We sat down with Sonya Miller, director at project management and property development company Armitage Jones, to discuss her journey in the property industry. Sonya shares her insights on the evolving role of project management in managing risk and fostering successful partnerships throughout the development process.
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Balancing creativity and practicality in property projects
01 July 2024
What inspired you to pursue a career in the property industry, and how has your background in architecture influenced your approach to project management?
I grew up in a family dominated by property as my dad was an architect – so I often walked around the local building sites in the area working out the layout of each house - and I found it fascinating.
It was only after completing my architecture degree when I started working for a construction company that I realised my skills were better suited to working alongside the design team, in the practical, problem-solving area of project management.
As a director, what is your vision for the company, and how do you ensure that your team maintains its commitment to doing things differently?
In establishing a business, it was an opportunity to bring together all the best experiences I had in my previous roles, and right from the outset establishing some “not negotiables” in terms of behaviour and conduct that we would not accept from anyone – our clients, our peers, or our team. It has been this strong focus on behaviour, relationships and management style that we have built a reputation on doing things differently.
In your experience, what are some of the key factors that contribute to the success of a property development project, and how do you navigate the challenges that inevitably arise?
Once you have established that the commercial fundamentals are sound, the success of any development relies on good communication, problem solving, and decisive decision making. When the inevitable challenges arise, you need to be nimble and decisive to determine the best option based on the information you have at the time - too many times we see key decisions stalled in the hope a better option will present itself, which very rarely occurs.
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Armitage Jones prides itself on delivering projects to an inspiring standard. What does this mean to you, and how do you ensure that this high standard is maintained across all projects?
We have been fortunate to work with clients that really understand the importance of high-quality projects – from engagement of design consultants, reputable builders, and project managers – and they really understand the importance of our role in the process.
When I reflect on the projects I am most proud of, it is not only the quality outcome of the finished project, but also the collaboration and partnerships that we have fostered through the overall development process. I truly believe a project that is delivered through great partnerships and collaboration delivers a premium outcome.
As a leader in the property industry, what advice would you offer to young professionals who are just starting out in the field, particularly those with a background in architecture or design?
I very quickly realised that you don't necessarily have to practice as an architect to have involvement or input in the design process. The collaborative design process that occurs on many of the complex projects we are involved with requires input and feedback from a range of stakeholders. This is what I love about this process – the best outcomes are never from a singular viewpoint or design idea but rather a collaboration of a whole range of ideas and requirements from multiple stakeholders.
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