Dave Morris: The Man with the Plan
Dave Morris competing in New Zealand’s Ironman 70.3 in December 2023. Dave believes the planning and preparation that goes into Ironman takes the same commitment required in the business world.
With his unique experience and expertise, Dave has become a trusted consultant in New Zealand’s construction sector, but who is the man with the plan?
Dave is a firm advocate for comprehensive project planning, and stresses the importance of meticulous attention to detail from the outset.
With a committed dedication to getting the job done right, Dave has earned a growing respect from colleagues and clients alike, who appreciate his thorough approach to project management and project planning.
Dave’s extensive background in construction and unwavering commitment to improving project outcomes has resulted in a growing number of invitations for Dave to speak at national conferences and industry events internationally.
From his first speaking engagement at the Procore Conference held in Texas in 2018, Dave has since spoken at many New Zealand events for companies such as NZCB and Maltbys to name a few. He has also contributed to various internal speaking engagements at ADC & Willmott Dixon.
A Bit about Dave and his Approach to Consultancy
With a down to earth and collaborative approach, Dave enjoys motivating teams to achieve successful results.
Whether he is developing detailed schedules, maintaining construction programmes, identifying potential roadblocks, producing completion programmes, tracking and advising on the sequence of work and/or mitigating risks, Dave approaches every project with the same methodical and meticulous mindset, while always careful to stay one step ahead.
Dave favours a strong strategic use of various systems and tools including Primavera 6, Procore, Microsoft Project and the geneal Microsoft Office suite. These systems facilitate effective project management while also enabling collaboration, transparency, and continual improvement. This ensures project outcomes align with client expectations, while promoting efficiency, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.
With a passion for using technology and software for improving efficiency and process, Dave was an early advocate of Procore. Dave’s independent research identified it as a game changer for the construction industry. “We virtually saved one person’s time for a whole year and this was unheard of back then. Site teams fell in love with Procore.”
Dave has continued working hard to improve construction industry outcomes for major projects across New Zealand. An additional piece of crucial planning equipment he favours is the DCMA 14-point checklist which tests the robustness of a programme. It’s a highly specialised checklist which few people in New Zealand use.
For Dave, the "P" in PM is as much about people management as it is about project management. He stresses the importance of taking the time to understand the client’s business, planning the project management services to focus on the vision and objectives. Following on from that, a strong focus is on creating motivational team environments and managing any conflict, which enables projects to be successfully delivered.
The project management process is very closely aligned with what the client requires. Dave offers a unique approach, “We will not come in and take over. We understand that projects have their owners, and they have their goals. In short, we will not push our agenda above that of our clients. It is vital to the success of a project that the key success factors are identified and clearly understood by all the parties. We favour project charters which clearly outline the definition of success for that project and ensure buy-in from all the parties.”
Feedback from industry speaking engagements …
“Thank you so much for speaking at the conference, and for the impromptu additional presentation … [which] was very well received … you shared some valuable insights that have been a topic of conversation a number of times within my team’s office.”
“There’s not many people around like Dave who are experts in this field. They are few and far between.”
Directors at a recent national conference told a room full of attendees, “If in doubt, call Dave.”
Where Dave’s Construction Journey Began
Venturing into the world of construction wasn't happenstance. From an early age, Dave was immersed in the sights and sounds of construction sites, learning the ropes from his father, a seasoned site manager and project manager, who was a carpenter by trade.
Dave enjoyed the vibe and the friendly banter of the construction industry, working with “typical big, hearty Welsh men, big strong blokes, who would take the p*** out of you but being all very supportive and caring.”
After gaining his apprenticeship, Dave ran his first project at 21 (at an anesthetics department in a hospital in Swansea). This was a million-pound contract to convert old facilities into a new office facility. Dave wasn’t allowed to use a crane for an extension so wasn’t able to lift materials across the hospital. As they wouldn’t allow it, instead Dave had to bring all the material and plant through the corridors and build onsite. “An additional challenge, with the brain injury unit next door to the site, was any vibration or knock would impact the patients. So, we had to come up with ways to limit the noise and vibration as best we could. There was an enormous amount of systems and permits involved.”
Dave went on to manage a host of other projects and on one of these, when he requested additional resources, much to his surprise, his father arrived amongst the team of construction workers. “I had such massive respect for him. It was amazing to have him onsite as part of my team.”
Along the way Dave gained a BSc in Construction Management and HNC in Building, Technology and Management. He continued to manage large multimillion-pound projects in his early twenties, working with large construction firms in the UK and in New Zealand, before establishing Morden in 2021.
Identifying a Need and Establishing Morden
“In terms of processes and construction methods, when I arrived in New Zealand from Wales nine years ago, no one in my team was familiar with the systems and processes I had used or had a similar background and experience, even the directors. My point is simply that the UK was ahead in the construction sector, having a longer history and more advanced methodologies as a result of that. I was grateful for the opportunity to make some major improvements in the construction industry here.”
Team Morden (L-R): Victoria Lum (Quantity Surveyor), Tim Clark (Project Manager), Anton Human (Senior Planner), Alan Burns (Project Manager and QS), Craig Mills (Principal), Phil Hebden (Commercial Director), Dave Morris (Director and General Manager).
It was Dave’s ongoing desire to make a difference that led him to establish Wellington-based consultancy firm, Morden, to offer the industry something that was lacking: project partners with specialised consultancy skills.
The Morden team has gone on to work on some major construction projects across New Zealand, helping deliver complex projects on time and on budget. (Take a look at a case study here.)
Dave's career trajectory has been marked by a series of pivotal moments, from managing multimillion-pound projects in his early twenties, to leading as the head of construction in New Zealand. Yet, despite his achievements, Dave remains grounded and always quick to deflect praise and credit to his team for their collective success.
From Consultant to Ironman
The Man with the Plan applied his same determined mindset to achieve one of his own personal goals in December 2023, when he successfully completed the Half Ironman in Taupo, consisting of a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run.
With that goal now accomplished, Dave has his sights set next on the Full Ironman in 2025. Driven by the fact that only one percent of the entire global population has ever completed the Full Ironman, Dave relishes the challenge and reflects, “You can’t do an event like Ironman without commitment and consistency. It’s no different in the business world. You’ve got to do what you say you’re going to do on time and make it happen.”
Dave receiving his NZ citizenship award.
Proud to Call New Zealand Home
New Zealand is now home to Dave. “I love the friendliness and the positive outlook of the people. The country has incredible landscape and topography. You can be in any part of New Zealand and feel like you are anywhere in the world. I don’t think New Zealanders realise how lucky we are.” Dave also rates the close-knit community in the construction industry here and sees it as a good thing.
“People say that we don’t have a good skillset here, but I disagree. There are definitely strong elements of it. A lot of our homes are built with timber. In the UK its stone and brick and block. Carpenters have a different skillset here than they do in the UK.”
Dave is passionate about the construction industry and appreciates the power of construction to transform lives and communities. Whether it's building schools, hospitals, or commercial spaces, Dave approaches each project with the same down-to-earth attitude and unwavering commitment to excellence.
As Dave looks to the future, his vision is clear. He is committed to making a real, tangible difference in the industry he loves, while inspiring others to do the same, and to continue pushing the boundaries of New Zealand’s construction sector.
Read to get in touch? Call Morden today on 04 210 0340 or email info@morden.co.nz with some background information on your project. Let’s work together to make your next venture a great success.
