#GPJOURNEYS | Part Three

You don’t become a global agency partner simply by opening an office in another city or country—you do it by immersing yourself in new cultures, embracing local perspectives, and building real connections across borders. At GPJ, we believe the best work is created when we lean into our global footprint and celebrate the people who bring that vision to life every day. This week on #GPJourneys, we’re spotlighting yet another team member who is embracing this global nature by relocating to collaborate and share his experience with teams across the world.

This is what it means to be part of OneGPJ: a global team connected by shared values, a love for bold ideas, and a passion for experiences that move people.

California. My role focuses on leading the production team within Live Production, delivering kickass shows, building teams, and helping deliver ambitious, creative, and meaningful work for our clients. Outside of work, life currently revolves around my young family. We spend as much time as possible exploring, traveling, and creating adventures together.

And which office did you relocate from? Anything you’ll miss about it?

My most recent move was from GPJ Sydney in Australia to Sonoma, California (SF region). Returning to California has been special—it’s a place we loved when we lived here previously, and where my son was born—but coming back now with two kids brings a very different perspective.

Australia will always feel like home. I miss the friends and family, the lifestyle, and of course, the beaches. There’s something about the balance of life there that’s hard to replicate.

GPJ Sydney will surely miss you, but we’re excited you get to go on another adventure with GPJ San Francisco! Is there any reason in particular you decided to move offices?

I relocated to the San Francisco office. The move was driven by the opportunity to further my leadership role and help build and grow a department with incredible potential. Having been with GPJ for so long, the transition felt natural—I already knew the culture, the people, and the type of bold, creative work we do and aspire to keep pushing forward.

From Australia to the United States, what was the transition like? How has your time here been so far?

There’s no sugarcoating it—big moves are hard. Professionally, it’s been rewarding right away and energizing to be back in a region with such scale and opportunity. Personally, navigating a new system, new schools, and new communities has been challenging, but it’s also been an adventure. Every day feels different, and that constant sense of discovery has its own rewards.

Considering the scale of this move, how has GPJ supported you?

GPJ has been supportive, particularly by giving me the time and flexibility to find the right place for my family to settle. Open and honest communication throughout the process helped remove a lot of the uncertainty that can come with a move like this.

Transparency is key to effective communication. We’re glad you were able to assist in easing the difficulties that come with such a large life adjustment! So Gavin, what’s been your favorite part about this new location?

Seeing my kids experience a completely new environment—making new friends, discovering new places, and being exposed to things we didn’t have access to in Australia—has been incredibly rewarding.

And is there anything that surprised you? Anything you didn’t expect?

Just how resilient kids are. They adapt faster than you think and often lead the way through change.

Speaking of adapting, is there anything about this office or region that has influenced your perspective and approach to your work?

Scale. The scale of opportunity here encourages us to think bigger, challenge assumptions, and be more creative in how we grow our teams, our ideas, and our impact.

In addition to the insight you’ve gleaned from this office, is there anything that you’ve learned while working with your new teams and clients?

To be brave and bold.

Overall, is there any advice you would give to someone who’s thinking about relocating offices?

Do your homework. Be open, honest, and ask the tough questions. Don’t fear change—focus on maintaining the foundation that keeps you grounded. With that in place, it becomes much easier to embrace the change and grow from it.

We’re endlessly inspired by our team members and their unique experiences, and we’re excited that we had the chance to share yours. Thank you for your time, Gavin!
Look out for more #GPJourneys here.