Gemma James

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Gemma brings over 15 years of experience delivering large-scale, complex developments across New Zealand and Australia. She has been a registered architect in three jurisdictions (NZ, Victoria, and NSW), has managed projects up to $1.6B in value, and led high-performing teams of up to 12 staff. At Metlifecare, she was responsible for 96 active projects across 26 villages, including Green Star and Homestar-certified builds, where she implemented design standards and stakeholder strategies across the business.

Prior to that, at Ignite Architects, she was Associate Director managing $250M of aged care projects, overseeing BIM coordination and early contractor involvement (ECI). Her hands-on leadership and commercial thinking are backed by technical expertise in project delivery from concept to completion.

Gemma’s experience is matched by her influence and systems thinking. At Ockham Residential, she led the design and documentation of an $80M apartment project, working closely with in-house construction teams to ensure buildability. She has chaired committees for Quality Assurance and Diversity, driven process improvements, and championed inclusive design. Her software skills span Revit, SketchUp, Adobe, and Procore, and she is accredited as both a Green Star and Homestar practitioner. Throughout her career, she’s consistently delivered on time and within budget while navigating tight constraints and complex stakeholder environments. Gemma is a strategic, values-driven leader who brings the full weight of experience, professionalism, and delivery focus to every project.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Architecture (BAS) – The University of Auckland, 2006
• Bachelor of Architecture (BArch Hons), AutoCAD Certificate – The University of Auckland, 2008
• Victora Australia Registered Architect 2012, Chaired the PALS Course, Attended PALS Course run by the Institute of Architects (for registration), 2012
• New Zealand Registered Architect, 2020
• New South Wales Registered Architect, New South Wales Design Practitioner Registration, 2021 (Retired)
• Green Star Practitioner, Homestar Practitioner v5, 2023

Expertise:

• Architectural design and documentation using Revit, SketchUp, AutoCAD, and Adobe Suite
• Proven delivery of multi-residential, aged care, and hotel developments from concept to construction
• Accredited Green Star and Homestar practitioner with sustainability design knowledge
• Strong coordination and delivery of BIM models and construction documentation across large consultant teams
• Leadership of large design and project teams (up to 12 staff) and direct reports across multiple offices
• Stakeholder engagement and strategic management of $1.6B+ project portfolios across 96 developments
• Implementation of quality assurance systems, design standards, and resourcing strategies
• Committee leadership in inclusivity, diversity, equity, and internal systems improvement.

Employment History:

• 2025 – Present Senior Project Manager, Pragmatix Limited
• 2023 – 2025 Group Design Manager, Metlifecare
• 2022 – 2022 Senior Project Architect Lead, Ockham Residential
• 2019 – 2022 Associate Director of Special Projects Team (Aged Care), Ignite Architects
• 2016 – 2019 Senior Project Architect Lead, SJB Architects (Australia)
• 2013 – 2016 Senior Project Architect Lead, Rothe Lowman Architects (Australia)
• 2010 – 2013 Project Architect Lead, Bruce Henderson Architects (Australia)
• 2009 – 2010 Architects’ Assistant Assisting Director, Stiles and Hooker (Hamilton)