Melanie Tristram promoted to Head of Knowledge & Innovation
Jasmax is pleased to announce the promotion of Principal Melanie Tristram to Head of Knowledge & Innovation (K&I). Previously Digital Delivery Lead, Mel assumes the role from Stephen Thurman, who will retire from the practice later this year.
Mel has been with Jasmax for nearly 30 years, with a career-long focus on digital delivery and innovation. Widely regarded as a pioneer of BIM and digital delivery processes within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, she is exceptionally well placed to lead Jasmax’s K&I function as it responds to increasingly complex projects and delivery environments across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
The K&I team is a significant point of difference for Jasmax, and a rarity across the industry. With oversight of all projects, the team brings together specialist expertise in technical delivery, sustainable design and carbon reduction, digital delivery and BIM, product specification and material selection, learning and development, research and innovation. Drawing on this breadth of expertise, the team’s strength lies in capturing and sharing knowledge across the business – continuously improving how Jasmax’s project teams design and deliver efficiently and effectively for clients.
All projects pass through an integrated ISO-certified management system that embeds early specialist guidance and comprehensive technical reviews at key milestones to deliver high-quality, enduring assets for clients, while reducing risk throughout the project lifecycle. This expertise currently underpins some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most complex and technologically innovative infrastructure projects, including Scott Base in Antarctica and the Ministry for Primary Industries Biosecurity Facility, as well as major healthcare developments, including New Zealand’s newest hospital, Tōtara Haumaru.
In her new role, Mel will lead the K&I team’s full range of technical advisory functions, while continuing to oversee Jasmax’s digital delivery workstream, including BIM management and advisory services, driving the practice’s AI strategy, and exploring opportunities to automate processes and build greater efficiencies across the business. Alongside her, recently appointed Technical Delivery Lead Tim Melville continues to provide technical leadership to project teams, ensuring robust quality assurance and best-practice design, documentation and delivery processes.
Mel says, “This is a significant opportunity to shape how Jasmax delivers excellence for clients, and to push the boundaries of what a Knowledge & Innovation team can do for a practice of our scale and ambition. I’m focused on ensuring our technical capability continues to grow alongside the complexity of the work we’re taking on and making sure we remain ahead of the curve.”
Jasmax CEO Matthew Glubb commented: “Mel’s promotion is a natural and well-deserved next step. Her expertise and strategic thinking have already had a positive impact on how we deliver for our clients, and I have no doubt her future-focused leadership will help keep Jasmax at the forefront of design and delivery. We also acknowledge Stephen Thurman’s immense contribution to Jasmax over the past two decades – he has been instrumental in establishing the K&I function as it exists today, and we look forward to recognising his legacy more fully upon his retirement.”
Mel is a prominent voice for the advancement of digital technology in architecture and a champion and mentor of women working in technology – a commitment reflected within Jasmax’s majority-female BIM team.