Meet new ACE Board member Gavin Shaw

Gavin Shaw, Director of Navig8 Construction Advisory, has been appointed to the ACE New Zealand Board for a one-year term.  

Gavin is a sole trader and brings more than 30 years’ experience in our sector to the Board. He’s an active contributor to industry betterment, having represented ACE New Zealand and Engineering New Zealand on the recent reviews of NZS 3910, 3916 and 3917, participated as an ACE Awards judge, and contributed to other ACE working groups.  

He also provides education and training on NZS3910 through Engineering New Zealand and is the founding Chair of the Society of Construction Contract Practitioners (SCCP), a national initiative to foster excellence in contract administration.  

We’re delighted to welcome Gavin to the ACE Board and asked him about his career and what he brings to the role. 

Tell us about your career 

“I’m the founder of Navig8 Construction Advisory, where I work as a strategic advisor, leader, engineer, trainer – and occasionally bit of a bush lawyer. I’m an energised pragmatic problem solver who spots trends and ideas and sees numbers and words as colours (synesthesia).  

“With 30 years’ experience in capital project delivery and business leadership, my career has been built around providing trusted advice in the construction industry.  I’ve helped shape and lead high-performing businesses and teams, guiding them to win and deliver complex projects and programmes.  

“I’m driven by the opportunity to create a positive impact within the construction sector, and contributing to better outcomes for both the industry and New Zealand’s built environment.” 

What’s your strategic vision for ACE New Zealand? 

“I believe that a strong and thriving construction sector is essential to creating a platform where people and businesses can make a genuine, lasting impact on the natural and built environments, as well as the communities they serve. 

“My vision for ACE New Zealand is to further extend the important role it plays in advocating for a robust construction ecosystem for all industry participants. We are more than the sum of our members; we are a mature organisation with the opportunity and obligation to champion and cultivate sustained high performance and equitable outcomes.  

“My aspiration is to leverage the insights and perspectives of all industry contributors, our members included, so that we can collectively adjust our approaches to achieve "aligned compromise" - solutions that address the fundamental concerns and priorities of all.”  

What strengths do you bring to the ACE New Zealand Board? 

“I enjoy challenging myself and others to think differently, be brave, and to challenge embedded untested assumptions. I like to promote courageous pragmatism to achieve better outcomes.  

“The perspective I bring is informed by my balance of experiences; from a founding small advisory practice, leadership roles in large professional services enterprise, consulting experience as designer / project manager / strategic advisor, and through client-side roles and insights.  

“I’m happiest when empowering others to achieve their potential, spotting trends early, and bringing a thoughtful pragmatic approach.”