Glenn Jowett 2021 Emerging Leader finalist

Meet Glenn Jowett, Technical Director & Digital Engineering Advisory at Beca and 2021 Emerging Leader Award finalist. 

Glenn Jowett

Glenn Jowett

How would others describe your leadership style?

Others describe my leadership style as open and direct, with the courage to challenge how people think. They know that I work in the best interests of the team, the business, and the wider industry. Some people describe my leadership style as dynamic: assertive when the situation demands it, yet also support to help people operate at their best level; affiliative and inclusive.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I would describe my leadership style as bold and tenacious. I do not waiver from a worthy challenge, particularly where it involves things that are important to my team, my clients, or the construction industry. I love seeing people succeed – I am not afraid of setting high expectations and providing the tools and mentorship to help people achieve those expectations. I love to lead by example and push myself hard, to show people what can be achieved and to bring them on the journey with me.

Why did you apply for the award?

I have known about the ACE New Zealand Emerging Leader (formerly Future Leader) award for a number of years, it is a very prestigious industry award and something that I have had an eye on trying to win for the last 3 or four years. For me, winning an award like this isn’t about personal success, it is about validating that all the hard work myself and many others have put in to try and change this industry is the right thing to do. It is an award to celebrate innovation across the industry, if I am lucky enough to win, I will just happen to be the face of that.

Tell me about the Emerging Leader Award process – did you find out a lot about yourself, did you like the process / could we improve in any way?

I found the emerging leader award process very rewarding. Writing the submission provided me with a reason to sit back and reflect on my career to date and the key moments that have led to my development as a leader. I have always embraced and made the most of every opportunity that was ever given to me throughout my career, a mindset that I believe is important for the future generation of leaders in our industry.

I also realised that through education and mentoring, technical leadership, and challenging business as usual approaches, I have had a significant positive impact on the careers of multiple people in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. In addition to driving significant industry change through my involvement with the New Zealand BIM Acceleration Committee, the NZ BIM Handbook, the BIM in NZ Conference, and the BIM industry training group.

I’ve improved the way that clients deliver their projects, won multiple awards both personally, for Beca, and for my clients, and I’ve had fun along the way. Whether I win the Emerging Leader Award or not, I can look back on a very rewarding and distinguished career to date and look forward to continuing to grow as a leader whilst nurturing the future leaders of our industry.

What do you get a kick out of in your current role?

There are two things that I really ‘get a kick out of’ in my current role. The first is empowering the young professionals around me and seeing them grow into their roles on projects and grow as leaders in the industry. The second is seeing that ‘light bulb moment’ with my clients when they realise the benefits and value that we bring to their organisations and projects through the implementation of Digital Engineering and improved information management processes.

Where do you see yourself in five, ten years’ time?

In five or ten years’time I want to look back and see that I have made a difference to the industry, my clients, my peers in the industry and my colleagues at Beca. This difference will be realised through embedding Digital Engineering processes and collaborative ways of working into the way we deliver projects and manage assets.

Why did you get into engineering and consulting – what made you decide to study it?

I have always had an interest in architecture and how buildings are constructed. There is something really powerful about being part of a building project and seeing the tangible outcome. I think that is what attracts a lot of people to this industry – you can be a part of making spaces and places where people live and work, you truly have the ability to impact people’s lives.

What’s something interesting about yourself we probably don’t know about?

I am a very good cook; I find cooking quite therapeutic and enjoy creating new dishes across a range of cuisines. I cook several authentic Indian curries (completely from scratch) and could easily spend hours in the kitchen on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon cooking up a storm. I’ve recently learned how to make Tortillas from scratch and invested in a Tortilla press.

I also have my entire back tattooed, something that a lot of people find very surprising!

Meet our other 2021 Emerging Leader finalists