“The problems of the future are getting ever more complex. Our problem-solving skills need to continue to evolve to include even closer collaboration from multiple disciplines. I see the art of solving complex problems as the key to unlocking our future opportunities.”
Prior to joining Resolve Group in 2023, Jack’s architectural qualifications led to experience in designing buildings, delivering large scale infrastructure projects, and providing investment and commercial advice, with the common driver throughout his career being navigating and solving complex problems. Jack says Resolve Group’s formidable reputation for high-quality and honest advice, where best-for-outcome is always the top priority, are values that align closely with his own professional ethos.
Jack has worked as a transport planner and active mode specialist. He has been involved in delivering projects such as Auckland Waitematā Harbour Connections, City Centre to Mangere (Auckland Light Rail), the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency SeaPath business case and the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) Stages 2 and 3. Jack has also worked with Te Tupu Ngātahi–Supporting Growth Alliance, undertaking planning for route protection across the Auckland region.
A specialist in business case development, Jack is particularly interested in working with clients to develop opportunities that are commercially and financially viable. He has led large scale business cases for clients including Auckland Transport and Let’s Get Wellington Moving and has worked on bespoke business cases for regional district councils, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and tourism trusts.
Demonstrating his skills at providing strategic advice to clients to build viable funding opportunities is Jack’s work with government ministries to leverage funding opportunities for regional council and tourism organisations. Developing strategic and political relationships in the tourism sector, Jack supported options development work and advised clients on commercial strategies, funding strategies and management structure, projects that received ministerial endorsement and were subsequently delivered.
Born in China and raised in Christchurch, Jack appreciates the opportunities afforded to him by the distinct cultural perspectives his upbringing gave him, and feels it lends him an advantage particularly in stakeholder conversations and in explaining complex ideas. Post earthquake, Jack returned to his hometown and spent three years, leading a multidisciplinary team to assess, design, consent, and oversaw the construct of more than 80, significantly damaged, residential and commercials properties. Jack says the satisfaction of returning people that had lost so much in the earthquake to safe and warm homes stays with him to this day.
Jack offers his clients:
- A range of perspectives from urban design to infrastructure delivery, and an ability to link problem-solving ideas from his experience working in the transport, housing, tourism, urban design, and architecture sectors.
- Strong storytelling and visual narrative abilities leveraging off his architectural experience; skills particularly relevant for communicating strategy, policy, investment, and business case development work, especially when visually explaining complex ideas.
- Urban design and transport planning expertise with specialist skills in active modes.
- Business case development and funding advisory skills and experience; he is a registered Better Business Case practitioner.
- Meaningful community engagement skills and experience; he is a certified Practitioner for Engagement (IAP2).
Vienna, Austria is Jack’s favourite international destination. He appreciates the city’s walking, cycling and public transport networks and the way land use functions are well-planned and delivered to support housing intensification. Jack also values how creative architectural expressions blend its vast history with modern interpretations and thinks New Zealand could benefit from many aspects of Vienna’s recent transport and land use development.
He enjoys mountain biking and camping in the South Island and likes to relive his cycle racing days by taking one of his seven bikes out for a spin. With young children at home, however, he is spending more time these days teaching his children the joys of riding a bike than riding himself.