Acknowledging Stephen Thurman’s Retirement

Stephen joined Jasmax in 2008 and has since been a driving force behind the establishment and evolution of the practice’s Knowledge & Innovation (K&I) team — building it from the ground up into the industry-leading team it is today. Under his leadership, K&I has become a genuine point of difference for Jasmax, embedding the quality assurance programmes, technical delivery frameworks, and research and innovation initiatives that underpin design and delivery excellence across the practice.

An architect with over 35 years’ experience, Stephen brought unparalleled depth of knowledge in materials, products, buildability, and the commercial, regulatory and construction dimensions of delivering projects to Jasmax. His contributions to the evolution of low-carbon and mass timber technologies in New Zealand have been particularly significant. 

His work has touched projects across the country, from early contributions like the 5 Green Star NZI Centre in Auckland for developer Newcrest LP, to significant post-earthquake projects in Christchurch including the Christchurch Airport Regional Terminal, and the early mass timber design exemplars of Ara Kahukura for Ara Institute, and the Beatrice Tinsley building for University of Canterbury.

The Christchurch projects held personal weight for Stephen. He was there when the second major earthquake struck in February 2011 — an experience that shaped his commitment to stronger resilience in the built environment. ​“Architecture has never been theoretical for me,” he said. ​“Being there when the earthquake hit made the responsibility of what we do very real — and it’s driven my work for safer, more resilient buildings ever since.”

Stephen reflects on a career that has spanned remarkable change: ​“When I joined the industry, we were still manually drawing on tracing paper. It’s been fascinating to witness the digitisation of the profession — the tools have changed, but the principles remain the same.”

At the heart of it all is what’s kept him in architecture for more than three decades — the belief in its power to improve lives. And he leaves with optimism: ​“There are incredible young people joining the industry — it’s in very good hands.”

A Fellow of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, Stephen is also a member of the Society of Construction Law, an NZRAB Assessor, and a long-standing contributor to NZIA, MBIE and BRANZ. His generosity in sharing knowledge and engaging across the industry has made a lasting contribution well beyond Jasmax.

Jasmax CEO Matthew Glubb commented: ​“Stephen’s contribution to Jasmax over the past 18 years has been hugely significant. He helped shape the way we design and deliver — raising the bar for quality, rigour and innovation across everything we do. A highly respected voice in the New Zealand construction and compliance industry, his influence will continue to be felt for years to come. On behalf of everyone at Jasmax, we thank Stephen for his dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence.”

Stephen’s role as Head of Knowledge & Innovation passes to Principal Melanie Tristram, who brings nearly 30 years of experience and deep expertise in digital delivery and BIM to the position. Alongside her, Tim Melville continues in his role as Technical Delivery Lead, ensuring the strength and continuity of the K&I team.