair says it’s been a long journey. “I had no kids when I started – now I have five young ones, the oldest being 20 years old and the youngest 2 years old.”

“I can’t believe how fast it has gone”, he says. “There’s been a lot of changes since I started in 1999, with massive improvements in safety management systems and innovations, including M5 plant tracking location and utilisation to make things easier. We’re constantly improving, and I look forward to seeing where another 25 years with Higgins will take me.”

Thirst for challenge is what keeps estimating manager Borana Rabona so satisfied in his job with Fletcher Construction South Pacific.

Based in the Fletcher Morobe Construction office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Borana leads a team responsible for the cost estimations on all Fletcher Construction projects in the region, from small jobs through to large commercial projects.  

Fletcher Construction South Pacific is where Borana’s successful career began.

Upon graduation from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, where he studied construction management, he joined FC as a junior estimator at the age of 25.

After a decade, he left for a series of jobs out in the field where he gained further industry experience as a cost control engineer.

In 2020, he returned to lead FCC South Pacific’s estimating team. Borana says Fletcher’s leading-edge technology played a big part in attracting him back.

“The estimating software makes the work exciting, as well as the wide range of projects we work on,” Borana says.

The Fletcher Morobe Construction office employs approximately 40 people at the head office and 600 to 700 people on their construction sites, and continues to grow.

“I love the challenges we face, and working in with others on our large projects,” he says.

A highlight project was building the Era Dorina Stage 3 Apartment in Port Moresby in 2007, a job for which Borana was the contract administrator. “I enjoyed this project so much because it was a design and construct project and we managed it so well that our built cost and the budget cost were the same,” he says.

Borana says he is proud of the career development he has enjoyed during his time with Fletcher Construction.

Outside work, he enjoys investing his time with his family, friends and his church.

Brenda Mala’s work day starts with contributing to the health and safety pre-start talk in the yard at Brian Perry Civil’s office in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“Our construction crews meet, and we talk through the plan for jobs they are heading to that day and identify hazards,” Brenda says.

“I tell them, keep yourselves safe and go home this afternoon to see your family safely.”

Brenda joined BPC as the health and safety officer on the Lepetasi International Wharf project in 2015. It was her first role in construction after graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Management & Planning from Lincoln University.

That was the start of a career that has seen the 33-year-old Vanuatu local progress to health and safety environmental advisor and then project administration assistant in the Port Vila branch office.

Brenda has recently been promoted to assistant branch manager, where she is responsible for health and safety as well as well as the fresh challenge of assisting with new business acquisitions and client support at the growing branch.  

“I enjoy the opportunities I get to work on site, seeing what the crews are doing and learning and the sense of accomplishment from finding solutions.”

Health and safety remains her passion.

“Keeping our team safe is my number one priority. Most of the guys working with us are the only bread winners in their families, and we place a lot of emphasis on the safety talk in the morning before they start work,” she says.

“It’s the people that drive this industry and without them, we can’t work.”

Brenda is also aware of being a role model for other women entering the construction industry.

“If I can do this, other local girls who want to can too. My message to them is, don’t look at the gender barrier. You can do it. Nothing is stopping you from being anything you want to be.

“Fletcher Construction takes good care of their people with training and support. They teach us to lead, and I’ve learnt that being a leader is not about dictating to people but listening and giving our people the chance to speak,” Brenda says.

“It’s the leadership that has taken me this far, and managers who value and acknowledge your contribution.”

Outside work, Brenda enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Briana Stemp was gatekeeper on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project. As Briana welcomed people into the project site, she became well acquainted with various members of Fletcher Construction’s Engineering Services survey team.

When an opening arose in Engineering Services for a survey assistant, she took the opportunity to join the team. They showed her the different aspects of the survey world and helped her gain hands on experience in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).

Briana says she loves her role as Geospatial Technician. “I get to experience different sites across the Fletcher Construction business. My days are always about doing something new and different and helping with unique challenges.”

She uses GPR and Electro-Magnetic Location (EML) equipment to locate, map and identify buried services before work is started on projects. By performing comprehensive 3D mapping, instead of traditional 2D spot location, she can create clear and accurate 3D digital models of the construction site.

Briana’s work is vital to the projects to avoid damaging infrastructure, keep teams safe, and inform designers. “It lets us keep our people safe and manage our risks. It’s comforting to know I help keep our people safe.”

Joining the team at Brian Perry Civil was something of a mid-life adventure when our head of ground engineering set out from her home in the UK in late 2024.

Caroline Rookes bought the whole family – her husband, two children and a dog – arriving right on the eve of her 50^th birthday.

“I had never been to New Zealand before but we are settling in and embracing the outdoor lifestyle our new home in Auckland has to offer,” Caroline says.

Heading up our team of specialist ground engineers represents progression in a career she set her path on from a young age.

“When I was at primary school in London, we went on a site visit to see construction of the Thames flood barrier to help prevent central London from flooding. I thought it was the best thing ever and went home and told Mum I wanted to be a civil engineer.”

Caroline specialised in ground engineering early on and brings to BPC more than 25 years’ experience, most recently as a Business Stream Director for a company called Cementation Skanska where she was responsible for all work across the North of England and Wales.

At BPC she is responsible for our projects across the country, including strategic and long-term planning. “My role is multi-faceted as it involves winning contracts, client relationships, managing our labour and resource across the full lifecycle of a project and with a mixture of being on-site and in the office,” she says.

“I personally like the people side of the role, working with the team and getting out and meeting new people and showing them what the BPC team can do.”

A key difference with piling and foundation work in New Zealand is the seismic considerations that don’t often factor into projects in the UK.

“The BPC team are really up for problem-solving. A lot of the projects involve technical skills that would be considered to push boundaries in the UK but are simply par-for-the-course here. This is providing me with new skills, as well as being able to bring new skills to the table too,” Caroline says.

“People always told me Kiwis were brought up with a can-do attitude and I think you do see that in the work we produce.

“I see so much potential in the future leaders here within BPC and am confident it’s an environment that offers equal opportunities to develop.”

As the only female, senior frontline leader in the team, she is keen to continue her ambassador work in the UK where she worked closely with graduate training schemes to encourage women into the construction industry and is part of Fletcher Construction's ‘Women in Construction’ programme.

“If you want to really change the picture of women in engineering, you have to reach them at a young age. Social stereotypes kick in by intermediate age, so generating interest at a younger age is the way forward.”

Dante Sutch-Coleman’s love for trucks and machinery made his career switch a no-brainer. After just one year in retail, he jumped into road maintenance. “I started as a labourer and worked my way up to foreman, handling everything from signs and street furniture installation to drainage, asphalt, and emergency response. I’ve been in the industry for 13 years.”

When an opportunity came up to work with Higgins on the Kāpiti City District Council (KCDC) road maintenance contract, Dante grabbed it. “I began as the footpath renewals foreman and also served as the heavy maintenance foreman, filling in with the cyclic team doing signs.”

Now, Dante is the Road Maintenance Supervisor, overseeing the cyclic and heavy maintenance crews and managing the roading asset management data for the contract. “I love the variety in my role; no two days are the same, especially in maintenance. One day might involve asphalting, while the next could be clearing slips. Higgins has given me chances to upskill and work on other projects, like the Pekapeka to Otaki motorway and the Te Awa Kairangi transformational project for Lower Hutt.”

Desley Khan brings her personal motto every day to work at Fletcher Higgins' laboratory in Lomolomo. “With every challenge comes opportunities,” says Desley.

Desley’s positive attitude has helped her advance her career. She joined Fletcher Higgins as a lab intern in 2022, after pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Desley says she focused on knowing the basics and foundation of road construction to help her become a competent engineer. Desley is now an Asphalt and Bitumen Laboratory Technician, a role that sees her sampling, testing, and reporting test results according to standards.

“Each day has its challenges, like trying to meet the demands of clients by juggling various tests within a timeframe. But in tackling these, I get to learn new things and new tests, and I get to venture into other testing – both in the lab and out in the field. Challenges also make the team come together and have the resolve to deliver high quality results.”

Foreperson Ed Tuira has been with Higgins since 2017 and is still very passionate about his job in road maintenance. Ed’s team services the maintenance needs of the southern area of the East Waikato Network Outcomes Contract (EWNOC) which includes SH2, SH26, SH27, SH24, and SH29.

“I enjoy my role as foreperson as it enables me to share my experiences and knowledge learnt over 20 years of being in the industry,” Ed says.

The team’s daily jobs can range from litter collection, marker post replacement, minor pavement repairs, and drainage and incident response.

“Though the role can be challenging at times, with the support and caring nature of colleagues, this becomes easier.”

Ed says safety has always been at the front of his mind.

“I have been exposed to two fatalities – colleagues lost their lives whilst performing their daily tasks. Although I have seen vast improvement in the safety culture compared to when I first started, I still would ask the public to take notice and care around roading operations.”

Area Maintenance Manager William Morris praises Ed for ensuring safety during the delivery of all the work he is involved in, his attention to detail, and quality of workmanship.

“Ed assisted with the planning and onsite delivery during the SH29 Kaimai Closure in July 2024. His natural talent in leading the team and subcontractors ensures everything on-site goes smoothly, and efficiently.”

At Fletcher Construction, we're not just proud of what we do, we're proud of who we are. For Senior Site Engineer Francis Swanney-Fetalaiga, that means huge pride in his Samoan culture.

"I'm Samoan, but I'm also a South Aucklander. That's part of my culture as well. Everywhere I go, I represent where I'm from." Francis has harnessed this pride to support other Māori and Pasifika engineers through their study and careers.
 
Family is another huge part of Francis' identity. His parents immigrated from Samoa and he's proud to be the first in his family to finish university. "My siblings didn't finish because they wanted to help out my parents and get jobs. I was the last of five children, so they all supported me. There were papers I failed but I kept trying, and that was due to my parents. I didn't want to let them down. They've been through so many struggles and it's just made me who I am."
 
He brought that love of family to work with him at Higgins where he started as a graduate engineer, and he's still bringing it at Brian Perry Civil. "My workmates are just like whānau. I care about them like brothers and sisters. My job as an engineer is all about working together. It's all about the team."

Fiji-based Glenn Browne has enjoyed a varied and fulfilling career with Fletcher Construction in the Pacific.

Born and bred in Waikato, Glenn jumped at the opportunity to head overseas at 21 to join the team. His first role was working on the FFA Conference Centre in the Solomon Islands as a carpenter supervisor.

Thirty years and many projects later, he continues to lead major commercial projects for Fletcher Construction South Pacific. He is currently the construction site manager for the $50 million refurbishment of the Western Resort on Denarau in Fiji.

Glenn also oversaw construction of the $10 million Toyota Fiji dealership which opened in January 2023. Situated near Nadi International Airport, it's one of the largest car dealerships in Fiji and led the way with environmentally-sound building practices.

“Environmental principles underpinned the building’s design and Fletcher Construction Fiji showed industry leadership by ensuring our environmental policies were central to all parts of the construction,” he says.

Glenn says he has never looked back since starting his career in the Pacific.

“If I hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t have been exposed to such a broad scope of work and gained the depth of experience so early on. I've enjoyed such challenging and varied commercial and residential projects,” he says.

“You hold a lot of pride working for Fletcher Construction in the Pacific. We have a strong reputation for our high quality of work and expertise and the support here is amazing. Nothing on-site is a problem and we are well-connected to our colleagues in New Zealand. Overall, I’ve enjoyed great experiences, projects and people.”

Glenn Boyer celebrated 30 years’ service with BPC and other Fletcher Construction companies. Starting as a labourer, he’s worked his way through a carpentry apprenticeship and project work around the country to become a highly respected Superintendent.

“I love building stuff,” he says. “We’re never building the same thing twice, it’s always different. I love the camaraderie of working for BPC - you can talk to anyone, everyone’s approachable, it’s like being in a family business.”

Glenn followed his father into the construction business and his daughter Hayley is studying engineering at The University of Waikato. He’s always keen to pass his skills and experience on to others on site and enjoys helping young people develop their careers.

Helen Sutherland moved to Aotearoa as a young girl when her father took a Project Manager job at Fletcher Construction. She remembers growing up with conversations over dinner about construction.

“We often talked about the exciting projects Dad was working on and I always helped out with the DIY at home,” she says.

“The projects I remember him working on include the Trentham Computer Centre, National Library of NZ, Wellington Hospital and a pair of external seismic strengthening walls on the Wellington Telephone Exchange.

“Regrettably, I didn’t get into construction until much later in my career. I started out in Information Technology, but in 2012, while working for the Ministry of Justice, my role as Senior Business Advisor was disestablished along with so many others just before Christmas. I then decided to get a summer job as a labourer on a building site while looking for work.”

The drastic change in direction baffled many of Helen’s friends, but she thrived on site, doing a lot of things already learned from her Dad. “I absolutely loved it,” she says.

After a few months of following her dream on-site, Helen went back to the IT field to help pay the bills, but constantly thought about how she could get back into construction. This led her to study for her National Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and she started a Diploma in Construction Management.

In 2015, Helen finally took a leap of faith applying for a job with Fletcher Construction as an HSEQ Administrator on a roading project and she hasn't looked back. 

"I’m glad I pursued this path. I genuinely feel it’s where I belong.  It’s an exciting and challenging project and I’m part of a wonderful team.”

Jacob’s gone from being a hammerhand to one of our best young engineers.

As a Project Engineer, he demonstrates where a rewarding career in construction can take you when you embrace opportunities and put in the mahi to advance.

Jacob got his first taste of the construction industry at 18 when he was assigned, through a labour hire firm, as a labourer on the Majestic Centre project for Brian Perry Civil.

Recognising his enthusiasm and motivation, the site foreman recommended he apply for an engineering cadetship.

Now, he’s a project engineer in charge of the $7M Taranaki St Pump Station project, leading his team working on a tight and challenging Wellington CBD site adjacent to a busy intersection.

It’s a tricky project in a highly visible location which speaks to the high regard BPC’s leadership have in Jacob’s abilities.

In another accolade, in 2022 Jacob was a finalist for the Personal Improvement Award in this year’s Civil Construction NZ National Awards.

During his time with BPC, he has completed thirty training courses, including his Diploma of Civil Engineering, having gained a wide range of practical onsite experience along the way.  

Jacob says he's grateful for the way Fletcher Construction has supported his professional development.

Juana West knows what it is like to feel the challenge of being a young female in the construction industry.

But the 26-year-old Environmental Health and Safety Manager for Higgins largest region, the Manawatu, continues to prove that passion and self-belief can see your career start to fly.

Health and safety was Juana’s passion when she joined Higgins as an environmental health and safety advisor two years ago.

Since then, big improvements in the company’s safety culture have flowed, with Juana helping to achieve significant increase in near miss, incident and observation reporting, allowing the team to offer employees early intervention with injuries, identify trends and put solutions in place to prevent re-occurrence.

“At Higgins, we believe all injuries are preventable and I stand by that company belief. Coming into a business that has a strong belief that everyone should go home safely makes the job easy.”

Juana also co-developed the Higgins’ lower north island wellness calendar, focusing on healthy habits to improve and prioritise physical and mental health. The calendar included a regional fitness challenge, encouraging people to exercise daily and eat healthy food. In the first year, 25 people signed up with an average weight loss of 5kgs per person.  

“Encouraging construction workers to make healthy choices, helping improve overall mental health, is extremely important because the construction industry loses nearly one person each week to suicide.  So the wellness calendar focusing on healthy habits has an industry-wide benefit,” Juana says.

Two years on, Juana was promoted to EHS Manager Manawatu, responsible for health and safety of approximately 320 Higgins staff, multiple subcontractors, across the region. Her work involves daily promotion of safe working standards, implementing new roll-outs and industry standards and collaborating with experts to think of practical, yet safe and effective ideas to improve the way teams work.

She says she is used to being one of the only female in the room among her predominantly male co-workers, but enjoys the challenge and would love more women to join the industry and believes its an industry that women can thrive in.

“Being a young female in the industry, I don’t necessarily walk onto a construction site and have instant respect. I have to prove myself with my knowledge and ability to listen.  Although this was a challenge, having Higgins believe in my abilities and walking the talk has enabled me to work with my team to create a positive culture change.”

Career-wise, Juana has already exceeded her expectations by achieving the manager’s role by age 25.

“I’m grateful to Higgins for the support, knowledge and constant upskilling I’ve received. I love keeping people safe and knowing I can keep developing my skills to be able to succeed in this.”

Juana completed Fletcher Construction’s ‘women to leadership’ mentorship programme in 2023, which she found invaluable in her transition to her new management role. “The industry-wide connections I gained were also so beneficial and I learned a lot about setting high standards as a leader and the principle that every day you work is your CV.”

Juana says her career growth so far has also been the result of backing herself and believing in her abilities and strengths. “I have self-confidence and don’t mind speaking up when I believe in something,” she says.

“It’s often said that promotion is based on your years of experience. However, I got my promotion based on the potential people saw in me. Higgins took a chance on me and it’s awesome the business did that,” she says.

“Higgins has been tremendously supportive of me and my career development. I strongly encourage other young females to believe in themselves and to strive for the best in this industry.”

With over 17 years of experience in the Construction Division, Justin Johnson currently serves as the Innovation Project Manager in Engineering Services, supporting Fletcher Construction, Brian Perry Civil, and Higgins. Justin’s journey began in 2005 as a site engineer, and since then, he has worked across multiple business units including Pipeworks, Fletcher Major Projects, BPC, and Engineering Services.

Justin leads teams through innovation sprints and deep dive processes, and for over three years, has facilitated our Lunch and Learn sessions on innovation and sustainability, featuring both internal and external speakers. He also manages the company’s internal innovation knowledge-sharing programme, which has generated numerous Innovation Sustainability and Digital in Practice (ISDIP) documents to support our bids, the business library of knowledge, and the Leadership in Construction webpage.

Justin’s passion for searching the world for unique and innovative construction solutions to identified problem areas makes him the ideal innovation champion. He researches and investigates new technologies to improve day-to-day tasks and find efficiencies for our clients and communities. He’s also a member of the AI working group, deeply involved in the research and implementation of emerging AI technologies.

Karan Thakur works for Higgins as Asset Management and Maintenance Engineer on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway.

He supports the team responsible for carrying out inspections, planning maintenance activities in a manner that minimises disruption to the 20,000 motorists using the motorway each day, being on-call around-the-clock to respond to incidents or for urgent maintenance and reporting on incidents & performance of the project.

“The wellbeing of road users is our top priority, so we work hard to ensure there’s nothing on the motorway that compromises their safety,” Karan says.

“Thankfully, there have been no fatalities or serious injuries since the road opened. The motorway has been designed and constructed keeping safety in mind, including 48km of wire rope safety barriers. We now want to maintain the assets up to standard” he says.

A civil engineer by background, Karan was keen to specialise in roading and joined Higgins a year ago, there’s plenty on the Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway to learn and keep him busy.

“In this role, every day is different and comes with challenges that push us to do better as individuals and as a team.”

“Safe journeys are what motivates me and I’m proud to be part of the team that makes this a priority on this strategic transport corridor, connecting Auckland to Northland.”

When Kylie Wech started working in Civil Construction, she had a role in administration – she was the ‘tea lady’ as she puts it. What Kylie didn’t realise, was that role would set her up for a lifetime career in civil construction. “In the beginning, I saw the role as a means to an end. Very quickly, I decided I needed to turn my job into a career.”

Kylie’s made that career happen by working her way up through the industry, trying her hand at a number of different roles, finally landing herself as one of our highly-respected Project Managers.

She’s a big advocate for women in the industry, and says anyone keen on trying out civils should give it a go. “This industry has given me so many opportunities to try different avenues and pathways. The civil infrastructure industry has so many options, it will adapt to your needs as you adapt to your role.”

If you want to become an engineer, we can help you learn while you’re on the job through a cadetship. That support could help you earn a Diploma in Engineering – or even a qualification in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management.

You’d be joining other cadets like Levi Muller who recently joined us at Higgins as an Engineering Cadet. Before leaving school, Levi’s school approached our Early in Career Programme Lead Sarah McKenzie who organised a one-to-one visit at one of our projects where he was introduced to Tristan Paget, a Project Manager who also followed this pathway. This ignited a genuine spark in Levi and by showing his engagement and motivation, he was welcomed to the Higgins team in February after leaving school.

Levi’s been working with the team on the Rangiuru Business Park Interchange and is also studying for his Diploma in Engineering part time. This requires him to attend polytech one day a week which is supported by Higgins. He’s even being paid to attend tech, and accessing to our Employee Educational Fund for course costs. Higgins also facilitates a guided programme that enables Levi to learn on the job, whilst contributing to a high-profile project in his hometown.

So far, Levi’s loving his new role. "It's really hard to put a pinpoint on what I enjoy the most because I just love my job so much, going to work and seeing my team every day is a highlight."

If you’re keen to join the Green Team like Levi, contact LearningDevelopment@fcc.co.nz.

Higgins Wairarapa has been running a cadetship programme since 2006, providing local youth with on-the-job training in the civil construction industry. The cadets rotate through different divisions within the branch, gaining experience in surfacing, aggregates manufacturing, construction, and maintenance. Supported by mentors within each crew, they earn relevant licenses, endorsements, and competency assessments as they progress.

Marshall Ellis joined the programme after leaving school in 2022. Currently, he’s pursuing a National Certificate in Drainlaying – Installation (Level 4) while working with the construction team. Marshall has embraced numerous learning opportunities, including operating heavy machinery and participating in several subdivision projects. He is now involved in a watermain upgrade project.

“At Higgins, I feel you can achieve anything if you take the time to learn. Everyone here has been incredibly supportive, helping me adjust to the team and grow into a Leading Hand. I am excited to complete my studies and continue progressing at Higgins.”

Martin Ward has been with Fletcher Construction for nearly 20 years – starting as a labourer and moving up to Temporary Traffic Manager – when he decided he was ready for a change. “I needed a new challenge in my career, so I joined Engineering Services to become a Digital Engineer.”

Taking on the role was a logical step for Martin with his extensive experience in temporary traffic management design and staging. He now does Traffic Staging for major projects which involves planning and managing the flow of traffic during construction to ensure safety and minimise disruptions. This includes detailing the phases of construction to maintain traffic flow and safety and designing detours to redirect traffic around the construction area when necessary.

“Digital engineering allows me to use my specialised skills on a regular basis, at the same time learn on the go and adapt my other skills to fit the needs of a project.”

Martin says that through Engineering Services he can help teams adapt to new technologies and ways of working. “We go beyond the old school pen and paper design. We create improved constructability digital models which allow better visualisation and coordination during the design and construction phases.”

Matt Zame was one of our first ever summer interns, joining the Brian Perry Civil team in 1997. He then completed his studies and stayed with BPC for his graduate programme. More than 25 years and many iconic projects later, he’s still thankful for the experience that saw him cut his teeth as a civil engineer.

“I had amazing opportunities to learn on seismic strengthening projects at the Karapiro Dam, Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Newmarket Viaduct before a stint at North Port Phase 1 - Fletcher’s first deep water port project. These complex projects were pioneering for Fletcher into new sectors and new technologies,” he says.

Matt’s now Project Director on the high-profile Eastern Busway being built from Pakūranga to Botany in East Auckland. The project is being delivered by the Eastern Busway Alliance of Fletcher Construction, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs in partnership with Mana Whenua, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

He says his varied career demonstrates the diverse opportunities available within Fletcher. “As a young graduate, I wouldn’t have foreseen the career ahead of me, but those early years certainly set me up. I learnt how to tackle any challenge with sound engineering, excellent planning and great teamwork.

“I’ve been given so many different opportunities working here and although there have been sacrifices to move around the country a few times, the investment in my development, particularly leadership, has absolutely made it worth it,” he says.

Expert planning underpins the success of all BPC’s projects, and Merybeth Codera’s 25 years’ experience in the industry is a huge asset to the business. She works with project teams to create, check, and monitor programmes from tender through to construction on the major projects we deliver.

“I thrive on the new challenges each project presents, embracing new software, and exploring new ways to enhance the contribution I can make to achieving successful outcomes for our clients,” she says.

“Collaboration is at the heart of my role and I’ve worked with a wide range of people over the years. Working together with a diverse group of people sparks new thinking and benefits everyone.”

Michael Valente swung wide the door to new opportunities in paradise when he moved country to start a new chapter in his construction career with Higgins, Fiji.

That was back in 2020 when he joined the Fletcher Family from his home country of South Africa, where had had owned a civil engineering company for 19 years, and was later a senior project manager specialising in all aspects of pipeline and road construction.

The opportunity with Higgins as the Suva Manager represented an exciting opportunity for a lifestyle change for his family.  The opportunity to step into a bigger role saw the family relocate to Nadi when he became the Fiji Fletcher Higgins Country Manager in 2023.

Based in the head office in Lomolomo, Nadi, Michael oversees just under 700 staff, making Fletcher the biggest construction company in Fiji with a busy pipeline of work that has quickly ramped up post-Covid.

Michael is responsible for maintaining client relationships, sourcing new work as well as optimisation of existing projects.  Some of these include refurbishment of the Westin Hotel, four zones of roading maintenance contracts, completion of the Kings Road Upgrade, construction of nine critical bridges and work on the Nadi International Airport runway.

He visits Fletcher Construction’s head office in Auckland, New Zealand several times a year for senior leadership meetings and enjoys the close connection with the team there. “There’s no challenge too big that we can’t find a solution to, whether it’s health and safety or technology; we can draw on a wealth of knowledge and the company’s deep history and experience,” he says.

“Fletcher is a good employer and a caring company that looks after its employees.”

Michael promotes a strong safety culture, and has particularly enjoyed being part of the progress Higgins has made on the workplace health and safety journey over the last few years. “Our health and safety standards really set us apart here in the Pacific and I strongly believe in the philosophy of getting our people home safely every day. It’s rewarding to see the results we have made in standardising safety standards across the business and seeing the results of the way we care for our people.”

Although he’s no longer in his home country, Michael says he loves being part of the Fletcher family in the Pacific.

Fletcher’s graduate programmes and training and development support makes it an attractive employer in the Pacific, but has its downsides when staff rise through the ranks and get job opportunities in New Zealand and Australia.

“But on the other hand, it demonstrates the strong opportunities we offer and that once you spend meaningful time working with us, there are opportunities for career progression across the Pacific.”

Second time’s a charm for Fletcher Construction ‘returnee’ Miles Wallace. Miles first started as Project Engineer with our Brian Perry Civil team. He left in 2021 to join a structural engineering consultancy and came back in 2023 as Design Engineer with our Engineering Services team.

Miles is now Senior Design Engineer developing innovative and economical engineering solutions for our site teams. Miles has been involved in various projects throughout the business, most notably at Seaview Wharf and Bothamley Park aiding in complex enabling works ranging from drilling fluid retention frames to cofferdams and intricate lift solutions. He manages the entire design process, coordinates with various engineering disciplines and suppliers, while he mentors and supervises junior design engineers and draughtspersons.

Miles says his experience has been “incredible” as he gets to liaise directly with project teams and be involved early on to help facilitate and guide them from the simple to the complex engineering problems. “There is a great sense of fulfilment seeing your design being used to effectively mitigate a problem. The integration of digital engineering tools has streamlined our processes and allowed us to visualize and solve issues more efficiently. Our team has a wide range of backgrounds, which gives us a broad experience base to lean on and provide innovative and cost-effective solutions to ensure projects meet their program and ensure everyone goes home safe.”

Moana Tarei swapped coffees for road signs, leaving her job as a head barista to pursue a new career path in traffic management with Higgins.

“I needed a change from being in the same place every day and this is a job that keeps me on my toes, working in a different place every day and with different people.”

She became a qualified site traffic management supervisor (STMS) in 2024 and now you’ll find her working between road maintenance and construction sites as a lead STMS for Higgins Wairarapa.

“We are constantly on-the-go and I love that, and I love the people I work with in all our crews. You do come across some angry people, but generally the residents and the public we interact with are great,” Moana says.

“The weather makes it challenging and it can be tough out there in the rain and the heat, but you just have to come out prepared for it and have the right gear ready,” she says.

“When I first joined Higgins there were only a few other women working on the road, but now there are quite a few of us and it’s cool.

“It’s up to you and how far you want to go in this industry. You must be prepared to put in the work to get to where you want to go.”

Higgins network engineer Ning Yan is a great example that many career paths can lead to construction.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in Management at Shenyang Normal University in China, Ning entered the workforce as an accounts payable clerk before moving to New Zealand and completing a Diploma in Civil Engineering at Wintec in Hamilton.

“I really wanted to work in the construction industry as I was drawn to the challenge of working to bring a project to completion where you can see the tangible achievements,” Ning says.

Two years after starting with Higgins as a graduate engineer, Ning was promoted to her current role as a network engineer for the state highway network in eastern Waikato, focused on delivering  the annual plan and variation programmes, and programming for the operational teams for the state highways on which Higgins has maintenance contracts.

It’s a role offering plenty of challenge and variety, with a complex state highway network and challenging weather events in this part of the country.

Although Ning is mostly office-based in Morrinsville, she enjoys opportunities to visit Higgins teams in the field and gain site experience and area initiatives to improve roading safety.

Past work in accounts payable set her in good stead for her sharp focus on project detail. “I enjoy trying to make things as accurate as possible and want to achieve high quality. I really enjoy learning new things and skill from my colleagues, clients and subcontractors,” she says.

As she looks to further her career, Higgins provides great support and training in areas such as NZIHT short courses, project management, traffic management and safety leadership. She is currently a member of Fletcher Construction’s ‘Achieving Women’ programme, supporting women to rise through the ranks at Fletcher Construction.

She hopes her path will encourage more women into careers in construction.

“Even if you have come from a different background, you can still work in construction and enjoy a challenging and fulfilling career,” Ning says.

When Peter Capilitan arrived from the Philippines in 2018, his surveying qualification wasn’t recognised in New Zealand. Unable to work in his chosen field, he took a role with Higgins as a grader operator.

Last year, his team encouraged him to use the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) to pay for a surveying qualification that would be recognised in New Zealand. He’s rightfully very proud of his achievement!

Fletcher Construction Early in Career Programme Lead Sarah McKenzie made inquiries to help set Peter up with Connexis. “Not only has he been motivated to persevere despite English being his second language, he has really demonstrated Fletcher Values of Better Together and Being Bold.”

Peter says getting the qualification helped boost his career and provides a significant advantage in future endeavours. "I am beyond blessed with the opportunities I've been given to reach my dream of becoming a surveyor. I'm ready for more projects."

As TTAF is no longer available, our people can access the Fletcher Building Employee Educational Fund (EEF), which helps fund the cost of tuition and development programmes for career-related studies.

Our Christchurch team welcomed their first female truck driver, Rebecca Kendrick. She’s behind the wheel of their first bitumen tanker, which has been wrapped with our colourful pictures of Higgins staff drawn by their children.

With 13 years of truck driving experience, Beck began her journey driving a mini concrete mixer and worked with several companies before joining the Green Team. “I’ve always had a career goal of driving tankers and decided to pursue it in 2024. I often amused my sons by telling them I delivered the concrete or helped make the materials for a road – they would often roll their eyes. Now, I can proudly say I was part of the team that paved those roads.”

Driving machinery is Beck's passion. She began her career as a London City and Guilds chef in the RNZAF, a vastly different path from where she is now. Despite often being the only woman in her department, she finds her work incredibly rewarding. “I’m thrilled to see more women in my department, from loading at Napier Port to manufacturing, and now, counting myself, two women driving tankers. It's inspiring to see other women taking up the challenge!”

When Richard Rakovics first arrived in New Zealand, he quickly decided that it wasn't for him and headed home to Europe. But then he found himself homesick … for Aotearoa.

"I missed the openness, the greenery, being on the beach, the weather. I had to go away from New Zealand to appreciate it fully," he says.

A few months later the Fletcher Construction Project Manager was back on our shores, and hasn’t looked back.
 
It's not just the Kiwi lifestyle he's loving, it's the work opportunities he's had here. Richard believes he's getting opportunities at Fletcher Construction that he wouldn't get elsewhere. "In New Zealand, you can achieve your goals much faster than in other countries. Fletcher Construction in particular gives you the opportunity to progress. If the company sees your potential, they'll give you opportunities to prove yourself. Europe is more traditional - you have to do your time to reach certain positions."
 
But that being said, Richard says the scale of Fletcher Construction means it still feels world class. "Working here, you get the feeling you're working for an organisation that could operate anywhere in the world."

Richard San Andres’ career in health and safety has taken him around the world with Fletcher Construction. In 2022, Richard, a Filipino with several international jobs tucked under his belt, moved to Papua New Guinea and joined Fletcher Morobe as an EHS Advisor on the NADZAB Airport Redevelopment Project and other projects in Lae province.

During a training session at the Fletcher Construction head office in May 2023, Richard visited two of our team’s projects, including the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) project.

Later that year, Richard joined the project as an EHS Advisor. He describes the move from PNG to NZ as a mix of challenges and rewards. “Adapting to a different climate, culture, and professional environment can sometimes be overwhelming. Despite these challenges, the move has been incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally. The new experiences and opportunities for growth have made every challenge worthwhile.”

With the NZICC project winding down in 2024, Richard joined Higgins to continue his journey with the company. “I wanted to stay with Fletcher Construction, with its reputation for innovation, commitment to excellence, and a strong focus on employee development. The company's dedication to sustainability and community engagement also aligns with my personal values, making it an ideal place for me to contribute and thrive.”

Ryan McLean-Harvey is living proof of the variety of careers available in construction. He started as a labourer, progressed to roller and excavator operator, then foreman on a $23M project.

Seeing the risks that can exist on construction projects, Ryan has now moved into the Environment, Health and Safety Advisor side of the business. “The thing I love most about the construction industry is the big machines involved which is why I looked to become an operator. Working on a busy site you soon learn about the dangers involved and the reason for all the safety procedures that are enforced.”

When his current Health and Safety role was advertised, Ryan did not think twice about applying. “After working on construction sites for over 10 years, I felt I could bring a different view to the role. I can help drive us into a safer workplace where the whole team gets home safely at the end of each day. Higgins is all about developing their existing workforce, so they were supportive in allowing me to develop and change direction in my career.”
 

One year on from the devasting impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, Shayden Taumata remembers trying to clear her way through piles of slash higher than the grader machine she was driving to restore vital road links in the Bay of Plenty.

“We came through after the cyclone to clear accessways for families trapped in their homes - it was really cool to play a part in getting the community back on its feet.”

The 29-year-old machine operator and foreperson from Rotorua was exceptionally proud to play a part in the cyclone recovery effort, where it was all hands on deck to clear the roads and get transport links up and running again.

It’s extreme weather events like those that keep her team on its toes and doing what it does best; responding to road closures caused by big slips or weather damage, she says.

“It’s a buzz to go out and open up the roads to keep communities safe.”

Shayden’s career in civil construction began back in early 2018 when she moved to Gisborne and, after contacting a recruitment agent looking for temporary work, started a job in road maintenance with a local company the very next day.

Following a stint working as a traffic controller, Shayden progressed to become Leading Hand for a construction crew. Along the way she picked up a Site Traffic Management Supervisor (STMS) qualification, Class One, Two and Three driving licences and a Wheels, Tracks and Rollers endorsement, seizing the opportunity to develop her skills.

Completing  a Māori leadership programme gave Shayden extra confidence and skills that helped her move into a more senior position, as well as kindling a drive to set her sights on further personal development and study a civil engineering degree in the future.

Moving to Rotorua in 2023 saw her take the next step in her road maintenance career by applying for a role supervising a pavement renewal crew with her current employer Higgins, taking on a different role and a set of new challenges in a different region.

Shayden says she enjoys the variety of facing fresh challenges every day and constantly learning new skills as it means she never gets bored.

“I love travelling the countryside, meeting new people and there always being something new to learn – every job’s different.”

She now leads five road rehabilitation operators in her team plus a traffic management team that provides essential support. Between them they handle earthworks and road repairs throughout the eastern Bay of Plenty, sometimes driving two hours to get to a job.

A typical day will start with a morning meeting with all crews involved to discuss the requirements for the job they’re working on that day, co-ordinating her traffic management team and getting everyone’s input on any safety issues that might arise before setting out on the day’s work. Her experience in different job roles, and ability to operate heavy machinery from 30-tonne excavators to graders and trucks, gives her the edge when it comes to leading her team and training them up.

After the success she has experienced in road maintenance Shayden encourages more females to get into the industry.

“Females can do just as well in the road maintenance industry as males: they’re particular about making sure jobs are completed to a high standard, keeping sites tidy and looking after their equipment – it would be great to see more of them come through.”

She says road maintenance would suit anyone who enjoys learning new skills and likes the idea of being able to develop their career quickly.

“You can be whatever you want to be and play whatever role you want in this industry, if you keep going with it the options are pretty much never-ending.”

Shayden's story courtesy of EPIC Work NZ: https://epicwork.nz/

‘Young Achiever’ is a fitting accolade for Tamzin Letele, a talented leader on major commercial construction projects and a strong, passionate role model to other women and Pasifika people in the construction industry.

In 2022, Tamzin was named the NZ Property Council’s ‘Young Achiever of the Year’. As well as celebrating her contribution to the industry across major commercial, residential regeneration and development projects, the award recognised her outstanding commitment to grow and develop the people around her and actively give back to her community.

Tamzin is a Pasifika mother-of-three, and a quantity surveyor with more than 15 years’ commercial experience.

She first joined Fletcher Construction as a cadet, then returned for a time at the start of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) project. She’s now with us for her third stint, this time as a Commercial Manager for Buildings where she oversees the head claim and reinstatement works for the NZICC.

Alongside her busy role, Tamzin makes time to support the growth and development of construction industry up-and-comers, and continues to be an active mentor to Māori and Pasifika women. Having experienced first-hand the challenges that come with being a minority on-site, she says it’s always been her goal to support and guide those from diverse and challenging backgrounds.

A founding member of the Property Council of New Zealand Diversity Committee, Tamzin is committed to supporting diversity growth within the industry to adequately represent the diversity of Aotearoa. She is pleased to see progress being made around acceptance and inclusion since she started in the industry.

“We now have over 50 per cent wāhine across the NZICC commercial site team, that’s a career-defining moment,” Tamzin says.

Throughout her career, Tamzin has been keenly aware of areas to further develop herself to maximise her role performance and contribution. She holds a Bachelor of Construction and a Graduate Certificate of Social Impact. Tamzin has also completed Social Return on Investment Practitioner training, along with being a mediation teacher and learning the Samoan language.  She is a serial house-renovator, fervent about sustainability and believes in actively giving back to her community.       

Six years with Brian Perry Civil have shown Taniela Napa’a that learning never stops and, with the right support, opportunities are endless in civil construction.

He’s now a geotechnical engineer, which is shift from where he started as a graduate engineer with BPC in 2018, progressing to be a site engineer in the foundations team.

“Site engineering is really practical. I was exposed to real-life issues that taught me a lot about resilience and working under pressure to come up with solutions when things don’t go to plan,” Taniela says.

While working on the Te Maunga Waste Water Treatment Plant in Tauranga, he seized an opportunity to change tack and join the geotech team, revisiting the technical side of engineering with a mixture of site-based and consultancy work.

“I received training and support to make the move. You learn as you go, but the biggest thing for me was having a great mentor who walked me through the steps when things were new to me.

“Every day presents different challenges and I love the collaboration and support from the team and the reward we share when we get projects done.”

Taniela is currently working on the Eastern Busway project, focusing on new testing equipment for pile integrity – Thermal Integrity Profiler.

“BPC covers such vast aspects of engineering, and I feel joining the geotech team provided a fine balance between contracting and consultancy.

“I think we offer the best opportunity to see all aspects of the industry, yet stay connected with the support of the big BPC family.”

Tom Kennerson is part of the Higgins team working as a Site Traffic Management Specialist (STMS) at the Devil’s Elbow - a particularly winding and hilly section of State Highway 2 between Whirinaki and Tūtira in the Hawke's Bay.

SH2 was hit heavily by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, with huge sections left impassable.

Now open with traffic management in place, it’s Tom and his traffic management team that play the pivotal role in ensuring road users have a smooth and safe passage while the rebuild continues.

“Ninety per cent of the people who travel through Devil’s Elbow do it every day, with some going through several times a day, so the faster we can get them through, the happier they are,” Tom says.

This is something he appreciates himself, having formerly worked in logistics for a furniture company that frequently travelled this highway.

But a post-Covid career change led Tom to join Higgins’ traffic management team. Within one year, he had studied and worked himself up from a traffic controller to STMS on what is the largest roading project in the Hawke's Bay.

“Our worksite is 5km long, and many parts are only one-lane wide as the rebuild continues,” Thomas says.

“I’m onsite every day with my team, starting at 5am with a toolbox session going over the key updates and plans for the day and our important health and safety briefings.

“I patrol the road from 7am in a traffic truck to oversee all our operations, always looking for ways to improve efficiency.”

Thomas enjoys the complexity of traffic management, solving problems and setting up the site to make it as safe as possible.

“I believe an STMS manager is only as good as the team they have around them. I like helping my team understand their contribution to the big picture and the importance of helping road users get through to their destination as safely and quickly as possible.”

Having worked in the roading industry for the past four years, Topaz has graduated from operating a stop/go paddle to leading a team protecting worksites and managing traffic at a variety of different infrastructure projects. She holds a Class 2 license, which allows her to drive the variety of vehicles the team use, and continues to look for opportunities to grow her skillset.

A natural leader and mentor, one of the biggest highlights of the job for Topaz is training up members of her crew through to sitting their qualifications and progressing through to leading traffic management their own project site. She describes her team as being like her family, given how much time they spend together.

As someone who entered the industry just looking to earn some money, Topaz shows that once you find your passion and then take your opportunities, anything is possible.

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) project provides plenty of challenges for the Fletcher Construction team working there. Site manager Zane Ape-Esera wouldn’t have it any other way.

"There’s no other project where you can get the breadth of knowledge and experience that the NZICC provides,” he says.

“The project challenges us on a daily basis and encourages us to continuously think outside the square, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be challenged in that way and gain valuable experience to grow my career.”

For Zane, the project is all about teamwork. “There’s a whakatauki about collaboration: 'Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My successes are not mine alone - they are ours.' The greatest successes we have are through our people and being Better Together which is one of our values. It has certainly been a great team effort to get us to this point.”