Meryl Parsons
Administrator
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Meryl has been with BSM since 2018, bringing extensive experience in administration, procurement, and project support. She especially enjoys being involved in school projects and seeing how thoughtful design creates welcoming spaces for learning. Her strengths include customer focus, clear communication, and enabling the team to focus on delivery. Outside of work, Meryl enjoys an eclectic mix of books, music and art, and being involved as a volunteer in various roles within the community.
Carl Pickering
Architect
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Carl is a detail-driven Senior Architect with over 25 years’ experience. He thrives on technically complex projects requiring rigorous problem-solving, with a unique foundation in construction and quantity surveying that bridges ambitious design and practical execution across heritage, civic, and seismic remediation projects. Outside of work, Carl enjoys touring on his motorcycle and keeping pace with his miniature dachshund.
Paolo Sanna
Senior Architectural Technician
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Paolo has over 30 years’ experience on commercial, education, and residential projects across New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom. He has a strong focus on the construction stages of projects, guiding work from detailed documentation through to building completion. He enjoys collaborating with consultants and navigating the consent process. Outside of work, Paolo enjoys gardening, cooking, and baking.
Craig Sterne
Director
,Senior Architect
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Craig has over 25 years’ experience in the building industry, with the past decade in senior leadership at BSM Group Architects. He specialises in design, construction documentation, procurement, and contract administration across commercial, education, and community projects. His strengths include managing complex projects from master planning through to completion. Outside of work, Craig enjoys international travel, coaching, and a wide range of sports.
Raj Patel
Senior Architectural Designer
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Raj has over 50 years’ experience and has been with BSM Group Architects since 1991. He has a strong focus on education projects from early childhood through to tertiary facilities. His strengths include mentoring, stakeholder engagement, and applying proven practices to support successful outcomes. Outside of work, Raj enjoys golf, cooking, wine, following rugby, card nights with friends, and time with family.
Malcolm Hewin
Architect
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Malcolm has over 17 years’ experience across education, commercial, heritage, and community projects in New Zealand. He is passionate about sustainable, human-centred design, guiding complex projects from early briefing through to delivery. His strengths include concept development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking. Outside of work, he is a long-distance runner, Hapkido practitioner, home brewer, and enjoys time with his family.
Kate O’Connor
Architectural Technician
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Kate has over five years of experience across a diverse range of project typologies, with a strong eye for detail and a commitment to clear, high-quality documentation. She has a keen interest in innovative design and emerging technologies, and is passionate about sustainable architecture and reducing carbon impact through passive environmental controls. Outside of work, Kate enjoys making music and spending time crafting.
Jono Smith
Senior Architectural Technician
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Jono has over 15 years’ experience in architecture and construction, along with more than five years in creative design. He enjoys problem-solving on technically complex projects and brings strong experience in construction management, contract administration, and site observation. With a background in graphic and visual communication, he conveys technical information clearly to clients and contractors. Outside of work, Jono enjoys home renovation, cooking, and family time.
Joel Trevilla
Senior Architectural Technician
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Joel is a registered Architect in the Philippines with over 40 years’ experience, including extensive practice in New Zealand, across education, commercial, residential, and community projects. He has a strong interest in adaptive reuse and sustainable architecture. His strengths include traditional rendering, construction detailing, and stakeholder engagement. Outside of work, Joel enjoys time with his family, watching films, and golf.
Jill Morgan
Administrator
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Jill brings a strong background in sales and customer service to BSM which she joined in 2016. She provides essential support across invoicing, accounts, and the day-to-day running of the office, and enjoys the variety her role offers. Outside of work, Jill loves walking the dog, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and reading, and makes the most of having her children and grandchildren close by.
James Cross
Director
,Senior Architectural Designer
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James has over 25 years of experience across residential, education, and commercial projects, specialising in construction documentation, consultant coordination, and contract administration. He regularly serves as principal client contact, guiding projects from concept through to completion. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and has a passion for reef keeping and coral aquaculture.
Jacob Cogan
Architectural Technician
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Jacob has over 8+ years’ experience across architectural documentation and the wider construction industry. He has a strong interest in technical detailing and buildability, informed by both design and hands-on site experience. His strengths include CAD and BIM proficiency, practical construction knowledge, and resolving detailing challenges with real-world buildability in mind. Outside the studio, Jacob enjoys DIY renovation projects and spending time with his family.
Hamish Tucker
Architectural Technician
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Hamish has 10 years’ experience delivering complex projects, including larger-scale developments and Seventh-day Adventist school projects. His technical expertise was shaped by traditional drafting training and he is highly skilled across multiple CAD platforms. He is known for precision, reliability, and strong working relationships with clients, contractors, and councils. Outside the studio, he enjoys hiking, camping, and New Zealand’s beaches.
Gerald Cogan
Director
,Senior Architect
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Gerald has over 25 years’ experience at BSM Group Architects, leading the design and management of the Whanganui office’s key projects. He is motivated by creating environments that function well and positively enhance people’s lives. His strengths include project leadership and design management. Gerald has served on the NZIA Council and on a local taskforce addressing earthquake-prone buildings. Outside of work, he enjoys squash, pickleball, and casual frontline shifts with St John Ambulance.
Brendan Collocott
Senior Architectural and Interior Designer
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Brendan has nearly 28 years’ experience, with a strong background in retail interiors. His interior design experience informs a people-focused approach to architecture, with careful attention to ergonomics and spatial experience. His strengths include concept design, hand sketching, and clear client communication. Outside of work, Brendan enjoys open water swimming, running, hiking, photography, and exploring with his family.
John McLean
Senior Architect
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John has over 40 years’ experience across church, community, commercial, defence, education, industrial, retail, and residential projects. His primary focus is supporting community groups to achieve their goals through excellent and achievable architectural solutions. His strengths include feasibility assessments, economic concept development, and project management. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, coastal activities, walking, reading, and adventures with his wife and grandchildren.
Alana Archibald
Project Manager
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Alana brings nearly 20 years of experience at BSM Group Architects Ltd, with a strong focus on delivering Project Management services. She works closely with clients, consultants, and project teams to keep projects well organised and progressing smoothly. Her strengths include a pragmatic approach to planning, coordination, and supporting collaborative outcomes. Outside of work, Alana enjoys spending time with family and friends.