Get to know our team – Nick Millier

Nick Millier has worked in the built environment industry for almost 10 years in different capacities. First, starting out as a trades assistant, before moving onto structural drafting and project management.

As one of Inertia’s Project Managers, he’s particularly passionate about working closely with our technical team to benefit architects and developers. Nick shares some of these benefits, including saving time, money and producing better outcomes across all projects.

What do you love about the job?

As a Project Manager, I deal with all aspects of a project’s lifecycle from vendors to stakeholders, the project team and external sources (and more). I enjoy the challenge of managing all the spokes in the wheel, so the wheel can keep turning.

I love managing a team, and keeping them motivated and enthusiastic about their projects. Similarly, I enjoy keeping all stakeholders informed and happy – this ensures we end up with a great result.

What are you working on at the moment? 

At the moment, I’m working on a number of multi-residential and mixed-use developments, including a 63-unit and 28-unit development, alongside some townhouse projects.

Why is project management important? (Particularly embedded into an engineering firm)

Engaging a Project Manager with a strong technical engineering team behind them, can be extremely beneficial for a developer. We can share multi-disciplinary advice and knowledge that can save time, money and provide exceptional outcomes for not only the client, but the communities in which we work.

What do you enjoy about working with engineers and architects?

I enjoy bringing engineers and architects (along with others in the built environment) together to form a strong team. Both architects and engineers can create real value for a development. From my perspective, being able to assist architects and engineers while providing Project Management input maximizes the profitability and co-ordination on a project.

What are some of the changes you’re seeing in the built environment industry?

The rate of expansion is without a doubt the most obvious change within the built environment industry. Over the last five years, the multi-residential unit/townhouse sector has exploded with many developers and private investors taking advantage of increased density and demand. But now it’s getting tough as all the “easy” development sites have nearly been exhausted. This is where I can see the real benefit of combining Civil/Structural/Flood and Project Management services together.

 

We’re able to identify solutions to a constrained site that achieves a feasible development for a client – it’s a very rewarding experience and one which many developers may overlook.

 

What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career?

Know your service, know the product, know your client, know the rules and most importantly give structured thought to everything you do! Without thinking through the entire lifecycle of a project (from conception to completion) how do you expect to foresee potential problems when you are just blinded by the tasks at hand?