42 | Markplan Consulting ANNIVERSARY 30 Year markplan.co.nz engineering@markplan.co.nz Auckland & Wānaka office locations C E L E B R A T I N G G R E A T P E O P L E A N D E X C E L L E N T E N G I N E E R I N G S I N C E 1 9 9 6 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT People focus sees business flourish Markplan works across a broad range of projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. T T Anne Boswell For 30 years, Markplan Consulting Ltd has helped shape buildings and communities across New Zealand, growing from a small, home-based consultancy into a thriving structural and civil engineering business with a reputation built on excellence and people-first values. Founded in 1996 by Mark and Cheryl Smith, the company began as a small practice run from their home soon after the pair immigrated to New Zealand. From those modest beginnings, the business steadily expanded, opening its Rosedale office in 2006 and developing into a team of 36 spread across Auckland and Wanaka. Today, the company is led by directors Chris Steven and Glen Cossey, who formally took ownership in April 2022, following several years of increasing leadership roles within the business. For Glen, reaching the 30-year milestone is about far more than longevity. “Thirty years in business is a significant achievement; not many businesses reach this milestone,” he says. At the heart of the company’s success is a deliberate focus on people – both team and clients. Glen says Markplan has consistently prioritised creating an environment where its team can build long-term careers, with many having been with the company for more than five years, and some approaching 20 years and counting. “We want to provide a sustainable business that serves both the team and our clients for another 30 years and beyond,” he says. “Chris and I have built on the values, principles and processes instilled in the business by Mark and Cheryl. Their legacy lives on in a strong way.” While honouring those foundations, the current leadership team has also embraced change and innovation. “We’ve moved with the times and made progressive and intentional changes,” Glen says. “Change is constant, so it’s about providing the team with the tools to navigate change and making sure challenges are addressed rather than swept under the carpet.” Markplan works across a broad range of projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific, with approximately 80% of its work focused on structural engineering and 20% on civil engineering. The business operates across both residential and commercial sectors, with residential work typically accounting for around twothirds of its workload. “We put our best foot forward, whether that’s at a technical level or in our day-to-day interactions with the people we enjoy working with,” Glen says. Growth has also remained intentional. Three years ago, Markplan identified Wanaka as a region with strong potential, and opened a second office there. The branch has since grown to a team of six, with recruitment underway for a seventh team member, and long-term capacity for 10 people. Despite operating across two locations, Glen says the business functions as one unified team, strengthened by technology and collaboration. “We’re living in a fast-paced world with lots of challenges and opportunities,” he says. “Being a technologically focused consultancy means we can come together to share ideas and that adds value to our clients.” Looking ahead, Markplan’s ambitions remain grounded in the same principles that shaped the company from day one: working with great people and delivering practical solutions and exceptional value to its clients. “We aim to engineer a resilient, regenerative future by aligning our projects and operations with the limits of the planet and the needs of future generations,” Glen says.
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