Global Speakers

Conference Chairperson:

Karen is the founder and principal of Overend & Associates and has previously led Duncan Cotterill’s construction team and worked in leading New Zealand law firms, including Bell Gully, Minter Ellison, Russell McVeagh and Kensington Swan. Currently, she has a wide range of clients involved in the property and construction sectors, from property developers, landlords and insurers, through to head contractors and subcontractors, through to suppliers of building products, and homeowners.

She was involved in property and construction projects from beginning to end, having worked in legal roles at Auckland International Airport, Hanover Group and Tatweer Dubai. She has also been parft of constructing and developing significant infrastructure, retail and industrial premises, hospital precincts, leisure precincts and affordable housing developments on a large scale.

Karen is on the Council of the Society of Construction Law and is a member of the National Association of Women in Construction. She has also presented seminars for the New Zealand Law Society on commercial leases, and earthquake prone building legislation. In addition, she was also involved with NomosOne on developing their deed of lease (now used by the Property Council) and is the author of the New Zealand Chapter on Construction & Engineering Law for the International Comparative Law Guide.

Sam Archer is a Sustainability Consultant and Mechanical Engineer with over 17 years experience in the Construction Industry. He moved to New Zealand in July 2014 and is now Director of Market Transformation at the New Zealand Green Building Council with a responsibility for increasing the uptake of their sustainability and energy assessment tools – Green Star, Homestar and Nabers. Sam has a particular passion for sustainable housing having spent 6 years creating and managing the sustainability framework for a 3000 home development for the University of Cambridge in the UK.

Richard has a background in corporate banking but has been specifically involved in the residential construction industry for the past 12 years. Richard joined Mike Greer Homes in 2011 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2014. His main responsibility is to transition the Mike Greer Group into a wholly integrated business with multiple operations across the country that will provide ongoing growth and success for the business.

Richard has also been involved with the creation and progression of the Concision Panelised Technology business. Richard has also been a Director of the Izone Business Park, in Rolleston, since 2010 and NZ Panelised Building Systems Limited since 2014.

Bill McCorkell is passionate about architecturally-designed sustainable homes and the intersection of architecture with prefabrication and new technologies. Prior to founding ArchiBlox, Bill was Director of Melbourne architecture and interior design firm Techne, and Director of McCorkell Constructions which has contributed to his well-rounded design and building skill-set today. Bill brings explosive talent to his work as an architect and a clear vision to the business to provide beautifully designed, sustainable architecture. His energy and enthusiasm for architecture and prefab, supported by solid industry knowledge, captures the imagination of clients.

Warwick Quinn is the chief executive of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation. He is the former chief executive of Motor Trade Association and Registered Master Builders Association. He has also held the positions of General Manager Regulatory in Land Information New Zealand and the statutory positions of Valuer-General and Chief Crown Property Officer. He has worked in local authorities, multi-national property companies and banks. A registered valuer by profession he is a past chair of the Valuers Registration Board and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers and the Property Institute of NZ. Warwick also holds a MBA from Henley Management College in the UK.

Gary has over 30 years experience in the commercial construction industry, across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Having been based in New Zealand for the last 12 years, he has been working within the pre-fabrication sector, involved in the majority of NZ’s pre-fabrication projects and was the Immediate Past Chairman of PrefabNZ.

Ben Campbell is Technical Director at Abodo Wood Limited.  Here he is responsible for the company’s R&D and New Product Development programs and management of architectural market development. By utilizing user-led insights and design thinking the business is now pushing the boundaries in exterior wood products use and design.

Ben has been involved in the timber and building products sector for over 14 years, during which time he has developed extensive experience in solid timber, engineered wood products, timber treatment and modification technologies. He has been involved with the specification and delivery of sustainable timber solutions to numerous multi-million dollar projects in New Zealand and around the world.

Ben was awarded a Prime Minister’s Scholarship in 2012 through which he completed study in design thinking best practice at the, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.  He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts from the University of Auckland and is a Living Building Challenge Ambassador.

Sean Murrie is the current CEO and a shareholder in Matrix Homes. He co-founded the company to address the housing shortage, and price rises that has seen less Kiwis own their own home than ever before. This was partly altruistic, and partly to be breaking new ground in how construction is undertaken in NZ.

Waco was born and bred in Shanghai and currently resides in Melbourne Australia. Waco has extensive working experience in industries such as architecture, construction, hospitality, international trade, manufacturing, supply chain and travel. Currently holds Master Degrees from Monash University (Australia) in Marketing and Supply Chain Management and Graduate diploma in Hospitality Management.

Back in 2009, Waco successfully executed the launch of PowerHouse Homes in Australia. The company specializes in R&D, manufacture and construct of prefab buildings that cater for both residential and commercial markets including hotels and resorts. Leveraging cutting edge automotive style supply chain methodology, PowerHouse Homes has revolutionized the approach to the traditional building methodology in Australia. PowerHouse Homes combines an innovative and unique formula that has placed it amongst the global market leaders in the prefab industry. Recognized as one the industry leaders, Waco has set the new benchmark for the prefab industry that is gaining increasing support from architects, property developers, hotel developers and operators alike worldwide.

Waco is keen to make new contacts with the prefab professionals in creating and developing sustainable accommodation and solutions that deliver better earth and customer value whilst meeting triple bottom line (i.e. people, profit and planet).

Keeping fit, ballroom dancing, bonsai growing, reading, classic music and personal development and travel are amongst many hobbies and interests of Waco’s.

Jamil is a Technical Director with Beca, and has over 25 years of experience in the design and the construction of major civil structure, bridge and road projects. He has worked on a wide variety of national and international projects in New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Dubai and Pakistan.

He has worked on a number of Design & Build and Alliance projects, where he had the opportunity to work with a team of consultants and contractors. This strong contractor-led design and build experience provided him in-depth understanding of different construction techniques which enabled him to develop and implement a number of Accelerated Bridge Construction initiatives on Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway project.

Jason is Warren and Mahoney’s lead BIM Manager and a Director of Warren and Mahoney Technologies. He has significant experience in 3D and 5D BIM modeling and was BIM Manager for the Willis Towers in Wellington (5D BIM), Terminal 3 International at Jakarta Airport and Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Sydney, and the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct. Jason’s strengths are in design technology adoption, BIM implementation, project documentation delivery and digital workflow automation. He is passionate about design, technology, BIM and collaboration.

Brad is Director of Warren and Mahoney Technologies and has significant experience working and leading large scale, complex projects throughout New Zealand and Australia. Brad has led large teams through all phases of projects valued at NZ$150M+, while coordinating all consultants and engaging as the Principals Representative. He has a working knowledge and passion for BIM, and is interested in its implementation and development industry wide. He has carried out BIM implementation through several practices and across multiple projects to complex clients.

Rose began her career in building control as a cadet building inspector at Manukau City Council in 1987. After 8 years Rose left Manukau and set up her own business as a Building Certifier (the first woman in NZ to do so) eventually employing 13 staff. She has worked for many Councils across the country providing technical expertise and assistance with BCA accreditation; she also worked for International Accreditation NZ as a technical expert. In 2011 Rose took up a role with Auckland Council and is currently the Manager Policy for the building control department.

James has a background of 23+ years in the construction industry working from a laborer’s position through site foreman, Project Manager, 2IC and eventually into his own company as a PMI certified Project Management Professional. James’ area of expertise is in assisting NZ based construction companies reduce project failure, increase bottom line returns and improve GDP percentage returned to the national economy, through the design, implementation and application of International best practice Project management and the eight International standards for Project, Programme and Portfolio management (ISO 215XX series) where James is one of three New Zealanders volunteering to develop these standards.

With over 20 years experience modeling buildings in 3D for lighting analysis the step up to Building Information Modeling was a natural progression. Having served as BIM Manager and BIM Coordinator in Architect’s, Building Services and Structural Engineer’s offices on commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential projects, Michael has a depth of cross disciplinary experience. Michael is currently co-chair of the Wellington BIM and Revit groups (BIM.well and RUGwell) and working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) BIM Acceleration Committee to increase and improve the productivity of the construction industry through BIM education and knowledge sharing.

Janine is an experienced construction and property lawyer having advised on numerous complex construction projects and disputes in New Zealand. She has appeared in arbitration, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Janine provides expert legal advice and dispute resolution services in all aspects of construction and commercial property disputes.

Janine is an active member of the New Zealand Society of Construction Law. She presents regularly on construction and property issues, both at conferences and to individual clients.

David’s construction industry and academic career, evolved from apprentice carpenter, to contractor’s quantity surveyor, through to senior lecturer and he is now leading the development of a new Bachelor of Construction Degree at Otago Polytechnic. He has researched and published in the areas of construction contracts and legislation, including buildability obligations, time adjustment, and dispute resolution. After completing a Master of Construction degree, majoring in Construction Law at Massey University, David was awarded a doctoral scholarship and is currently studying a PhD investigating construction procurement with a view to improve mainstream practices in order to maximize value and improve productivity.