The financial record below keeps apart three sources that academic CVs often merge: the operating result of the unit he leads, external revenue generated through conferences he chaired or hosted, and competitive research and scholarship funding. Each is reported at the level at which it can be evidenced. The operating model itself was not introduced at School level untested; its elements were developed and trialled in his departmental roles before being scaled.
In this sectionContinues below
Strategic and Financial Initiatives
4 entries
2020 to present Current
School operating model and financial independence
Head of Department, then Head of School
Redesigned academic leadership structures, redeployed units and integrated allied and academic streams so that specialist capability is shared rather than duplicated. Combined this with rationalisation of staff to student ratios, cost efficiency modelling, revenue diversification and disciplined cost control.
Result: SoFE returns a surplus of approximately 3X per annum against its annual operating budget
People systems introduced alongside: workload allocation and monitoring, transparent performance review, and structured recognition of teaching and service contributions
Scope
School of Future Environments and, before 2026, Built Environment Engineering
2024 to 2025
External revenue through international conferences
Chair, joint chair or head of host department
Generated millions of dollars in external income for AUT through three international conferences: IGLC32 (as head of the host department), SASBE 2024 with CIB W116 (as joint chair) and the inaugural GDI 2025 (as founder and joint chair).
Realigning the School’s portfolio to its two disciplinary cores after the discontinuation of the Creative Technology programmes, and leading the case for a new Level 7 Graduate Diploma in Construction Management, built on competitor analysis and the settings of Immigration New Zealand visa policy.
Redevelopment of the Creative Technology minor for the Architecture department
Graduate Diploma proposal under internal approval through the Dean of the Faculty
Approval route
Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies; CUAP
2026
Industry partnership for student talent
Head of School
Established a partnership with Signature Homes around The Future of Home, a student design competition with an associated scholarship, linking the School’s students with a New Zealand home builder.