Eric van Essen

Background

About Eric van Essen

I love to inspire and empower the teams I lead. Developing a positive culture, challenging the status quo and encouraging creativity to deliver great projects. The transformational power of designing and building beautiful, functional and enduring spaces for people to enjoy drives me. Leading a $350 million programme of work over the past three years has challenged me to develop a more diverse set of skills to meet the demands of the role. I’m grateful for the opportunity and have enjoyed every step in the process. There’s nothing like the rapid growth curve that comes with the pressure of delivering a number of complex and high stakes projects on Auckland’s downtown waterfront! The programme’s success has been the result of a talented and unified team with a clear plan. They’ve developed great designs with input from all the right people. Stayed connected with the community. Overcome endless challenges and been diligent when building the work. Over the past 20 years I’ve delivered several projects in Auckland’s city centre. It’s an exciting and dynamic place to work! Highlights have included managing major utility works in the Viaduct Harbour to support the America’s Cup Village development for Team NZ’s defence in and in Queen Street for the Britomart Train Station development which opened in 2003. Another was delivering the city’s first shared spaces in Elliott Street and Darby Street in readiness for the 2011 Rugby World Cup hosted in Auckland. When I’m not solving problems or keeping the team humming along, I’m spending time with my wife and kids on the North Shore of Auckland, being entertained by my crazy dog, working up a sweat maintaining my landscaped garden, or staying fit and energised by running the neighbourhood streets and parks. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to share your thoughts and ideas on the challenges of designing and building great city spaces and infrastructure. Professional skills: project management | programme management | contract management | leadership | management | project delivery | engineering | public transport | active modes | infrastructure | streetscape | shared space | public realm | urban regeneration | community consultation | local government