In this episode of Tall Stories Sophie Prebble, the Institute’s Marketing and Communications Lead, talks with Christina de Boer. 

Christina is the Head of Design Delivery at Summerset and the Chair of the Institute’s Central Region Committee. 

Born and raised in rural Scotland, Christina always new she wanted a career where she could do something practical. Starting in Engineering, Christina’s natural leadership qualities quickly led her into management roles and then onto Design Management. Meeting and marrying a Kiwi led her to a life here in Aotearoa. 

Christina discusses:

• Working in the UK versus NZ
• Current technical challenges she faces in her work including managing multiple different consent processes around the country.
• How having kids and not being able to control everything changed her perspective and made her a better manager.
• Being open to trying different technologies and software.
• How all those in the construction industry would benefit from having a broader understanding than just their own role.
• A positive change she’s seen in the last five years of a greater understanding of people who have different opinions (i.e. designers and builders).
• How having a positive, can-do attitude is the greatest asset. 

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.