Nigel is the Managing Director and Executive Principal of Designgroup Stapleton Elliott (DGSE), and a Director of Designgroup New Zealand. He is a National Board Member and Fellow of the Building Institute Aotearoa, as well as a National Board member of the Charitable Education Trust that sits alongside the Institute.

Nigel provides overall leadership for the practice, with responsibility for strategic planning, governance, and market positioning across all DGSE studios nationally.

With an extensive portfolio spanning Commercial, Workplace, Education, Multi-Unit Housing, Retirement, and Hospitality sectors, Nigel brings deep experience across both new-build and interior refurbishment projects. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping DGSE’s growth strategy, resulting in numerous significant public and private sector appointments and a strong record of award-winning work.

Nigel works closely with the Senior Leadership team, providing guidance on governance, project oversight, and client engagement. He plays a key role in high-level client relationships across Private and Government sectors, frequently working directly with senior client management and lead consultant teams on complex and strategically important projects.

In his capacity as Project Director, Nigel has led major projects for high-profile clients including Spark, Rocket Lab, Weta, and Bloomberg, as well as an extensive portfolio of market and social multi-unit housing projects for Private and Local/Central government clients. His national role focuses on ensuring consistent leadership, design quality, and client outcomes across DGSE’s practice.