Who is Johnstaff? What is your position?
Johnstaff is a reputable management and delivery practice that specialises in providing Project Management, Cost Management, Construction and Advisory services for both public and private sector clients in Australia and New Zealand. Since the company’s establishment in 1991, Johnstaff have delivered over 1,100 projects - with a strong focus on health and education infrastructure.
After completing my graduate program, I am currently transitioning into a project engineering role at Johnstaff. My role involves providing administrative support for the PMs on my assigned projects, monitoring and reporting on various aspects of a project (such as cost, progress, and risk), and engaging with consultants to meet key deliverables for the project. I can safely say that each day looks a little different!
What's your background?
My parents moved our family to NZ when I was just 7 years old, with the hope of giving my siblings and I a strong educational foundation for us to build on in the future. I grew up with a love for art and science, which I nurtured through painting, graphics, and physics in high school. This eventually led me to a degree in Architecture, which gave me the freedom to express my creative side while still possessing a technical challenge. My desire to give back to the community which generously welcomed my family was the driver behind my desire to work at Johnstaff. I applied for their graduate program in 2023 and never looked back! I now get to work on a range of exciting projects with an experienced and closeknit team. Being able to give back to the community through my involvement in the development of our country’s health and education infrastructure has been a real privilege.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Definitely. The construction industry is incredibly interdisciplinary and having a different background to that of your colleagues is a great way to build knowledge within the team, and develop a robust approach to problem solving. That said, there are a few core attributes that are essential for success as a project manager - including being well organised, being able to think critically and prioritise, and being confident in your ability to communicate well with others.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
It’s hard to name just one! I think the coolest thing about my job is getting exposure to a variety of quality projects and collaborating with specialists from a range of different fields. It’s inspiring to see intelligent and passionate people working together to achieve a common goal, and then witnessing the results of everyone’s efforts once a project is complete - knowing I had a (small, but nevertheless important!) hand to play. Even better is that I get to do it with a great group of people around me. There is no shortage of support, laughs and generally great vibes in the office.
What are the limitations of your job?
The dynamic nature of my job means that some days are busier than others. As a project manager, it is essential to remain organised and anticipate your workload, to avoid becoming overwhelmed when projects ramp up. That said, some weeks will call for long hours, in order to meet important deadlines.
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