Bryan Lush, the newly appointed Partnership Manager at Winstone Wallboards says the opportunity to work alongside New Zealand’s group home builders and provide a solutions-based approach for GIB® products was an offer too good to turn down.

“The Partnership Manager role is really about offering specialist advice for our products and supporting our group home builders to find the best solutions, as opposed to the nuts and bolts of how to install and use products."

“Group home builders are quite a unique part of the construction sector and one I really enjoy working in, so it was a pretty easy decision to come and join the Winstone Wallboards team.” he says.

Originally from Perth, Bryan moved to New Zealand around eight years ago to settle with his Kiwi wife in Stanmore Bay, Auckland.  

Bryan joins the team at Winstone Wallboards after working in a similar role for the past seven years for Belgotex International Flooring, so he understands the importance of how products like GIB® plasterboard provide additional benefits such as noise reduction and fire resistance.

“We’re seeing group home build companies evolve their designs to offer more options to meet the changing needs of Kiwi homes, whether that’s fourth bedroom options that convert into office space or additional dwellings on one site."

“All of which have considerations for things like noise reduction so that’s where the expert produce advice becomes a real point of difference,” he says.    

Bryan started his working life as a teacher, where he eventually specialised in supporting children with special needs, first in Australia then later London. He says the skills gained from his time as a teacher have been invaluable throughout his career.

“Being a confident speaker is a big part of being a teacher as well as empathy and being able to recognise what’s beneath the surface; two things I’ve taken with me into my new career,” he says.

Never one to sit idle, Bryan’s role involves a fair bit of travel across New Zealand, connecting with group building companies either in person or through conferences and industry events which he says is a great part of the job.

“I like to proactively get out, be busy and connect with people in person. Even if it’s just a phone call to see what they are up to, it’s a big part of the job and luckily something I also really enjoy,” Bryan says.

If you’re a group home building company and keen to get in touch with Bryan, email him at bryan.lush@gib.co.nz or phone 027 246 5542.