News & insights.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Equity in Architecture.
Watch our most recent Diversity Agenda webinar, where Ngā Aho member Jade Kake and Ngā Aho Co-Chair Desna Whaanga-Schollum explain the relevance and importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the architectural profession.
Read MoreTop tips for an inclusive holiday season.
Aotearoa is a culturally diverse nation made up of many ethnic groups, so for organisations planning a staff function, it’s important you consider all people.
Read MoreBig Interview: Anne Salmond.
For this month’s Big Interview, Sally Conor chats with Anne Salmond who shared her philosophy as an employer and an architect, and discusses how accessible design is just good design.
Read MoreThe power of the Pasifika lens.
In October we hosted an online panel discussion about the low number of Pasifika engineers and architects. The kōrero took place between five experts, who provided insight into their experience as Pasifika within the professions, challenges they’ve faced, the unique Pasifika perspective and what can be done so our professions are more inclusive and encouraging.
Read MoreBig Interview: Dani Paxson – part two.
For this month’s Big Interview, Sean Barker chats with structural engineer Dani Paxson, Project Director from Holmes Consulting. In part two of this interview, Dani discusses her involvement in the Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) Project, the importance of role models, and what organisations can do to help those in minority groups to excel.
Read MoreTop tips for being inclusive of Pasifika peoples.
Honor Eimi Colombus acknowledges companies have a growing desire to increase Pasifika representation but says there’s a lack of willingness when it comes to addressing the inclusion part of the equation. For this month’s top tips Honor enlightens us on the different levels of change we can each contribute to in creating the shift toward inclusive professions.
Read MorePasifika in construction – a panel discussion.
Watch our most recent Diversity Agenda webinar, a panel discussion that addresses the question – why are Pasifika over-represented in the lower-tier jobs of our construction industry, but under-represented when it comes to leadership?
Read MoreBig Interview: Dani Paxson – part one.
For this month’s Big Interview, Sean Barker chats with structural engineer Dani Paxson, Project Director from Holmes Consulting. In part one of this two-part interview, Dani discusses her early career days, experience as a woman in engineering, the barriers she’s faced, and the power of networking groups.
Read MoreTop tips: Tekau te reo words you should use in the workplace.
Troy Brockbank (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) is a Kaitohutohu Matua Taiao/Senior Environmental Consultant with WSP. During Māori Language Week, ACE New Zealand caught up with Troy to learn how easy it is to incorporate te reo into our working life. Check out these tekau Māori words that everyone in the engineering and consultancy sectors should learn.
Read MoreLeading from the top.
How have life experiences shaped the Presidents behind the Diversity Agenda, and what advice can they give the next generation of engineers and architects?
We talk with Judi Keith-Brown, Colin Crampton and Ian Fraser, the current Presidents of NZIA, Engineering New Zealand and ACE New Zealand – the organisations joined together to lead the Diversity Agenda.
Read MoreBig Interview: Warner Cowin – part two.
For this month’s Big Interview, we continue our conversation with Height Project Management Chief Executive, Warner Cowin. In part two we discuss his perspective on how to build diversity within the profession, how he runs as a values-based organisation and what the Diversity Agenda can do to continue to help our professions become more diverse and inclusive.
Read MoreHow do we shape a profession that’s reflective of Aotearoa?
In August we hosted an online panel discussion about the low number of Māori engineers and what can be done to make the profession more encouraging and inclusive of our indigenous people.
Read MoreTop tips for acknowledging Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a time to reflect on your personal and organisational wellbeing – and for workplaces, these behaviours need to be implemented from the top. Here are some tips for employers and managers that’ll help you create a mentally healthy and resilient organisation
Read MoreBig Interview: Warner Cowin – part one.
For this month’s Big Interview, Mimi O’Callaghan from the Diversity Agenda chats with Height Project Management Chief Executive, Warner Cowin. In part one we discuss his experience as a young engineer, why Māori outcomes are good for everyone, and the importance of applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi in firms and projects.
Read MoreTop tips on ways to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is celebrated the week 14–20 September and this year’s theme is 'Kia Kaha te reo Māori'. It’s an opportunity for us all to really celebrate and champion te reo Māori, helping to secure its future as the living, dynamic, and rich language of Aotearoa.
Read MoreMāori in construction – a panel discussion.
Watch our most recent Diversity Agenda webinar, a panel discussion that addresses the question – why aren't there more Māori engineers and what can we do to change that? It’s vital we improve the representation of Māori in our professions – to help shape an Aotearoa that reflects us all.
Read MoreTop tips on flexible working: from our Accord signatories.
Covid has presented a unique opportunity to shift the dial when it comes to flexible working, and we need to “seize the moment” – it's important we don’t waste it. Check out some of the key out-takes from our Accord signatory, CE roundtable discussion on flexible working.
Read MoreBig Interview: Bridget Burdett.
People with disabilities use roads and buildings too, so why don’t we include them in our designs? We talk with Bridget Burdett, Principal Researcher and Chartered Engineer at MRCagney, as she shares her thoughts on the importance of disabled representation within the profession.
Read MoreDeepening Relationships: Isthmus Matariki Day.
Diversity Agenda member and Accord signatory, Isthmus' purpose is to advance the relationships between land, people and culture – writes CEO Ralph Johns as the business brings in Matariki Day – an annual holiday and special celebration for staff.
Read MoreBig Interview: Paul Evans, Chief Executive, ACE New Zealand.
Sean Barker from the Diversity Agenda chatted with Paul about ACE New Zealand’s recent survey results, why it’s so important firms don’t drop the ball in light of Covid-19, Māori and Pasifika representation within the sector, and the hopes for a more diverse and inclusive future.
Read MoreFive top tips to measure and succeed.
As our recent webinar showed – if you don’t measure, you don’t know. We all know diversity and inclusion are important, so how do we measure them and act on results effectively? Start with identifying the right data points, assess them, and make an action plan. Here are our top tips to help you start the data collection journey!
Read MoreIf you don’t measure, you don’t know.
Watch our Diversity Agenda webinar, presented by Stephen McDougall – if you don't measure, you don't know.
Read MoreBig Interview: Aleisha Amohia and Angitha Ramesh.
We chat with Aleisha Amohia and Angitha Ramesh – two inspirational, passionate diversity and inclusion advocates who have both had a pivotal role in the Victoria University Wellington Women in Tech group (VUWWIT).
Read MoreSix top tips for igniting inclusion in the workplace.
Diversity and inclusion go hand in hand – you can’t have one without the other. But sometimes, organizations put more emphasis on diversity and forget about inclusion. It’s easy to think that inclusion will just happen, but it’s not that simple – you have to work to create it. Read our top tips on simple ways you and your organisation can do this.
Read MoreSolving the diversity dilemma one speech at a time.
Watch our Diversity Agenda webinar, presented by Diana Thomson – Solving the diversity dilemma one speech at a time.
Read MoreBig Interview: Tracey Ryan.
We talk with Tracey Ryan, Managing Director of Aurecon NZ, to find out the importance of senior leaders driving change, how an organisation can be truly diverse and inclusive, the role of flexible working, and much more.
Read More2019 member insights.
It’s impossible to truly know if we’re all making positive change within engineering and architecture without data. So every year we survey our members to find out their employees’ make-up.
Read MoreFive top diversity and inclusion TED Talks.
A visual story is extremely powerful, especially when it's providing a glimpse into someone else's life and experiences. TED Talks give the world's leading thinkers and doers a platform – so we’ve chosen five inspiring talks on diversity and inclusion that can help to shift perspectives and foster important conversations.
Read MoreMaking the Covid-19 lockdown work.
Diversity Agenda member and Accord signatory, Isthmus, have kindly shared some valuable insights on how they’ve adapted to remote working, and how they’re keeping connected and their office culture vibrant, during these trying times.
Read MoreBig Interview: Jacobs.
We talk all things diversity and inclusion with Tom Price, Jacob’s Senior Vice President of Global Growth Strategy & Solutions, based in the USA, and Aaron Hochwimmer, Jacob’s Director of Operations, Power, Australia and New Zealand – and a company director, based in Auckland.
Read MoreSeven tips for working from home with children.
Covid-19 and New Zealand’s rise to Alert Level 4 has meant a lot of households needing to balance working from home while looking after young children. Sean Barker here at the Diversity Agenda, is in this situation with both himself and wife Natasha needing to work while being indoors with their two daughters, Skye and Lily, aged five and two.
Read MoreEight tips for remote working.
Here at the Diversity Agenda, we’re lucky to have some team members who are experts at being productive remote workers. With most of the country set to work from home for at least the next month, we thought we’d share our expertise on how to make this huge transition slightly easier. Here are our top tips!
Read MoreThe Rainbow Tick journey.
Eliza Sutton, WSP’s Head of Transport Infrastructure and Road Safety, spoke at a Diversity Agenda lunchtime event about their journey to achieving the Rainbow Tick. Eliza discussed the importance of this for their rainbow community, the steps they went through to receiving the certification, and their focus for the future.
Read MoreFive top tips for managers.
It's hugely encouraging to see chief executives and business owners taking diversity and inclusion seriously. However, in some cases, the same enthusiasm doesn’t always filter down through the organisation. Here are some diversity and inclusion tips to help middle management.
Read MorePaving a diverse and inclusive way
Thursday 20 February was a momentous occasion for the engineering and architecture professions, with the official launch of the Diversity Agenda Accord / Te Whakaaetanga Kaupapa Kanorau
Read MoreBig Interview: Warren and Mahoney Architects – part two.
In this concluding part of our Big Interview, John Coop and Sarah Coleman discuss how they are making change within their practice, the important role of Māori design, what life is like as a woman in the profession and the important issues facing architecture.
Read MoreSharing is caring.
Aurecon, a Diversity Agenda member, is breaking barriers and creating a more diverse and inclusive working environment with the launch of their new Shared Care policy
Read MoreTen top tips to make the most of your membership.
Ok, so your organisation has become a Diversity Agenda member – now what? Let us help you walk the walk, and not just talk the talk. So get those laces tied up tight…
Read MoreBig Interview: Warren and Mahoney Architects – part one.
In the first of our two-part Big Interview, John Coop and Sarah Coleman discuss their roles within Warren and Mahoney, the scope of diversity, and the future generation of architects and how they will shape the profession.
Read MoreWomen in charge.
We sit down with Colette McCartney and Olivia Pearson from GHDWoodhead creativespaces, to talk about their careers and life as senior leaders in the architecture industry.
Read MoreBig Interview: Elisapeta Heta.
We talk with Elisapeta Heta, an architecture graduate who works in the Auckland office of Jasmax, where she is Kaihautu Whaihanga – Māori Design Leader of Waka Māia, a team of dedicated design professionals who specialise in engaging Mana Whenua and applying the Te Aranga Māori Design Principles.
Read MoreBig Interview: Ceinwen McNeil – part two.
In the conclusion of our two-part interview, we discuss Ceinwen’s education experience and how different it is for her daughters, that time she challenged Harvard Business School on their admittance policy, and the importance of owning and celebrating femininity.
Read MoreBig Interview: Glen Cornelius – part two.
We continue our interview with Glen Cornelius, Managing Director of Harrison Grierson, and finalist in the Diversity Works Diversity Awards. In the conclusion of our two-part interview, we focus on the threats to engineering if diversity and inclusion isn’t improved, how we can encourage the younger generation, and the importance...
Read MoreGrowing greater
The programme that’s continuing to make a big difference for mid-career women in engineering and architecture. The Growing Greatness programme for mid-career women started initially for Beca employees, but quickly grew to be rolled out across the engineering industry. It’s now helping mid-career women within Diversity Agenda Founding Partner and...
Read MoreBig Interview: Ceinwen McNeil – Part One
We talk with Ceinwen McNeil, Chief Executive at BVT Engineering Professional Services, and strong advocate for diversity and inclusion. In part one of our two-part interview, we discuss targets vs quotas, BVT’s recruitment process, and hear some horror stories that sadly still occur for women in the engineering industry. What...
Read MoreFive top tips for successful recruiting
To be diverse and inclusive, you have to recruit well. Watch your language Check your job adverts and make sure there’s no subtle (or not so subtle) gendered words that have sneaked in. Obviously words like ‘guys’ and gendered pronouns should be avoided, but there’s also a whole load of...
Read MoreCreating a sustainable future
Meet Erin Lim, the Francis Small Scholarship winner with big goals for the future. Erin grew up in the town of Hawera in South Taranaki and attended Hawera High School. With a civil engineer for a father and a maths teacher for a mother, it wasn’t a surprise that she...
Read MoreSix recognition days to remember.
Get on board and add these to your calendar. International Women’s Day - 8 March The annual celebration of achievements made by women all over the globe. It began after being proposed by Clara Zetkin at the 1910 International Socialist Woman's Conference that working women be honoured on 8 March...
Read MoreAllies Championing Change in the Workplace Review
The importance of support from those outside the LGBTI+ community is integral to an organisation being an inclusive space for all. The Diversity Agenda, together with Auckland University of Technology and LGBTI+ in STEM, recently hosted the ‘Allies championing Change in the Workplace’ event in Auckland. During the evening, the...
Read MoreBig Interview: Glen Cornelius – part One.
We sit down with Glen Cornelius, Managing Director of Harrison Grierson, and a passionate member of the Diversity Agenda, to discover the secrets from an award nominated leader. In part one of this two-part interview, we discuss how Harrison Grierson have changed their recruitment process, how policies such as flexible...
Read MoreFive little language tweaks
Create a more inclusive vocabulary by making these five small changes to your everyday language. Refer to women as “women” Referring to women as “girls” may seem harmless but in reality it’s sexist. We can all agree it’d be odd to refer to women in senior leadership as “girls” but...
Read MoreBig Interview: Ralph Fouche
We sat down with Ralph Fouche, Country Manager for Stantec New Zealand, to talk about how his company have taken huge strides in improving diversity and inclusion, and what tips he can pass on to other firms. Ralph’s a Water And Waste Water Engineer who came to New Zealand in...
Read MoreFive podcasts you need to hear
Make your morning commute more interesting with these five podcast episodes centred on diversity and inclusion. Podcasts have grown in popularity over the last few years. They’re a great way to learn and be entertained when commuting, having lunch or just in need of some time out. (And if you’re...
Read MoreDiversity in motion
How can greater diversity in transportation engineering help create a more inclusive world? There’s a roundabout near my home in suburban Hamilton where I was almost knocked off my bike on my way to work last year. I was turning right, and as I prepared to exit, a driver failed...
Read MoreWhat’s good? What could be better?
After celebrating our first birthday in April, Diversity Agenda partners look back at what’s worked and where we’ll go next. On 9 May, our members gathered in Wellington to share the initiatives they’ve launched this past year to create more welcoming and inclusive cultures. They also highlighted where the industry...
Read MoreSix little changes you can make now
Here’s some top tips from our Share and Shape workshop that you can implement straight away. 1. Got soy milk? Not all changes need to be landmarks. Sometimes the best way to start your journey to inclusivity is with small wins. With so many different dietary requirements in the modern...
Read MoreIt’s nice to be noticed!
Diversity Agenda and members gain recognition in 2019 Diversity Awards We’re proud to announce the Diversity Agenda is a finalist in the ‘Emerging Diversity and Inclusion’ category of the Diversity Awards NZ™, which honours diversity and inclusion initiatives that are less than two years’ old. Since our launch last April,...
Read MoreChallenging the industry
WSP Opus New Zealand Managing Director Ian Blair talks about how embracing diversity and inclusion has changed the culture of his firm. What does diversity mean to you and why is it important to you personally? For me, diversity is having an organisation or an industry that represents all parts...
Read MoreAre firms making it too hard for migrants to find work?
This was the key concern raised by a bumper crowd at the ‘Settling into New Zealand’ event aimed at new engineering migrants. So what’s behind these comments, and what can be done to help? More than 200 people attended the event, held at the University of Auckland, which was all...
Read MoreSwitching girls on to STEM
Kim Rutter, a civil engineer turned lecturer at the University of Canterbury, is leading the charge to get Kiwi girls interested in STEM. Getting young women interested in STEM careers starts by changing the way girls are introduced to these subjects. Kim Rutter is doing her part to help shape...
Read MoreHow can you do more?
Julie Stewart and Stephen McDougall at Studio Pacific Architecture look back on what they’ve changed during 12 months as a Founding Partner. And they ask why more architects aren’t on board. The Diversity Agenda has given us momentum to move beyond our individual practices and become part of a wider...
Read MoreHow to keep mid-career women on track
Mid-career is the most risky stage for potential women leaders. Enter Anne Elder-Knight and her unique Growing Greatness programme, which Beca is making available to all Diversity Agenda Founding Partners and Change Makers. It would have been easier to roll out a new training programme just for their own employees,...
Read MoreWhere are we at, New Zealand?
“It is the responsibility of the people with privilege to drive doing diversity and inclusion well, and not the responsibility of under-represented people” was the message from Rachel Hopkins during the Diversity Agenda hosted ‘Where are we at, New Zealand?’, held at Engineering New Zealand this past week. This event...
Read MoreDiversity powers innovation – and some serious competitive advantage
Samantha Almeida and Priyani de Silva-Currie of Calibre share their insights on the effects of innovation on an organisation's success and growth. Success and growth are dependent on an organisation’s ability to continually innovate. But if you believe that you have to be smarter or have clever ideas to innovate,...
Read MoreDynamic Diversity at Pedersen Read
This month, we spotlight Pedersen Read, an engineering consultancy based in the South Island, which is a strong supporter of the Diversity Agenda. We talk to Director Andrew Read about why Pedersen Read has got on board and the changes the company has made to its business. Written by: Kavita...
Read MoreA Kiwi engineer taking on the Big Apple
By Megan Berger Meet Isabella Franks, a Kiwi engineer who’s been managing the construction of a skyscraper on the Hudson Yards project in New York City, aka the biggest private real estate development in US history. Bella studied structural engineering at the University of Canterbury. She then worked in Auckland...
Read MoreThe importance of flexible work
By Megan Berger If there’s a single trend we can take away from the past few years in workplace development, it would be the shifting attitude towards flexible working for workers – parents or not. For many reasons, it’s a very good thing that our society has begun embracing flexible...
Read MoreLooking ahead: Insights and Objectives
As 2019 kicks into high gear, it's a great time to assess where we are as industries, and where we're going next. We’re pleased to be releasing two resources that will help continue to guide you and your organisation as you work to improve rates of diversity and inclusion, and...
Read MoreSpeaking out for more LGBT inclusion in STEM
By Megan Berger We all know that women in particular face challenges when it comes to pursuing a career in STEM fields. But another group of people faces similar issues around a lack of role models, lack of inclusive work environments and lack of understanding: the LGBT community. Approximately 43%...
Read MoreBeing the best ‘you’ you can be
By Megan Berger Picture a civil engineering laboratory: full of heavy noisy testing equipment, aggregate dust and hot bitumen, and pressure to get results out quickly. What about the people in the laboratory? Is there a mix of men and women? Chances are, you visualise a male dominated workplace and...
Read MoreMid-Career Break panel recap
Going into our very first series of panel discussions, we knew that there were great conversations to be had. What we didn’t expect was just how passionate and open attendees would be about the struggles and successes around their own career breaks. It can be a tough conversation to open...
Read MoreA vision for the 21st century city
Visions of a 21st century city By Megan Berger You don’t need to spend a lot of time with Camia Young to realise she’s an innovator in every sense of the word. Bursting with passion and ideas, she’s relentless in the pursuit of challenging the status quo in order to...
Read MoreRSVP today for the Wellington Trailblazers Lunch
RSVP today for the Wellington Trailblazers Lunch Missed out on the Wellington Trailblazers lunch last month? You’re in luck! We're partnering with the Engineering New Zealand Wellington Branch to host an encore of the sold-out panel discussion and Q&A session. Join us as two of the panel speakers return to...
Read MoreLeading from the top
By Megan Berger It seems like common knowledge these days that in order for policies and efforts to really stick, an organisation needs to implement these from both the top down and the bottom up. There’s a plethora of articles and industry perspectives that support this idea, but how often...
Read MoreAuckland – our mid-career breaks discussion is coming soon!
Contemplating time off but worried about what it will mean for your career? Anxious about how to manage a part-time workforce? Join the Diversity Agenda for a collaborative discussion with a diverse panel from across the architecture and engineering industries as they discuss mid-career breaks, how men and women can...
Read MoreIs diversity the (not so) secret to effective teams?
By Megan Berger Is the secret to effective teams as simple as paying attention to diversity? As the topics of gender diversity and equality become more widely discussed in today’s workplaces, it should come as no surprise that job seekers are beginning to choose their new roles based on an...
Read MorePaying it forward: how one recruiter is paving the way for the next generation
By Megan Berger How one female engineering technician-turned recruiter helps to pave a path for the next generation. To understand Judith Billington’s career path, it might help to think of her as a chameleon of sorts. Judith began her career as a draftsperson and soon found herself working at Holmes...
Read MoreRegister for unconscious bias training workshops today
As announced last month, we've teamed up with Diversity Works New Zealand to bring Founding Partners and Change Makers targeted unconscious bias training workshops in November for a discounted price. Unconscious bias can undermine the many hours organisations invest in creating an inclusive culture. It prevents us from making objective...
Read MoreRSVP for our Christchurch workshop
Contemplating time off but worried about what it will mean for your career? Anxious about how to manage a part-time workforce? Join the Diversity Agenda for a collaborative discussion with a diverse panel from across the architecture and engineering industries as they discuss mid-career breaks, how men and women can...
Read MoreDiversity Works New Zealand and Diversity Agenda Announce Formal Partnership
Diversity Works New Zealand and the Diversity Agenda have joined forces to accelerate the representation of women in engineering and architecture. Launched in April this year by Engineering New Zealand, the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ), the Diversity Agenda aims to get...
Read MoreWorkshop Outcomes: Wellington
Our first public workshop in Wellington generated a lively conversation around the mid-career break: how to decide to take one, how to best manage employees while they're on one and how to develop supportive policies to successfully transition them back to work. Many thanks to everyone who attended our sold-out,...
Read MoreHealthy Minds: Meridian’s focus on mental health
For the country's biggest generator of electricity, the mental health and well-being of its employees and the communities it serves is one of its biggest priorities. Meridian's Healthy Minds programme is a six-week programme which focuses on several areas of mental health, and aims to break down the barriers that...
Read MoreWalking the Talk: University of Auckland
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Auckland (which is a Founding Partner of Diversity Agenda) recently held an internal workshop to discuss the Faculty of Engineering’s diversity ambitions, and how to best achieve their goals. Read on for a recap of the event from Suzanne Wilkinson,...
Read MoreDiversity Agenda in the news
We're so thankful for our Founding Partners, Change Makers and advocates that help drive the conversation around diversity in our industries. Have a look at the latest stories covering our initiative. Alisha Baddock, Christchurch-based engineer at Beca, is featured in NZ Manufacturer's 'Women in Engineering' recurring feature. Read more An...
Read MoreRSVP today for the Wellington workshop
Contemplating time off but worried about what it will mean for your career? Anxious about how to manage a part-time workforce? Join Diversity Agenda for a collaborative discussion with a diverse panel from across the architecture and engineering industries as they discuss mid-career breaks, how men and women can bounce...
Read MoreBuilding a Case for Change
While more and more organisations are making real changes when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion, we understand that it still takes a lot of work to get buy-in from all levels of an organisation before new policies can be implemented. There are myriad resources out there, and there...
Read MoreWorkshop Outcomes
Our inaugural workshop in Auckland on 5 July was a vibrant event, with the room filled to the brim with ideas, stories and conversation. It further proved that while there’s still much to be done in our industries, there’s a groundswell of doers ready to drive change. While our workshop...
Read MoreReal Talk: Sheila Karimi
By Megan Berger Our Real Talk series features women and men in engineering and architecture talking about the challenges and less-than-enjoyable experiences often come along with being a woman - or just being different - in our industries. For Iranian-born Sheila Karimi, a career in engineering was inevitable. Her father,...
Read MoreTips and Tools
Getaflex is a job search tool specifically designed for those looking for professional, flexible roles across New Zealand. Several of our Founding Partners and Change Makers are already using this site to post jobs, so get on board today! Find out more Architecture & Women NZ brings together the diverse...
Read MoreBecoming an ally for all
By Megan Berger Lynda Simmons is an ally for women in architecture in every sense of the word. As a sole practitioner, a registered architect and a professional teaching fellow at Auckland University School of Architecture and Planning, she’s exposed to the inner-workings of the industry from top to bottom;...
Read MoreBeyond the nine to five
By Melanie McDaid Designer and mum Melanie McDaid has just started a new practice, Sloane & Peach, as well as co-founding a platform that is supportive of flexible working for all. Here she talks about the future of balancing work and life. Returning to work after more than a year...
Read MoreHow can women get ahead? Take a break
By Megan Berger Like many engineers, Sulo Shanmuganathan’s initial interest and draw to the field came from growing up with an engineering parent. Today, she’s the Technical Director at Holmes Consulting in Auckland, but there was a time when Sulo saw academia as her calling. While her initial career goal...
Read MoreGetting the most out of your people
By Megan Berger Rachel Blewden is a people person. She’s drawn to having a greater understanding of how teams and people work, how people utilise space in the world around them and how to best create functional spaces for all. It makes sense then that she was drawn to engineering....
Read MoreBeing part of the problem and the solution
By Megan Berger As our industry begins to shift and examine its policies, there’s perhaps no better place to look than leadership to see what change is on the horizon. Stephen McDougall knows all too well the impact that diversity and flexibility can have on a workplace. As a director at...
Read MoreEquity over equality
By Megan Berger As an American who’s worked in the UK and now New Zealand, Julie Stewart brings a unique perspective to the diversity conversation. She’s a mother and a senior architect at Studio Pacific Architecture in Wellington, where she’s worked for three years. Overall, Julie’s experience in the industry...
Read MoreDriving change: An industry leader’s perspective
By Megan Berger Darryl-Lee Wendelborn is a poster child for female success in engineering. The Rotorua-raised engineer is now Managing Director at BECA, New Zealand’s largest professional services consultancy, overseeing the firm’s New Zealand business. Over the past 22 years, she’s learned the ins and outs of the organisation, where...
Read MoreFlexible working with Katie Symons
By Megan Berger Katie Symons is a mother of three and a structural engineer at Batchelar McDougall Consulting (BMC) in Christchurch. She’s also clear proof that a flexible work environment can have a huge impact on employees, and more importantly, on their family and home life. Working at BMC for...
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