Connection is important to me, whether to people or to the spaces we occupy. Building and building design has always attracted me for this reason. I’m driven by quality builds and designing spaces that people enjoy being in. Moving to Australia from New Zealand at fourteen, I completed high school in Melbourne. I began my tertiary education in journalism and public relations however the call of structural creation was strong. It took me to an Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Technology at RMIT University in 2006. This led to a succession of creative building design roles, both in my own drafting business and with a number of innovative and progressive architectural practices. It was at this point in my career that I learnt to combine creativity with the practical and technical skills necessary to create beautiful and enduring buildings. Along the way I absorbed the knowledge that allowed me to teach AutoCAD and design, also at RMIT university.I’ve fostered great relationships with colleagues and clients over the years, which has always provided a great network of inspiration and work opportunities across many industries.BSS Group founder and architect, Alasdair Macleod, encouraged me to expand my experience in the building sector when he invited me to join the company full time in 2015. This role gave me the opportunity to draw on my broad range of experience and bring together with my strengths.In my current role as Senior Building Consultant, I survey property conditions for a variety of clients, ranging from protection works for builders through to some of Victoria’s largest infrastructure projects. I get to see different styles of architecture across Victoria, and how their construction has stood over time. I enjoy meeting the diverse range of people that work, live and play in these buildings. Honesty, pragmatism, attention to detail and high-level organisation serve me well in this role, as I move from tendering on large commercial projects through to coordinating inspections with home-owners and inspectors.Recently my role has seen me lead the expansion of the dilapidation team. Over the course of a 12 month period I developed and implemented new strategies which has delivered significant growth to this arm of the business. The level of service BSS Group is now known for is a testament to the work we’ve done in this area. I’m confident that the detail we bring to building inspections, and particularly dilapidation reports, has no equal in Melbourne or Victoria. It’s a big call, and one I’m proud to make.