News & insights.

This month, we talk to Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects 2020 Gold Medallist and Strachan Group Architects director Dave Strachan, alongside SGA team members architect Joanna Jack and architectural graduate Madumal Gunaratna. The trio discusses what it’s like being a minority in architecture and what diversity brings to the SGA whānau and their clients.

We all know that (sadly) men on average are paid more. Within engineering and architecture, our last Diversity Agenda Accord survey in 2020 showed the Gender Pay Gap to be 19%, with firms working out their gap by adding up all the combined salaries by gender.

Helen Davidson is the newly appointed CE of ACE New Zealand. Eloise Angus caught up with Helen, who tells us a bit about herself, discusses challenges she's looking forward to in her role as CE, and the importance of diversity and inclusion and the Diversity Agenda Accord.

In the conclusion of a two-part chat with Sean Barker from the Diversity Agenda, Van Tang shares what GHD are doing to move the diversity and inclusion dial, the importance of company culture and how to maintain it in the new online workplace.

If you think the Accord is an overwhelming commitment that involves a lengthy sign-up process, then think again. This month's Top Tips walk you through just how easy it is to become a Diversity Agenda Accord signatory.

This month, we chat with Van Tang, GHD's General Manager for New Zealand and Pacific. In the first of a two-part chat with Sean Barker from the Diversity Agenda, Van discusses her journey into engineering as a refugee, the discovery of the ‘guilt phenomenon’ and why we still don’t have enough females in senior leadership.

Check out our resources from over the years that cover the different facets of diversity, and will give you insight and advice into how to be a more diverse and inclusive organisation.

In November Jade Kake and Desna Whanga-Schollum hosted an online seminar about how Te Tiriti o Waitangi can help built-environment professionals create a more equitable future in Aotearoa New Zealand. We’ve pulled out ten quotes that provide a quick guide to how Te Tiriti might be able to help you and your practice be more inclusive.

Let’s be honest, 2020 gave us many things we’d all rather forget. However, there was some light within the darkness, including plenty of resources from the Diversity Agenda to help you and your organisation improve change our professions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Watch our Diversity Agenda webinar, presented by Stephen McDougall – if you don't measure, you don't know.

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).

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.

Watch our Diversity Agenda webinar, presented by Diana Thomson – Solving the diversity dilemma one speech at a time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

“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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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%...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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;...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...