How Smart Projects Get Ahead: The Untold Strategy Behind Sustainable Delivery

Pip Rudhall Hyett
May 23
3 min read

Updated: May 26

How Smart Projects Get Ahead: The Untold Strategy Behind Sustainable Delivery

In an age where urgency is everywhere, smart projects aren’t just about moving fast. They’re about moving with foresight.

Sustainability in project delivery isn’t only about environmental outcomes—it’s about resilience, adaptability, and long-term value. I’ve worked on projects where decisions made in the early weeks ripple across decades, and others where a lack of early alignment led to expensive redesigns, restarts, and regrets.

So what sets the sustainable projects apart? In my experience, it’s not luck or budget. It’s strategy. And not just strategic documents—but strategic practice.

The Quiet Power of Early Clarity

One of the most overlooked strategies is early alignment—before the rush, before the noise, before the external deadlines start driving decisions.

In one major multi-year project I supported, we spent the first few weeks purely in discovery. Considering the boundaries of options. Testing rationale. Clarifying purpose. For some, it felt slow. But six months later, when priorities shifted and risks emerged, the early work paid off. Because we’d built clarity and trust up front, we were able to adapt without spiralling.

In contrast, I’ve seen projects jump to delivery too soon—only to hit walls when foundational assumptions weren’t shared. Strategic patience in those early phases isn’t a delay. It’s protection.

Sustainability Is Systems Thinking

Whether I’m supporting a district-wide infrastructure programme or an environmental planning initiative, I'm looking for the systemic interdependencies.

What happens upstream affects downstream. What works well now may create maintenance burdens later. Good governance asks: what are we really solving for? Who is impacted? How will this decision stand up five, ten, or twenty years from now?

In Wellington, these questions shaped my approach in national regulatory and service design roles. In Central Otago, I apply the same systems thinking to community and regional initiatives.

It’s about zooming out to see the whole picture—then zooming in to act responsibly.

Resilience Lives in Relationships

One of the strongest markers of a sustainable project is not just technical design—it’s relational strength.

Who will carry this project forward when roles shift, budgets tighten or when its handed back to the business on completion? Where is the institutional memory? Are there community or iwi partnerships that need more voice or space to lead?

In one programme I supported, the early introduction of a shared governance board—bringing in council leaders, mana whenua, technical reps, and external advisors—transformed how decisions were made. It slowed things down at first, but increased buy-in and legacy ownership exponentially.

The more complex the initiative, the more important these structures become.

Sustainable Doesn’t Mean Slow—It Means Smart

There’s a myth that sustainable projects take too long. But the opposite is often true. When you get the right people in the room early, define scope clearly, and build governance that can flex, you make better decisions faster.

You avoid rework. You prevent burnout. You reduce churn.

In my work, I often help teams transition from reactive to proactive. From being overwhelmed by competing inputs, to owning a plan that’s coherent, grounded, and manageable.

It’s not glamorous—but it’s powerful.

Central Otago Projects Deserve the Same Rigor

The same strategic discipline I applied to nationwide reforms and central government programmes is what I now bring to regional projects. Why? Because the stakes are just as high.

Housing. Climate adaptation. Transport systems. These aren’t minor initiatives—they shape how people live and thrive. I believe regional projects should never be treated as “lite” versions of national programmes. They deserve depth, care, and long-term vision.

I love working with councils, iwi, community leaders, and private developers to co-design approaches that are locally grounded and structurally strong. Because what we build here isn’t just for today—it’s for the generations to come.

A Final Thought

Sustainable delivery isn’t a buzzword. It’s a choice. A way of working. And it’s entirely achievable—when we pause long enough to ask the right questions early, build systems that can flex, and prioritise relationships that outlast the project plan.

If you’re about to start something ambitious—or if you’re midway and wondering how to steady the ship—I’d love to help.

Let’s create work that lasts.