Scholarship Recipient: From Starting Over to Standing Out

Meet a CGF Scholarship Recipient Who Rebuilt Her Construction Career 

Yanxi (Kiki) Long is a Quantity Surveyor and a recipient of the CGF Scholarship, which supported her through her construction studies at Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus (OPAIC). Since graduating with Distinction, she has been working full-time in the industry, involved in New Zealand projects from early planning through to completion. 

Her path here was anything but ordinary. It meant leaving an established career behind, moving across the world, and starting again from the beginning. 

Choosing Construction Twice

"Some people choose construction as their first career," Kiki says. "I chose it twice." 

Kiki first became an Estimator and Quantity Surveyor in China, where she discovered she enjoyed solving problems, managing costs, and helping projects become reality. Years later, after moving to New Zealand, she made the decision to retrain and rebuild her career from the ground up. 

"Not because I had to," she explains, "but because I wanted to build a future here and become part of New Zealand's construction industry." 

Starting Over

Starting again was not easy. Kiki was adapting to a different construction system, researching New Zealand standards, and preparing for presentations, all while laying the foundations of a new life. After completing her study, she brought her two young boys to New Zealand and, as a single parent, built up their life around her newly gained profession. 

"Looking back, those years taught me far more than construction," she says. "They taught me resilience." 

Research with Real-World Purpose

One of the most rewarding parts of Kiki's degree at OPAIC was her research project on improving Green Star New Zealand by comparing international sustainability rating systems. 

Sustainability has become one of the most important challenges facing the construction industry, and Kiki wanted her research to contribute practical ideas rather than simply satisfy academic requirements. 

That research took Kiki beyond the classroom. She presented her paper, “Enhancing Green Star in New Zealand: A comparative analysis of global rating systems and improvement in sustainability perspective”, at the OPSITARA event hosted by Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, part of the ITP Research Symposium 2025. The paper received strong recognition from the academic staff and industry professionals present, and connected her with academics and practitioners who share her passion for green building and sustainable development. “The meaningful interaction and rich experience gave me tremendous confidence and inspiration,” she says. Kiki is thankful to the OPAIC team for the opportunity, especially Senior Lecturer Srividya Krishnamoorthy, Head of Student Success Rebecca Hayes, and all the lecturers who mentored and guided her throughout her academic journey. 

The Right Support at the Right Time

For Kiki, the CGF Scholarship arrived at exactly the right moment, and its value went well beyond the financial support. 

"It reminded me that the industry believed in students who were willing to work hard and contribute," she says. "That confidence stayed with me throughout my studies and continues to motivate me today as a Quantity Surveyor." 

From Study to Site

Since graduating with Distinction, Kiki has been working full-time as a Quantity Surveyor, applying what she learned to real projects every day, from estimating and procurement through to contract administration and cost control. 

Her work spans the full life of a project: preparing quotations, managing variations, ensuring scope meets New Zealand building code and standards, coordinating with clients and subcontractors, and assisting with final claims. 

"Every day I see how the knowledge and practical skills I developed during my studies are directly applied in my work," she says. "Every project continues to teach me something new." 

Never Too Late to Start Again

Looking back, Kiki describes moving to New Zealand as one of the biggest decisions of her life. It meant leaving behind familiarity and rebuilding her career from the beginning. Today, she knows it was the right one. 

"I hope my story encourages others, especially migrants, parents, or mature students, to believe that it is never too late to start again," she says. "With determination, support, and opportunities like the CGF Scholarship, a new beginning can become a successful career." 

CGF is proud to support students like Yanxi through the CGF Scholarship programme. When capable, determined people are backed to enter the industry, the whole sector grows stronger.