Meet the Team

  • Matt Griffin

  • Ben Stark

  • Ben Stephenson

  • Kris Blackburn

  • David Booth

Matt Griffin

Director and Project Manager

Matt has developed a reputation as a talented Project Manager who forms lasting relationships with clients, contractors, and all other professionals he works with. Matt has considerable experience in end-to-end project management, including project planning, consultant engagement, design management, value engineering, programming, tender analysis, construction observation, financial management and fitout.

He takes a highly accountable approach to ensuring that clients’ needs are translated into tangible outcomes that deliver significant value to the projects he leads. Matt has gained valuable experience using NZS:3910 contracts.

Matt has worked on significant capital projects throughout New Zealand and internationally. He lives in a forest close to Nelson with his wife and three daughters, and can usually be found mountain biking, hunting or fishing when not working on projects.

Key Expertise:

Project feasibility, Healthcare, Land development, Aviation, Client Relationships, Accountability, Contract Management

Ben Stephenson

Project Manager

Ben grew up in Tanzania, East Africa, and also spent several working years there, managing residential and commercial building projects. This has contributed to his practical and problem solving,can-do approach.. He is comfortable working on grass roots projects and with people from diverse backgrounds and skill levels.

Ben has a background in geotechnical engineering from the University of Auckland (BE, 1st Class Honors). He has run a number of his own businesses investing in property, refurbishing and new builds. Following on from the Christchurch earthquakes, Ben and his business partner grew their company repairing earthquake damaged houses, completing in excess of 300 residential earthquake repairs over a 5 year period.

With 25+ years in the engineering and building industry, Ben is detail and programme focused and takes personal ownership of the projects he’s involved in.

Key Expertise:

Project Management and Problem Solving, Geotechnical Engineering, Property Investment and Refurbishment, Earthquake Repair and Building Restoration

David Booth

Project Manager

David has a reputation as one of New Zealand’s high performing Project Directors. In any industry sector – including Healthcare, Wineries, Civic Buildings, Schools or Industrial facilities - David can demonstrate a history of singular success in client side advocacy as a key project partner, and his reputation is well known within the industry.

David adds particular value to project strategy and value management, where his original training as a Quantity Surveyor allows specific insights into all cost focused aspects of project development. David has worked in construction related industries for over 30 years and has been a Project Management Consultant for the last 15 years. Until recently, David was a director and shareholder of a major national project management consultancy, and is now enjoying the opportunity to provide a more tailored level of service to key clients through his Dunedin based firm, Feldspar Associates. David contracts to Aesculus to provide valuable strategic input to projects.

David is based in Dunedin. Outside of work David is the proud father of four boys and has spent many years coaching junior soccer. As part of David’s continued community involvement, he is the current Chair of the Board of Trustees at Kings High School and also the chair of Kings High rowing committee.

Key Expertise:

Project Strategy and Value Management, Client-side Advocacy, Quantity Surveying, Project Management Consultancy

Ben Stark

Project Manager

Ben is well experienced in management of the full project lifecycle from consenting, design development and tendering through to project delivery and handover. He has a wide range of experience in commercial and industrial developments of varying complexities, scales and disciplines. Ben is well versed in stakeholder management ensuring that clients’ needs are met and getting the most from the consultant team and contractors.

Ben has experience in project management in both New Zealand and Australian markets. With a background in civil construction, Ben brings a strong site understanding and practicality to projects. He brings a pragmatic, open and collaborative approach to project management and strives to ensure best-for-project outcomes are achieved.

Key Expertise:

Project Lifecycle Management, Stakeholder Management, Commercial and Industrial Developments, Site Understanding and Practicality

Kris Blackburn

Project Manager

Kris is an experienced Project Manager with a background in both the UK and New Zealand construction sectors. Since graduating in 2013, Kris has delivered a range of projects from concept to completion, combining a foundation in design with hands-on, practical understanding. With a strong eye for detail and a calm, collaborative approach, Kris excels at bridging the gap between design intent and on-site delivery. His experience spans multiple project types, and he’s passionate about building well-crafted, functional spaces that work in the real world.

Kris now leads our Queenstown office and outside of work he can usually be found riding his mountain bike or skinning up the slopes. Not shy of getting his hands dirty, Kris also enjoys contributing to the local mountain bike scene whether that be building trails or volunteering at local events.

Key Expertise:

Heritage structures, Community Housing, Healthcare, Stakeholder management