Understanding infrastructure project leadership

Today at your annual symposium, we have released a new report that finds that organisational and leadership factors are more likely to drive cost overruns on major projects than technical issues.

Drawing on interviews with public infrastructure leaders from across the country, People build projects: the voices of New Zealand public sector infrastructure leaders highlights key areas where New Zealand can improve project delivery.

The Commission engaged with infrastructure leaders through interviews, workshops, peer forums, and a voluntary system-wide survey to understand what drives successful project leadership and where improvement is needed.

Leaders identified three priority areas: strengthening the talent system, enabling better decision-making and delivery, and investing in capability and learning. These findings reinforce recommendations in the National Infrastructure Plan for a more consistent, system-wide approach to project leadership.