From behind the scenes to the spotlight: Jenny Zhang named among influential women in property as three decades of dedication gain industry recognition
In New Zealand’s construction and property sector, a name long accustomed to working behind the drawings is becoming increasingly well known.
In New Zealand’s construction and property sector, a name long accustomed to working behind the drawings is becoming increasingly well known.
On International Women’s Day in 2026, Jenny Zhang (Zhang Yaji), Shop Drawing Manager and Structural Coordinator at retirement village group Summerset, was named on Property Council New Zealand’s inaugural Women of Impact in Property list.
Early in 2026, members of Property Council New Zealand nominated women who had become industry role models through their leadership, innovation and sustained dedication to their work and the sector. The list honours 30 women who are shaping New Zealand’s property and construction sector, demonstrating the breadth and excellence of female talent in property.
Property Council New Zealand said every nomination was carefully assessed, with particular consideration given to the women’s impact on and contribution to the property sector over the previous 12 months. This included both industry leaders directing major projects and those driving positive change behind the scenes. The inaugural Women of Impact in Property list for 2026 showcases the breadth of talent across the sector. From established leaders to emerging talent, it includes corporate executives, entrepreneurs, technical specialists, advocates and creative thinkers who are collectively moving the industry forward.
For Jenny, this is both an honour and recognition of a career spanning more than thirty years.
Minimising risks before construction begins
While the stars of construction are usually designers or developers, Jenny’s role is closer to that of a commander behind the scenes. As the person responsible for structural coordination and shop drawing management, she has long performed a crucial task: identifying all potential problems before work actually begins.
Across the Summerset St Johns and Half Moon Bay projects, Jenny has reviewed more than 3000 shop drawings and managed more than 800 requests for information (RFIs), identifying potential construction and coordination risks before they reach the site.
Behind these figures lie repeated analysis and verification of complex structural systems. From steel structures and precast walls to precast floor slabs, stairs and even non-structural components, she must ensure that every design has been checked and confirmed as workable before construction on site.
Her exacting attention to detail has effectively reduced rework, improving contractors’ efficiency on site and keeping projects on schedule. As she puts it: “I review shop drawings across every aspect of a project, from the structure through to the interior fit-out, and coordinate with Summerset’s design team, external consultants and subcontractors.”
Her work involves extensive coordination before construction to resolve potential problems in the drawings. It also involves identifying issues as they arise during construction, promptly reporting them to design consultants and resolving them on site to avoid expensive rework and delays. Jenny says:
“I enjoy sitting down with subcontractors at a computer, going through drawings one by one and working through the details. For example, on the Eden Park World Cup stadium redevelopment, the stadium’s outline was curved, but its exterior walls consisted of multiple straight precast panels more than ten metres high. Alongside ensuring the shop drawings were accurate, I used CAD to help with precise setting-out of the curved exterior walls and stands on site, while also cross-checking the steelwork and precast concrete components, aiming for seamless installation that was right first time.”
This proactive approach to management directly reduces rework, controls costs and keeps projects progressing steadily.
Jenny has worked in New Zealand’s construction sector for more than 28 years. Her project portfolio includes many of Auckland’s landmark major developments: the Eden Park Rugby World Cup stadium redevelopment, the University of Auckland Business School’s Sir Owen G Glenn Building, AUT’s Sir Paul Reeves Building, the major prison projects at Wiri and Paremoremo, the University of Auckland Science Centre, and the NZICC international convention centre. Most of these projects cost more than a hundred million dollars, involve complex structures and demand exceptionally high standards of construction coordination.
As an Asian woman whose first language is not English, she works in an industry long dominated by men. She has had to overcome barriers in technical expertise, language proficiency and cross-cultural communication. She recalls that communication was difficult at first, but through consistently delivering professional work and maintaining a rigorous approach, she gradually earned the respect of her teams, design consultants and subcontractors. Building on that respect, she proactively and enthusiastically supports teams and subcontractors, sparing no effort to advance anything that benefits a project.
During her 16 years at Fletcher Construction, she became a core team member whom several major projects were determined to secure. She joined Summerset five years ago and received the company’s “Striving to be the Best” Applause Award in 2025.
A technical expert and an industry connector
As a construction professional working on the front line, Jenny was the only Asian woman selected for Property Council New Zealand’s first-ever Women of Impact in Property list. Her inclusion recognises not only her project and technical capabilities, but also her cultural influence within the industry.
Jenny’s influence extends beyond projects. She has long been actively involved in the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA), volunteering since its establishment.
She has continued contributing to the association for more than a decade, showing a degree of sustained commitment rarely seen in the sector. Each year, she is responsible for designing and delivering the stage programme for NZCBIA’s Annual Gala Dinner and Excellence Awards. From timing the programme down to the second to stage design, movement through the venue and technical coordination, she leads a volunteer team to deliver a prestigious event for 800 industry guests every year.
In an interview, she said:
“I hope to make my own modest contribution, wherever I can, to creating a beautiful and harmonious cultural environment in our lives. As a collective, the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association creates a more positive and harmonious industry ecosystem for the sector and the community on a larger and broader scale.”
From a time when women were almost absent from construction sites to today’s growing female representation in project delivery, design and management, she has personally experienced and witnessed the change. She reflects: “In China, seeing women on construction sites is not unusual. But when I first came to New Zealand, there were almost no women on site. It is very encouraging to see more and more women entering all kinds of construction roles now.”
Dean Tallentire
Chief Construction Officer NZ
Summerset Group Holdings Limited
"Well done Jenny - this is excellent and thoroughly deserved."
Jason Schrijvers
Construction Business Manager
Summerset Group Holdings Limited
"Congratulations Jenny - this is fantastic recognition and well deserved! We will recognise this internally within Construction and share it on the Company Web so the team can celebrate with you - very, very cool! Thank you for all you do for Summerset."
Peter Savoy
GM Construction Delivery NZ
Summerset Group Holdings Limited
"This is so good and congratulations on your well-deserved award.This is great recognition for what you do at Summerset and within the wider New Zealand Construction Industry.Well done and keep up the great work.Very proud moment for the Summerset Team."
Stuart West
Auckland Construction Manager - Major Projects
Summerset Group Holdings Limited
" Huge congratulations on being recognised as an Honouree by the NZ Property Council inaugural Women of Impact in Property. This is a well-deserved recognition of your exceptional work and leadership and the real positive impact you make, not only for Summerset but for the industry. Very well done, you should be extremely proud of yourself."
Closing thoughts
Jenny Zhang’s progress did not happen overnight. Her success rests on exacting professional standards, sustained commitment to her teams and the industry, and continually pushing beyond the boundaries associated with her identity.
She sincerely hopes her story will inspire more Chinese women working in construction: “In New Zealand, whether in a company, an association, an industry or even the country as a whole, cultural inclusion, gender equality and respect for individual uniqueness are all extremely important. I hope my personal experience can encourage more Chinese women to enter New Zealand’s construction industry.”
Her story also offers a clearer insight for New Zealand’s construction industry: what truly matters is not just the buildings being constructed, but who is shaping the industry and how.