Daryl Elenzano
Project Manager, G2 Studio
Master of Construction Management
AUT was his top choice when he decided to further his understanding of construction management, says Daryl Elenzano who came to AUT as an international student from the Philippines to enrol in a Master of Construction Management.
“My journey in the construction industry began in the Philippines with a civil engineering degree, leading to a role as a structural engineer. After gaining valuable experience in consulting, I transitioned to project management on the client side. I later moved to Saudi Arabia to work in construction management on the contractor side. This diverse experience across key stakeholders of the construction industry gave me a clear perspective of the skills I needed to develop further.
“What I liked about AUT was that it offers a practical yet comprehensive research-driven approach to construction management. The programme covered crucial skills in construction law, economics, project management and scheduling, management in the construction industry, sustainability and supply chain management – everything required to manage the full lifecycle of construction projects. It was a complete package and also enabled me to customise my learning experience by selecting a specialised field of research.”
He says he is grateful to all the academic staff at AUT but there are two lecturers who made a particular impression on him.
“Dr Mahesh Babu Purushothaman has been an exceptional mentor, providing close guidance that enabled me to publish a journal article as a co-author and my very first international conference paper. Dr Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi, a chartered professional civil engineer and inspiring senior lecturer, equipped me with the tools and techniques for conducting quality research. She inspired me to create research papers relevant to the industry and peer-reviewed my work. I’m grateful for all her support throughout my professional journey. Thanks to them, I successfully used my research papers as supplementary records to obtain Chartered Professional Engineer and Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand status.”
Valuable development opportunities
Daryl says he appreciated the opportunities he had access to while he was studying at AUT.
“As an engineer with a logical and rational mindset, my communication style has always come naturally, though it is often at the expense of creativity. However, AUT provided me with tools and techniques to refine this skill as well as numerous chances to participate in networking events. This became one of the most significant skills I gained at AUT, enabling me to serve as a student representative for the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB). I had the chance to collaborate with the Young Professional Advisors of NZIOB, which greatly expanded my connections and professional network in New Zealand.
“AUT also equipped me with the ability to produce high-quality research papers. I attended numerous workshops at the AUT library and benefitted greatly from the mentorship of my professors. This paved the way towards producing quality research papers, including my first international conference paper, which I’ll be presenting at the International Conference of Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) in Auckland. I also received an AUT Summer Research Award and co-authored a journal article currently being published in the Journal of Information Technology in Construction. Moreover, the knowledge and insights gained from my AUT experience enabled me to achieve the Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute in the USA with excellent scores.”
He is equally proud of completing a Beyond AUT Award, which he credits with enhancing his networking, communication and leadership skills.
“My experience with the Beyond AUT award has given me the opportunity to understand the work culture of New Zealand, the diversity of the working people and the skills I need to achieve my goals. I volunteered as a retail op shop assistant at the Red Cross, joined Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to plant 2,485 trees along the Papakura Stream, and became a student representative with NZIOB. These experiences helped me practise my teamwork skills and understand the concept of servant leadership, which focuses on prioritising the needs of others.”
A rewarding New Zealand career
During his second semester, Daryl worked as a part-time project manager at G2 Studio, a consulting firm specialising in hotels, leisure, and lifestyle developments. After completing his degree, he transitioned to a full-time project manager role within the same company, continuing to contribute to their projects.
“G2 Studio offers architecture, interior design, project management and master planning services, with a particular specialisation in front-end development planning and conceptual design. I manage the building construction projects from their inception up to construction completion, focusing on delivering safe and sustainable projects that the public can enjoy.
“I enjoy collaborating with stakeholders that range from clients to government bodies, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, planners, contractors and many more. I’m proud to be able to manage multi-million dollar projects of considerable complexity, while also giving back to the construction industry through the knowledge I share in my research papers.”
He has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their university journey.
“My advice to future AUT students is to embrace learning as a continuous journey. Further studies will broaden your perspective within your speciality, and you'll find great satisfaction in the knowledge you gain to advance your career. Advanced education equips you with the tools and techniques to learn independently at a higher level, which is priceless in my perspective.”
