This week, we had the chance to sit down with Frequency Senior Associate, Isaac Kett, to talk about his career journey and his recent big win at the NZIOB Building People Awards 2024, where he took home both the Consultants Award and the overall Supreme Award.
Isaac, congratulations on your wins at the NZIOB Awards! Can you tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now?
My interest in civil construction started at a young age. My family has a bit of history in infrastructure and construction, so whenever we had the chance, we would visit construction sites together. I still have vivid memories of visiting the Clyde Dam when I was in primary school, which left a lasting impression. By the time I got to high school, not much else grabbed my attention in the same way. Even when I was thinking about university options, the Science Department suggested that I consider engineering instead of sciences – it seemed like a natural fit.
After graduating with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Engineering, I initially thought I’d spend a couple of years as a contractor to get some hands-on experience before moving into design consulting. I ended up loving contracting so much that I stayed in it for 15 years, with 13 of those years spent in Vancouver, Canada.
When I eventually returned to New Zealand, I made a transition to client-side project management. I wanted to be more involved in shaping the strategy from the very start of a project, and this role allowed me to do exactly that.
You’ve worked on a variety of projects, from pavement construction to large-scale rail electrification. What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on, and how did you overcome those challenges?
The Papakura to Pukekohe (P2P) Electrification Programme was definitely one of the most challenging projects I’ve been involved in. Managing multiple workstreams within an active rail corridor required a lot of careful planning and coordination. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was designing Pukekohe Station while we were already in the process of building it. That created a real risk for the project’s overall success.
To tackle it, I stepped into dual roles as both design manager and project manager to lead a full redesign. We brought together all the key players – main contractor, client-appointed contractors, and design consultants, and took a really collaborative approach. Each week, we would have an all-in design meeting that included the contractor so that we could request a list of their priority items and focus on resolving them first. I’ve experienced many projects where the designer and contractor were working at arm’s length, often resulting in misunderstandings about what was happening on site. It was a complex but very rewarding experience.
Sustainability has become a crucial aspect of modern infrastructure projects. How have you integrated sustainable practices into your work?
Sustainability is always a top priority in the projects I manage. One of the key ways is through reusing existing materials whenever possible. On the P2P project, for example, we used lime/cement stabilization on a KiwiRail project for the first time. This approach cut down the need for excavation and disposal of materials, reducing it by approximately 40%, and we saw a 25% cost savings as well.
We also pushed back on some ideas that seemed overly conservative. In one area, it looked like we would need a significant amount of polystyrene lightweight fill capped with a concrete slab to avoid long term settlement. But after a closer review, we realised we could use hard fill with just four weeks of preloading, completely eliminating the need for the polystyrene and concrete slab. That kind of problem solving not only kept sustainability in focus, but also helped us achieve better project outcomes.
You’ve also been recognised for your ability to build and lead teams. What’s your approach to team leadership?
For me, effective team leadership is all about empowering each team member to take full ownership of their work. I like to set clear expectations for the outcomes we need and then give the team the freedom to figure out the best way to achieve those results. We have an initial discussion to go over their ideas, concerns, and potential risks, and we’ll check in as needed, but I try to avoid micromanaging.
I also believe it’s crucial to understand each team member’s strengths and motivations and to encourage them to share their ideas. It’s really about building trust, fostering innovation, and making sure that every voice is heard.
Looking back on your career, what accomplishments are you most proud of?
From a project perspective, I’m especially proud of my role in the Papakura to Pukekohe Electrification Programme. I didn’t just step in to manage the redesign and redevelopment of Pukekohe Station, I also coordinated multiple work teams throughout the overall P2P corridor. Balancing access for different teams with conflicting priorities, all while making sure trains weren’t affected, was a real challenge, but we managed to get it done successfully.
Being recognised for these efforts at the New Zealand Building People Awards 2024 is definitely a career highlight for me.
What advice would you give to young professionals looking to build a career in civil construction and project management?
My advice would be to stay curious and keep learning. It’s important to build a strong foundation in both the technical and management sides of the industry. Spend time with contractors on-site to understand the challenges they face while making sure you’re meeting client’s expectations. Don’t be afraid to question designers and push for solutions that offer the best balance of cost, programme and sustainability. Ask questions and share your observations and ideas. Every project has something new to teach you, and those experiences are crucial for shaping your career.
What’s next for you in your career? Any goals or projects on the horizon?
Having spent a lot of my career abroad, I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with the local industry here in Aotearoa and contributing to tackling the country’s infrastructure challenges. Frequency has made incredible strides since their inception, so I’m also looking forward to supporting their continued growth and seeing where we can go in the coming years.
Our Project Management Infrastructure team collaborates with clients to deliver essential infrastructure projects that define the future of New Zealand’s transport networks and public assets.