Whether he’s driving across the country to attend a conference, helping an architect bring a vision to life, or finding better ways to do business, Justin brings innovation and genuine passion to everything he does. His story is a powerful reminder that being a rising star isn’t just about where you’re going, it’s about how you show up every step of the way.
In just four years, Justin Worden has gone from newcomer to nationally recognised leader in New Zealand’s interior fitout sector.
At 34, he has not only launched a business in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, but continues to grow it year after year.
When Justin arrived in New Zealand in early 2021, he didn’t just bring a suitcase, he brought a career’s worth of engineering expertise, financial acumen, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Co-founding Austaron Surfaces New Zealand in late 2020, he took a leap into the unknown during one of the most uncertain global moments. “I jumped across the ditch during that brief window when travel was allowed,” he recalls. “It wasn’t ideal timing – Auckland went into lockdown a few months later.”
The early days were isolating, made even more difficult by the lack of brand awareness and limited opportunities to make face-to-face connections. “It was particularly tough starting a business without any brand awareness or the ability to meet people face-to-face. Sales depend so much on connection, and you just couldn’t connect in those conditions.”
Justin adapted quickly and from Teams calls to road trips across the upper North Island, he found creative ways to stay visible and keep the business moving. “We just had to improvise. I think everyone became good at adapting. You accept the situation for what it is and figure out how to work around it.”
As Director of Austaron Surfaces New Zealand, Justin now wears many hats – overseeing logistics, managing finance, leading sales and technical support, and fostering client relationships.
His schedule often includes site visits with fabricators and shopfitters, meetings with designers, and trade shows that stretch across cities like Wellington, Tauranga, and Whangarei. “Every week is different. No two days ever look the same.”
Holding a Master’s in Chemical & Process Engineering and a background in finance, Justin’s path into the fitout world was anything but conventional, yet it’s that very uniqueness that has given him an edge. “I never really knew exactly what I wanted to do, but this role lets me be technical, creative, strategic, and most of all, useful.”
Deeply engaged in the industry, Justin is a committee member for the New Zealand Kitchen & Bathroom Association, actively involved with the New Zealand Retail Interiors Association and Master Joiners, and a regular at events and conferences around the country. “It’s one thing to be in the business, it’s another to be involved in the industry. That connection really matters.”
His achievements speak for themselves as Austaron Surfaces has grown steadily each year since its inception, weathering the challenges of COVID-19 and economic uncertainty.
Justin has introduced innovative products to the New Zealand market, including Organoid Natural Surfaces (“flowers on a wall you can actually smell”) while helping countless projects through his advisory role on material specification and application.
Still, his greatest milestone might be the one that can’t be measured. “Moving to another country, starting a business, and doing it all during COVID-19 – that’s something I’m proud of. There were moments it felt overwhelming, but we got through it.”
Justin’s philosophy on leadership and life centres on constant improvement and learning. “Just keep improving in your job, in your processes, in how you show up every day. I think we stop teaching ourselves once we leave school, but we should never stop learning.”
He also believes in balance and enjoying the process along the way. “You can get caught up in the stress or always chasing the next goal. But sometimes it’s about stepping back and just enjoying the moment.”
STORY BY ISABELLA MAJOR