9 GREAT Reasons to use Markplan Consulting
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Your Team
We invite you to meet the team........ see what we do and how we can help you!
Click here to discover our extensive list of services at Markplan.
Technical Team
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Cheryl Smith Practice Manager |
Andrea Halloran Practice Administration |
Sheri Pradel Office Assistant |
A Bit About Us.....
Mark Smith
Principal
BSc. Eng, MIPENZ, CPEng, Int PE (NZ)
Mark Smith is the Principal of Markplan Consulting Ltd which he established in 1995. He brings over 25 years structural, civil and construction engineering experience to the team and has worked on a huge variety of projects throughout New Zealand as well as in Australia and the Pacific Islands including Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, Tahiti and Vanuatu. Marks' early career years were spent as a construction engineer and manager in South Africa and Botswana, where he managed the construction of a variety of infrastructural and industrial projects. These projects included incremental launch bridges, a canning factory, brewery, grain silos, water towers, open cast coal and diamond mine infrastructure as well as large scale sewerage treatment plant infrastructure.
Born in South Africa, Mark lived his younger years mainly in Zimbabwe and South Africa and travelled extensively in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi before arriving to settle in New Zealand in the early 90’s. These African roots have led to a lifelong love affair with the bush and Mark now spends a fair bit of his spare time adventure motorcycling with his two young daughters in the beautiful bush and farming areas of NZ. Married to Cheryl (who is the Practice Manager of Markplan Consulting) the family also has a love of water, born largely from Marks' years spent in the Navy before he went to University to study engineering. Mark and the girls (excluding Cheryl who wouldn't live on a boat unless you paid her plenty!) would live on the water, given the choice, but instead reside on terra firma in Torbay and cram the water sports, sailing, kayaking, fishing and diving into any time they are not working or biking. The islands of the Gulf are the family’s playground and one of the many reasons they love New Zealand so much. The girls often refer to God's Own as paradise and, as proud New Zealanders, who are we to disagree?!
Mark has a real passion for his team at Markplan and the love of all things structural that they all share. TOP
Cheryl Smith
Practice Manager
Dip Food Serv Mgt; Dip HR & Tr.
Cheryl holds the position of Practice Manager and has had a guiding hand, working closely with her husband, Mark, in the growth of Markplan Consulting for the past ten years. It is a position Cheryl loves, after having left a career in training and development in a large corporate, as it gives her flexibility in being able to manage the busy Practice as well as be at home, when she is needed, for their two young children. She says working with the great team of dedicated people at Markplan is what makes going to work so enjoyable.
Cheryl and Mark have lived on the Shore since their arrival in NZ in the early 90's from South Africa seeking a safer lifestyle. Access to beautiful beaches is what the family most enjoys about living in Torbay and is where they spend a lot of their weekend leisure time, either on the water boating, or next to it. An avid booklover, Cheryl makes plenty of time to read (legal dramas and novels set in history) and is an active member of a book club. TOP
Andrea Halloran
Practice Administrator
Born in Auckland, but having lived mostly on the North Shore, Andrea has spent the last 16 years working in office administration roles within building related industries in small to medium sized businesses.
This industry experience is a huge advantage to Andrea in her role as Practice Administrator. Andrea joined Markplan Consulting in August 2007 working closely with the Practice Manager. She looks after the accounts and plays an important role in the smooth running of the office on a day to day basis.
Andrea enjoys being part of the small family friendly team at Markplan, contributing to team meetings as well as expanding her administration knowledge and skills. Having flexibility in her job, by working part time, gives Andrea a balance of work and family life. Andrea and her husband Nathan have two young children, both active in their sports, so this keeps her busy in the afternoons and weekends when you can often find her on the side lines cheering for the children’s teams. TOP
Glen Cossey
Senior Structural Engineer
BE, MIPENZ, CPEng
Glen is a Chartered Professional Structural and Civil engineer, and is involved in many facets of the projects that the Markplan team works on - from concept through to detailed design and construction. Glen can be contacted early on in a project’s planning stage to add engineering input and generally Glen will be one of the Markplan team to provide input into your project in the early stages, including working through the scope of work to establish fee structures with you.
Engineering is all about solving problems and working with people through these problems, and this aspect really appeals to Glen. Finding innovative and exciting solutions to problems is what Glen thrives on, and he relishes the opportunity to do this in the Markplan environment.
Glen enjoys the challenges and rewards of working at Markplan but is also keeps busy outside of work hours playing music (saxophone player in Auckland band The Hot Grits and a DJ on K-Road radio station Kfm), restoring a 26 foot Townson keel boat and racing yachts in various Royal NZ Yacht Squadron Races. Glen also enjoys working on renovations to his Point Chevalier home and spending time with his wife Abbie. He also enjoys cooking and good coffee, and entertaining friends at home or away from Auckland.
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Chris Steven
Senior Structural Engineer
BE (Civil) Hons, CPEng, MIPENZ, IntPE(NZ)
Born and raised in Auckland, Chris qualified as a structural engineer with honours at Auckland University.
Chris worked in Auckland for a short time after completing his degree before heading off on his big overseas experience. Using London as a base, he worked full time as a structural engineer gaining valuable experience and still found time to travel extensively, which had always been a dream of his. Seeking the kiwi lifestyle, Chris returned to Auckland with his fiancée Gillian to get married, settle down and start a family. He is now the proud dad of a beautiful baby boy.
Being part of a friendly but motivated team is one of the main reasons Chris joined Markplan. He enjoys the day to day challenges and responsibilities that go with being a senior engineer and has a particular interest in projects that involve thinking outside the square.
In his spare time – which has greatly reduced - Chris enjoys fishing, is a SCUBA divemaster, plays poker weekly with mates, indoor football to keep fit, a good game of rugby and spending time with friends and family. TOP
Don Landsbergen
Engineering Technician
NZCAD
Don was born and raised in Auckland’s eastern suburbs. He spent four and a half years working in London and traveling through Europe, Egypt, India and Kathmandu before returning to New Zealand to marry Jenny and pursue a career as an architectural draughtsperson.
Don has spent 24 years in the construction industry in a variety of positions ranging from architectural draughtsperson on residential and commercial projects to sales representative in the construction industry, to estimator with Stresscrete and assisting with the establishment of Firth Industries’ Ribraft slab system for the Auckland market.
It was from this time with Firth Industries that Don developed his passion for all things concrete and established his long term relationship with Markplan designing, drawing and inspecting Ribraft slabs and associated foundations. Don’s role in Markplan is that of in-house Ribraft and H1 calculations specialist.
Don values his opportunity to work with the team at Markplan with their no nonsense approach and open, friendly and supportive environment. The Markplan culture mirrors his own personal view of providing excellent customer service and practical cost-effective solutions to structural engineering issues.
Being fit and healthy for as long as he can be is one of Don’s goals and, as a result, he has been of a sporting persuasion all of his life. He has participated in 1st 15 rugby, single class yacht racing, competitive squash, competitive windsurfing, marathon running and is currently enjoying cycling, competing in both mountain biking and road racing events. When the going gets tough Don likes nothing better than to set off on a two to three hour off road bike and when he’s not out there in the bush, you’ll find him in his gourmet kitchen at home cooking great food for Jenny and friends. TOP
Jim Hammond
Structural Engineer
BE (Civil), NZCE (Civil), G.IPENZ
Jim was born in Castor Bay and is a “North Shorite” through and through. Easy going in nature, Jim lives in a busy household of three boys, aged 10, 8 and 2yrs, and his partner Georgina, a beauty therapist, who works from home.
Jim has built up a wealth of building and construction experience since leaving Long Bay College, beginning with over six years' experience working with building companies as a builder on both commercial and residential projects. He then went to the UK and Europe for a few years retuning to complete an NZCE. After a few more years work experience Jim found himself at Auckland University completing his BE degree.
Jim joined Markplan in 2004 after being introduced by a friend who enjoyed working with the Markplan team. He enjoys the variety of the work he is exposed to and the challenges of being involved in, not only engineering but, responsibilities that go with running a successful Practice.
In his spare time Jim is an enthusiastic soccer coach for kids (both his older sons play soccer), he enjoys fishing and the odd game of touch and can be often found down at the pub or rugby club with mates urging on a favourite team. TOP
John Grieve
Engineer
Dip.Tech.Eng
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, John has lived in Auckland since 2000. He has been involved with engineering all his life and has accumulated over thirty years' experience in the industry.
John has been a CAD and hand draughtsman and Project Manager in mining and abattoir projects. He was the chief draughtsman at a pulp mill in Swaziland and the manager on mega-yacht construction projects as well as supervising construction projects on oil platforms in South Africa.
John brings a vast range of life experience to his role in Markplan from being the owner of an auto repair business to some more unusual employment opportunities such as owning a playground construction company, being a vegetarian hotel cook, a carpenter in the Caribbean, a clinic cleaner and house plasterer in California.
He joined Markplan in 2002 after a few years of intense searching for that truly suitable position. The friendly, flexible, no nonsense approach at Markplan and the freedom of expression is important to John to have in his place of work. John takes an active interest in Markplan and values his input into the success of the Practice.
John is married to Laura and has three grown sons. The family lives in Orewa on a beautiful lifestyle block which adjoins a nudist club, so they enjoy a “clothing optional” lifestyle at home. When not busy building, planting native trees or maintaining the land, John and his family can be found kayaking and camping in remote areas of New Zealand. John also runs a Shotokan Karate Club in Long Bay and is a 3rd Dan black belt. John and Laura love to travel and plan to do more of that. TOP
Jun Segismar
Structural Draughtsperson
B.Sc.Arch (PH)
Jun, originally an architectural draftie from Cebu, an island in the Phillipines, has lived in New Zealand on the Shore with her husband Ronald, a QS, and two teenage children since 2006. Her years of experience draughting in the architectural field has given her an insight into building design and construction which helps immensely when interpreting structural draughting work.
Jun enjoys the friendly, relaxed work atmosphere at Markplan and, with the Practice being close to her home, she no longer sits in the city traffic and has more time to spend with her young family. Jun says that she loves using all the new skills she has gained and her career has become enriched since her move to New Zealand.
Being a busy working mum, Jun has little free time for herself, but enjoys the movies when she gets to go to them. She enjoys travel too and aims to be able to do lots of it once the children are bigger. TOP
Sheri Pradel
Administration Assistant
Sheri Pradel joined Markplan in November 2010 as our Office Administrator.
A 4th generation New Zealander, she was brought up on Auckland’s North Shore but developed a yearning to travel overseas during her primary school years when she fell in love with Jimmy (aged 6) who was unexpectedly plucked from her class and taken back to England with his family, leaving her bewildered and bereft.
After holding various secretarial positions in commercial companies in New Zealand, Sheri’s love of French led her to France (Jimmy totally forgotten), and to a position at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris. She spent 6 years there, during which time she met Patrick who came back to settle in NZ with her. They have four children, 3 boys and a girl.
During her spare time Sheri loves to tinkle on the piano and sing – strictly for her own ears – and she adores reading. She has recently taken up bike-riding (after a 20-year absence from the saddle) and last year did the 150 km Otago Rail Trail with her husband and friends and was thrilled she did not have to be helicoptered out.
Whilst bringing up her children Sheri has been studying French and Linguistics at Massey University and she dreams of one day owning a holiday home in France. TOP
Stuart Knox
Project Supervisor
Cert.Tech Eng
With over 43 years' experience, Stuart joined the Markplan team in 1997. He is originally from Bristol in the UK and moved to Auckland in 1994 with his wife Diane and three children, who are now married with children of their own. He is the proud grandfather of four beautiful little grandchildren.
Stuart has always worked in engineering, starting in manual draughting and progressing to management of projects both on and off site. Stuart has remained a staunch supporter of Markplan over the years because he believes in the culture of honesty and integrity which Markplan has always operated under.
“Aside from providing bread, milk and shoes for the family”, Stuart says jokingly, when asked what his job meant to him, “the opportunity to work on very interesting and challenging projects and being given the responsibility to overcome problems on site.” Dealing with Markplan Clients and Contractors and following a job through from conception to completion on site gives Stuart immense job satisfaction.
Stuart also participates in a number of shooting sports having twice had the honour of competing for NZ in international competition. His reading library is full of history and the study of firearms, ballistics and hunting.
Stuart would like to continue life in paradise for as long as possible. (NZ and Torbay in particular, where he lives with Diane, with its semi rural feel and wonderful beaches). He says he’s going for 114 years at least! He is passionate about freedom, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. TOP
James Grieve
Structural Engineer
B.Eng.Tech.
James graduated from Unitec with his Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil) in 2006. He is now a graduate engineer of IPENZ and is enjoying his role within Markplan as a Design Engineer as well as a structural Draughtsperson.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, James has lived in Auckland since 2000. He has been involved with engineering, draughting and construction of all kinds for most of his life. Always interested in construction, James followed in his father’s footsteps - John, who also works at Markplan, and has been his life long mentor. James’ dream is to one day be involved in both design and build projects.
James has been with the Markplan team in both a temporary (student days) and fulltime capacity since late 2002 and says it is a great environment to learn and grow professionally. Being expected to take on the responsibility of a project from start to finish and liaise with the client along the way is part of Markplan culture and this encourages learning in all aspects of the role as one's career develops.
James lives with his family in Orewa on a beautiful lifestyle block. He has trained in martial arts for his whole life and has achieved his 3rd Dan black belt. James trains at the family run Shotokan Karate Club in Long Bay. He loves to travel and plans to do more. TOP
Clive Williams
Engineering Technician
BSc (Civil) Hons
Born in Enfield, North London Clive successfully graduated from London South Bank University with a BSc honours in Civil Engineering whilst working part-time & gaining valuable experience in an Engineering consultancy as a structural draftsman for 3 years. Always with a desire to travel Clive left the UK in 2008 for his big OE, travelling through Asia & Australia before arriving in NZ. Initially working for Stresscrete Northern Ltd, Clive joined the Markplan team in May 2010 and enjoys his dual role of Engineering design and structural drafting. He is passionate about building design and enjoys contemporary architecture. Clive also values his opportunity here at Markplan and particularly enjoys working within a team of like minded people.
Since arriving in NZ for a month (almost 18 months ago) and settling in his new ‘home’ in Auckland he has adopted the kiwi life and now enjoys hobbies such as scuba diving, fishing and occasionally hitting the slopes for some snowboarding. Clive still enjoys travelling and in his spare time likes to see and experience all of what NZ has to offer. TOP
Dean Turner
Structural Engineer
Dean has always loved creating stuff and spending time doing things outdoors which lead to his embarking on an apprenticeship as a builder. After around 15 years on the tools, he decided to broaden his skills and study civil engineering. In 2006 he joined Nancekivell Cairn as an Engineer, where he was involved in the design and supervision of a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial developments. He remained with Nancekivell Cairn for a total of 6 years before accepting employment with the North Shore City Council as a building control officer, carrying out building inspections for mostly residential developments. His approach to completing inspections was to provide advice and guide contractors throughout the construction process, and at the same time ensure construction was completed and in compliance with the New Zealand building Code.
Dean first met Mark (Principal of Markplan) while completing an inspection of his house, and discovered that they shared a common interest....dirt bikes. Dean eventually joined Markplan in August 2011, by which time he had sold his dirt bike and replaced it with a boat, which makes sense when you live in Whangaparaoa. A boat is also something his wife and 2 daughters (2 and 4 years old) are able to share with him. He likes anything loud and fast and has built an off-road race car and is currently building a classic race car. Dean also enjoys exploring new areas, mountain biking, kayaking, and of course spending time with his family & friends. TOP
Hasan Al-safi
Structural Engineer
BE (Civil), GIPENZ
Hasan is a structural and civil engineer who graduated from the University of Auckland in 2009. During his student days he gained valuable experience over the summer vacations by working for Mainzeal and Fletcher Construction where he was involved in projects such as the Tauranga Harbour Bridge and the Wairere Drive Roading Development in Hamilton.
Structural design is where his passion lies and after graduating he worked as a Design Engineer on small to medium-sized commercial and residential buildings for clients such as Progressive Enterprises and Restaurant Brands Ltd. Hasan joined Markplan Consulting in October 2011 where he enjoys the challenges of being involved in a wide variety of projects.
Hasan is originally from Baghdad, Iraq, but his family immigrated to New Zealand in search of a better lifestyle when he was 9 years old. Since then, life has been good and he has no regrets. He still keeps in contact with family and friends back at home and is a frequent supporter of the charity “ Walk for Iraq”.
Hasan likes to play sports and is a gym enthusiast who loves to keep fit and healthy, so scheduling in training sessions as well as maintaining a clean diet are important in keeping him happy and focused.
In the weekend, he spends a lot of time as a volunteer school teacher at the Marhaba Arabic School, part of a Arabic Community Organisation, which helps young children learn how speak and write Arabic and English.