Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
Having moved from Europe to New Zealand, I’ve experienced different ways of practising architecture, and curiosity has guided my path so far. During my time at WAM, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, from residential to masterplanning and landscape work. I’m drawn to complex projects and enjoy that each one requires its own unique approach. For the past year and a half, I’ve been part of the team working on Downtown West - a large-scale project in the heart of Auckland.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
I would encourage my younger self to keep dreaming big - it’s easy to become more cautious as life becomes more structured.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I’m often inspired through observation - travelling, reading about different places and cultures, and understanding how people live and interact with their environments. When you slow down, you start noticing the details that make a place and its people unique.
What gives you hope for the future?
The mindset of expecting the unexpected gives me hope for the future. It reminds me that present isn’t permanent and change is unpredictable. Accepting uncertainty creates space for adaptation and new possibilities.
What’s your favourite project - and why?
My favourite project is one I worked on that was built - the Waaggebouw in Eindhoven, Netherlands, by Next Architects. It was incredibly rewarding to see how closely the collage illustrations I created resembled the completed spaces.
Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
I grew up in Tokoroa, a small North Island town, and now live in Queenstown. I joined the South Island team at WAM nearly four years ago and have worked on a variety of projects during that time - from Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch, to BNZ future network in Auckland and local residential projects. I returned from parental leave this past year after welcoming my daughter, and I now embrace the chaos of working mum life. It’s been a journey!
What advice would you give your younger self today?
Trust the process and keep putting in the work. The journey may not be linear, but the challenges are how you learn. Just keep moving forward.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Just about everywhere - in art, film, nature, and travel. I find inspiration in the world around me; there’s always something new to learn from and appreciate.
What gives you hope for the future?
Our capacity to innovate and adapt in the face of adversity - both as individuals and as a design studio. At WAM, I see the constant, conscious effort by the team to evolve and improve within cultural, social, and environmental contexts.
What’s your favourite project and why?
I was fortunate to be involved in the future network rollout for i-SITE. Growing up in New Zealand, i-SITEs have always felt almost iconic. It was an excellent modular retail concept developed by WAM the team, and I enjoyed contributing to the delivery in Queenstown and Wānaka in particular, as these locations are close to home for me.
Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
As WAM’s General Counsel, I sit at the intersection of design, business, governance, and risk. My role is about enabling WAM’s ambition alongside ensuring the longevity of the practice – touching on all things legal along the way. The great relationships I have with my wildly clever colleagues, in NZ and across the Tasman bring a lot of enjoyment, fun, and interest to my role.
About me personally: My favourite weekend of the year is always Splore – it’s an 8,000 person-strong dress-up party/music/arts festival at Tapapakanga National Park. This says a lot about my interests: nature, the ocean, music, dancing, swimming, art, self-expression, dress-ups and fashion, spending time with old friends and making new ones.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
Take every opportunity, Charlotte Sygrove. If you don't know how to do that particular thing, you are certainly capable of learning it.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I look to our projects – the places and spaces that WAM creates. These inspire me, as they remind me of the excellence and history of this business. I will regularly boast to my friends “look, that’s one of OUR projects” when out and about (taking the credit as though I, myself, delivered it), and I’m first to put up my hand to go on a site visit to see a WAM project under construction. Being part of an award-winning team, recognised globally for what we create together (all playing our different roles), is inspirational.
What gives you hope for the future?
The way the workforce has changed even since I started working has given me hope for more women in leadership, to provide positive role models and girl bosses who the younger generation can look up to. "Softer" leadership skills are now not only recognised, but also seen as essential, which I consider benefits everyone.
What’s your favourite project and why?
My current favourite is the NZ International Convention Centre – which has just opened. It is an immense project, designed to such a high standard, and it looks simply fabulous from the inside and out. A mammoth effort, that I was lucky enough to visit several times during its construction...which took a while, but it was worth the wait! Also, we are designing the full interior of Atlassian Central, currently under construction – it’s the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower right over Central Station in Sydney and it looks HUGE. Seeing that in real life was pretty surreal (I may have gasped…).
Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
I’m passionate about how design can improve the user’s emotional and physical wellbeing and how small details affect people’s experiences. My role at WAM evolves multidisciplinary knowledge, mentoring and sharing my experiences with others and learning new ways to approach challenges in a collaborative environment.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
Don’t be afraid of big moves and that it’s never too late to learn new things.
Where do you look for inspiration?
In the strong women around me - especially my family, and in the simple things in life: natural landscapes and how it can transform our feelings and sensations.
What gives you hope for the future?
The way the world is moving toward more sustainable practices in all areas and how kids are growing up more conscious about our natural resources.
What’s your favourite project - and why?
Atlassian Sydney - it wasn’t a business-as-usual project. It required extensive research and innovation, along with an ambitious goal to significantly reduce carbon emissions in construction and contribute to a better environment. The process was challenging and involved the use of advanced technology and tools to coordinate closely with consultants and anticipate potential construction issues well in advance using ours and consultants 3D models.
Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
I love all aspects of design, which has led me to this industry. One of my favourite courses in university was furniture design, as I was able to not only design but also translate ideas and make them a reality. Working at WAM I have already had the opportunity to be involved in developing a couple of interior projects. I’m excited to see how these designs become a reality and the real impact they will have on people’s everyday experiences.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
‘Embrace discomfort’ is a saying I’ve heard throughout my life – which previously I could never allow myself to do. Nothing beats the feeling of comfort – but I’ve come to learn that when you’re comfortable, nothing changes. Putting myself in uncomfortable situations has caused not only change but most importantly, growth. So while I never listened to this advice when I was younger, perhaps if it came from me, I might have taken this advice seriously a little sooner.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I often find inspiration from my everyday life; the things, and places I interact with. I often find experiencing design to be the most inspiring. Otherwise, I look to others, whether that be the people around me or the never-ending talent of designers across the world.
What gives you hope for the future?
Living in Aotearoa is a privilege. I feel a real sense of community wherever I go and it’s the support from the communities I am a part of that gives me hope for the future. The relationships I have formed are the reason why I’m in the position I am today and the reason why I’m so excited to see what the future holds for me.
What’s your favourite project - and why?
Choosing a favourite project is difficult as I like so many projects and designs for so many different reasons! Sir John Soanes house was an interior that I found fascinating while I was studying. It's truly an interior that speaks for itself.
Tell us about yourself and your role at WAM
I have worked both in the Auckland and Christchurch offices, with an OE in between. I've been part of the interiors team for the past 10 years, working across a wide variety of projects.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
I would tell myself to always grasp every opportunity and to stop worrying about what other people think.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I find inspiration in travel, being out in nature and experiencing different cultures. Getting out sparks fresh ideas and a new perspective.
What gives you hope for the future?
There is a real shift towards more thoughtful, sustainable design and a willingness to challenge the way things have always been done.
What’s your favourite project and why?
One of my favourite projects at WAM has been Waimarie at Lincoln University - as I’ve learnt how proud of a project you can be in the years following. There was an incredible design team behind Waimarie and the project won a World Architecture Festival award last year. It was a privilege to see the project through and feel proud of the positive impact it has on the wider campus and the people experiencing it.
