NZ Building People Awards 2024

Our team won awards across four categories at this year's awards, including in the Health & Safety and Innovation space. Our team in Canterbury were also recognised for their work collaborating on The Kind Foundation Papa Hou project. Learn more about the winning projects below:

Michaela Murray - HSSQ Manager - WINNER: Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award
Project: RESET National (Canterbury, Auckland, Otago, Southern Lakes)

In response to the need for renewed engagement post-Covid, Michaela Murray developed the 'RESET' program for Cook Brothers Construction. The program is inspired by Worksafe’s Taking 5 initiative, drawing on neuroscience principles in a dynamic, and engaging game show style program. This innovative program makes safety training engaging and effective, catering to various learning styles and enhancing risk management in both high-pressure and relaxed scenarios.

Michaela’s creativity and dedication as HSSQ Manager are evident in her successful nationwide implementation of the program, which engaged over 200 team members, secured buy-in from senior leadership and embedded a new way of thinking into company culture.

Grounded in her nursing background, Michaela has an innate ability to navigate diverse situations and approach challenges holistically. Her strategic planning, collaborative approach, positivity and passion showcase her exceptional leadership. As one referee notes, “RESET has become part of our everyday vocabulary, a testament to Michaela’s tenacity and vision.” Michaela’s RESET initiative not only addressed high-risk incidents effectively but also fostered a culture of engagement, continuous improvement and fun.

Kristy Jones - Sustainability Manager - WINNER: Innovation Award
Project: Sustainable Carpenter Program (Canterbury, Otago)

Kristy Jones is recognised as a standout leader in environmental sustainability within the construction industry. Her dedication to the environment is exemplified by her leadership of the innovative Sustainable Carpenter Program at Cook Brothers Construction, which repurposes construction waste into valuable community items, championing a circular economy approach.

In 2023, a total of 10 tonnes of construction waste was diverted through the programme, and directly reused and repurposed into projects directly benefiting the community.

As Sustainability Manager, Kristy’s ability to push the boundaries of traditional thinking distinguishes her from her peers. By advocating for creative solutions to construction waste, she has demonstrated how innovative thinking can address both environmental and community needs effectively.

Kristy embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration, referees commended her for her exemplary ‘co-opetition’ approach, noting her success in running joint sustainability events with industry competitors and advancing collective environmental goals.

Kristy's long-term goal is to create an industry-wide change whereby sustainability is a centralised system that provides accessible resources such as skills, training, and materials for all. Through the commitment of individuals such as Kristy, we may just see a future whereby the construction industry truly integrates the principles of repair, reuse, and repurposing into our everyday lives. 

Tim Harman - Construction Manager - HIGHLY COMMENDED: $25 - $50 Million Project Award
Project: The Kind Foundation, Papa Hou (Canterbury)

Tim Harman provided exceptional leadership and dedication in Project and Construction Management of the highly constrained Kind Foundation project. He expertly navigated a tight budget, managed persistent supply chain issues, and addressed technical complexities with design and build elements. Tim’s meticulous planning, including contingency plans on top of contingency plans, and proactive management of supply chain disruptions, ensured the project's success. The client said Tim’s genuine care for the project had “restored their faith in the construction industry”.

The Kind Foundation Papa Hou Project Team - WINNER - Collaboration Award
Project: The Kind Foundation, Papa Hou (Canterbury)

What truly distinguishes the Papa Hou project team is their exceptional engagement with the client and on-site team, ensuring everyone understood and committed to the project's goals. This collaborative spirit was crucial in overcoming the challenges of a limited budget and the complexities of a multi-use building, including fire and acoustic coordination.

As one referee noted, “While this project had to ensure it met financial obligations, the project’s relevance to the community, culture, and vision was the driving force. It took the whole team to form a strong collaborative approach, led by Josie Ogden Schroeder’s foresight.”

Due to the intricate design, extensive coordination was imperative throughout the design and construction phases to uphold high-quality standards. Constructing eight diverse buildings—a preschool, café, medical tenancies, black box theatre, fitness centre, classrooms, dance studio, and office spaces—presented varied design requirements impacting all disciplines.

This complexity demanded different construction types and commissioning protocols for each structure. Maintaining coherence amidst these diverse elements required meticulous attention to detail and effective communication among teams.