Get to the know the team: Mark Wilson

Published: 17 May 2023

Christchurch design and commercial construction company Apollo Projects are the main contractor for the pool build, managing all aspects from concept design through to completion. They are industry leaders in building sports, aquatics & educational facilities in New Zealand.

A picture of Mark Wilson in a hard hat.

Mark Wilson has been with Apollo Projects for six years and as Project Manager, Mark has the important role of overseeing everything, from organising sub-contractors through to reporting to Council.

Can you please tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I have been in the building industry since leaving school and forty years later I still get satisfaction and enjoyment watching the buildings I have been involved with age gracefully just like myself. My original vocation was as quantity surveyor in which I ran my own company for eleven years but with time saw the benefits in progressing into Project Management and was Managing Director for a Mid Canterbury building company for fourteen years.

I joined Apollo Projects in 2017 and since joining have completed several significant projects peaking with completion of the new Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre last year delivering the project on time and under CIP budget. My industry involvement has also seen me President of the NZIOB Southern Region for several years, along with being granted Fellowship status. I was also President of the Master Builders Mid Canterbury branch of the Master Builders for ten years.

What does an average workday look like for you?  

An average workday for me changes all the time and it is what I like about the building industry – every day is different. But a lot of my time is taken up with procuring trades, identifying delivery and procurement risk, and coming up with solutions to combat these risks. Monthly and weekly reports for the client to keep them informed on progress and pinch points of the project.

What is the most challenging part of a build like this?

The complexity of a project that is architecturally and community driven is a real challenge and respecting and honouring the values of the local Iwi certainly lays the challenge at our feet. Any pool project Apollo do is always filled with complexity and detail that you only gain going through the journey of previous pool projects. This IP is not on the drawings or in the specification but in the bones of those who are tasked to construct these specialist projects.

What is your favourite part?

For me, any project is a journey and each project is unique and what my favourite part is watching the client being taken on this journey and watching their dreams being turned into reality – cannot replace that feeling when you get to the end of project and see the client appreciate all the hard graft, effort and commitment you put into the project.  

What do you like to do with your free time outside of work?

Along with keeping active I still enjoy road and mountain biking and have managed to prolong the decision to purchase an E-Bike until now with Karen, my wife, wanting to get back on the bike again. My time is kept busy being an active member for sixteen years of the Methven Land Search and Rescue group with several successful searches under my belt.

One search and rescue operation I was involved with back in February 2021 ended up being selected and awarded National Gold Certificate at Government House for the successful extraction of the lost party. Another voluntary body I tend to spend a lot of my free time with is as National Contest Group Leader for the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association with the main programme item organising the National Pipe Band Nationals each year which is live streamed worldwide.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?  

My wife Karen and I have two kids, Alexandra and Cameron, who are now totally independent and live in Ashburton and Wellington. They both have degrees in different fields, and Alexandra was one of the first six people in New Zealand to achieve a Master’s Degree in criminal justice. Cameron’s science degree in marine biology will open up a number of doors for him in the future and we look forward to watching him receiving his degree at his Graduation ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre this week.