People are at the heart of Local Government and this year's Strategic HR Forum has been developed specifically to explore the big issues facing those in our profession, as well as to inspire others by showcasing best practice within the sector.
- 01 Jul 2021-02 Jul 2021
- 09:00 - 17:00
- Save to my Calendar
- Wharewaka Function Centre, Odlins Square, 2 Taranaki Street, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- 735.00 (plus GST) Members
- 860.00 (plus GST) Non Members
About this event
This two-day forum will bring together an exciting range of speakers, provide excellent networking opportunities and cover topics specifically identified by the Taituarā Workforce Working Party because of their relevance and importance to the sector.
The themes we will address using local government case studies, expert speakers and diverse panel sessions are:
- Growing a more diverse workforce, with a specific focus in the construction profession
- Addressing pay equity issues and designing inclusive workplaces
- Building cultural confidence through HR systems
- Innovative approaches to well-being and leadership
Don’t forget to save the date in your calendar so that you do not miss out on this development opportunity, and most importantly the opportunity to connect with your colleagues across the country.
Who should attend:
- Local government chief executives
- Local government professionals in the HR and people leadership space
- AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize applicants
Please see the AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize application in the Events Documents section on this page.
DAY ONE: Thursday 1 July 2021
8.30am Registration opens
9.45am Welcome to the forum
10.00am Living and working in the new New Zealand: the challenges of change
Professor Paul Spoonley, Massey University
Paul is one of New Zealand's most distinguished academics, a sociologist and public commentator on population trends, cultural understanding and ethnicity. He is the author or editor of 28 books. The most recent are an edited book, Rebooting the Regions (2016) while his book, The 'New' New Zealand. Facing Demographic Disruption was published in late 2020 (it is now in its second edition). He is also writing a book on the extreme right in this country. He was a Programme Leader of a research programme on the impacts of immigration and diversity in Aotearoa.
10.45am Morning tea
11.25am Addressing pay equity
Cathy Hendry, Managing Director, Strategic Pay
Maria Green, Learning & Development Lead, Rotorua Lakes Council
This workshop will provide context on pay equity and explore how Rotorua Lakes Council assessed and addressed its pay gap over three to four years. Looking at the analysis undertaken in conjunction with Strategic Pay over the last three years, the approach and tools used for this analysis, the issues identified through this analysis and the action taken - the approach and practices developed and implemented to address the gaps identified and the outcomes of these actions on the pay gap.
This will include opportunity for discussion amongst the group and sharing of other councils’ experiences.
1.00pm Lunch
1.45pm Cultural confidence, one word at a time
Tūraukawa Bartlett, Cultural Confidence Specialist, Manavation
This interactive session focuses on language being the gateway to a Māori worldview – a people connecting worldview. Providing a practical perspective of how to bring cultural confidence to life through all HR systems.
2.45pm A word from our sponsor: Civic Financial Services
Ian Brown, Chief Executive, Civic Financial Services
3.15pm Afternoon tea
3.30pm Growing women in construction
Kelly Bennett, Principal Advisor for Women, BCITO
BCITO is passionate about leading the construction industry to create the best-skilled people for tomorrow and recognises women as an important part of the construction workforce. BCITO have set a target to have women making up 10% of all apprentices. Women currently make up 4% of all BCITO apprentices and Kelly will share with us the journey BCITO are on to support women in making trades a viable career choice and employers in hiring a more diverse workforce.
With this in mind Kelly will be able to share with us insights as to how the work BCITO are doing fit into the big picture of growing a more diverse construction workforce.
4.15pm Maximising workforce participation for older New Zealanders: Considering workforce ageing from organisational perspectives.
Fiona Alpass, Professor of Psychology, Massey University
Dr Sally Keeling, Research Associate, Massey University
Dr Judith Davey, Senior Associate, Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand public policies, including the removal of compulsory retirement, legislation to discourage age discrimination, and universal superannuation, contribute to New Zealand having the second highest employment rate of older workers (55-64) in the OECD. However, work participation rates still decline after age 55+. Thus, despite current policy emphasis on the importance of older workers to the economy, and some legislative and organisational provisions, there remain problems of retention of older people in the workforce.
We need to understand the apparent gap between government policies and employer practice. Organisational case studies help us learn about successful strategies in recruiting and retaining older workers, as well as challenges facing particular industrial, sectoral or regional labour markets related to population ageing
This session presents findings from two organisational case studies undertaken pre-COVID. The following questions are addressed: What are employers’ attitudes towards older workers? What do employers need to work with an ageing workforce and to support older workers? What successful practices and strategies are used to recruit, retain, and support older workers?
4.45pm Close of day one
5.00pm Networking drinks
DAY TWO: Friday 2 July 2021
9.30am Welcome to day two
9.45am Harnessing neurodiversity: tapping into your council's hidden potential
Callum McKirdy, callummckirdy.com
Callum helps organisations design inclusive workplaces that harness the potential & power of neurodiversity. In this session, Callum will explore:
- What, where and who your neurodiverse cohorts are
- Why considering neurodiversity as a key facet of your D&I strategy is just that - very strategic!
- Given all workforces comprise a subset of neurodiverse professionals, how do we uncover, unlock and unleash their potential?
- Why most organisations are yet to harness this untapped existing resource....to their detriment
10.45am Morning tea
11.10am Workforce strategy workshop
James Lord, Manager Workforce Leadership, Taituarā
12.00pm Lunch
12.45pm Well-being and leadership
Wiremu Matthews, Kānuka, Kaiwhakahaere | Directors Wellbeing
Steve Hersey, Kānuka, Kaiwhakahaere | Directors Leadership
Kānuka teach principles that build deep connection, get to root causes, shape professional environments for healthy, collaborative diversity and increase personal and team wellbeing. We work alongside both leaders and their team members to mentor and support wellbeing and leadership strategies that increase growth, results, energy and productivity of people.
2.45pm AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize
Representative from AskYourTeam
Help us celebrate the awarding of this inaugural prize to an HR professional within local government. Our thanks to AskYourTeam for supporting the HR profession through this prize - $2,500 towards their professional development.
3.00pm Close of forum
Presenters
Tūraukawa Bartlett
Ngāti Whātua, Director, MANAVATION Cultural Confidence Specialists Read ProfileTūraukawa Bartlett
Ngāti Whātua, Director, MANAVATION Cultural Confidence SpecialistsTūraukawa is first and foremost a proud father and husband to his wife Aimee and their two children Varden and Rehua. Tūraukawa is also the recipient of the 2016 ITF Future Māori Business leader, 2017 Sir Bob Henare Leader in Māori Wellbeing as well as receiving the Ngāti Whātua Excellence in Māori Wellbeing award in 2020.
Tūraukawa utilises his lived experience of mental health and addiction and navigating a bi-cultural worldview to support communities across Aotearoa to live and breathe their cultural confidence one word at a time.
Paul Spoonley
Distinguished Professor, Massey University Read ProfilePaul Spoonley
Distinguished Professor, Massey UniversityDistinguished Professor Paul Spoonley was, until 2019, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, at Massey University. He retired from Massey University in April 2021. He is the author or editor of 28 books. The most recent are an edited book, Rebooting the Regions (2016) while his book, The “New” New Zealand. Facing Demographic Disruption was published in late 2020 (it is now in its second edition). He is also writing a book on the extreme right in this country. He was a Programme Leader of a research programme on the impacts of immigration and diversity in Aotearoa. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2011 and was granted the title of Distinguished Professor by Massey University in 2013.
Callum McKirdy
callum@callummckirdy.com Read ProfileCallum McKirdy
callum@callummckirdy.comAfter gaining an Honours degree in Anthropology & Social Geography, Callum entered a career in Human Resources in 2000. Callum worked his way up the pecking order via various roles across the Ministry of Social Development and State Services Commission.
2013 saw the establishment of Callum's boutique leadership development practice. This was his launchpad into working exclusively with leaders of larger service-oriented organizations keen to develop cultures of engaged and enabled staff.
That morphed into callummckirdy.com in 2017, when Callum decided to take a stand for the Human Resources profession and work with dedicated HR Leaders, teams and practitioners committed to finally delivering the full potential of the people profession into organisations.
Kelly Bennett
Principal Advisor - Women, BCITO Read ProfileKelly Bennett
Principal Advisor - Women, BCITOKelly Bennett is the principal advisor for women at BCITO. BCITO is the largest provider of construction trade apprenticeships in New Zealand and are appointed by the government to develop and implement industry qualifications for the building and construction sector.
Kelly is also a member of the Construction COVE women’s advisory group and one of the founding members of the Women in Trades Collective.
Wiremu Matthews
Kaiwhakahaere | Directors, Kānuka Wellbeing Read ProfileWiremu Matthews
Kaiwhakahaere | Directors, Kānuka WellbeingChoosing to move beyond the western model of health, for over 20 years, Wiremu has studied medicine, exercise, nutrition, psychoneuroimmunology, leadership, coaching and behaviour design underpinned by te ao Māori principles and tīkanga.
Steve Hersey
Kaiwhakahaere | Directors, Kānuka Leadership Read ProfileSteve Hersey
Kaiwhakahaere | Directors, Kānuka LeadershipSteve has worked with national and multi-national organisations and held leadership and training roles for over 20 years in the private and not-for-profit sectors. He combines his passion of developing deep interpersonal relationships with supporting individuals to become clear about - and become capable of - their own personal leadership (self-mastery).
Cathy Hendry
Managing Director, Strategic Pay Read ProfileCathy Hendry
Managing Director, Strategic PayCathy Hendry is the Managing Director of the proudly New Zealand owned and operated Strategic Pay and a seasoned remuneration professional with over 17 years’ experience in the industry. Leading Strategic Pay since 2021, Cathy brings invaluable experience and insight to her role. As a dedicated advocate for pay equity, Cathy’s commitment to this cause has seen her actively engage with organisations such as MindTheGap and promoting research and analysis on Pay Gaps within New Zealand contributing significantly to the ongoing discourse on achieving pay equity within remuneration practices.
Maria Green
Advisor - L & D Lead Organisational and Capability Read ProfileMaria Green
Advisor - L & D Lead Organisational and CapabilityIan Brown
Chief Executive, Civic Financial Services Read ProfileIan Brown
Chief Executive, Civic Financial ServicesIan was appointed Chief Executive of Civic on 20 March 2017. He has worked in the insurance and superannuation industry since 1987 and most recently from 2005 to March 2017 was Superannuation Manager for Civic before taking on the role of Chief Executive.
Ian is well known to most of the Local Government fraternity. He was one of the architects that designed Civic’s SuperEasy employer and KiwiSaver scheme which most of us will know. Is there anybody out there that hasn’t seen Ian’s buckets?
Despite being born in Scotland he passionately supports the All Blacks (and Black Caps) in every game they play and is a staunch Wellingtonian. The fact that he is married and has three girls just reinforces why one “must” save for retirement.
Wendell D'Cunha
Chairperson of New Zealand Remuneration Network and Manager Reward at Auckland Council Read ProfileWendell D'Cunha
Chairperson of New Zealand Remuneration Network and Manager Reward at Auckland CouncilWendell D'Cunha is currently the Chairperson of New Zealand Remuneration Network (RemNet) and the Manager Reward at Auckland Council. He is responsible for Remuneration, Benefits and Recognition strategy and supports the performance frameworks for the main council and many of the council-controlled organisations. Previously having worked for Hay Group, he has worked with many multinational clients across various sectors and countries in implementing their Reward strategies.
Although Remuneration is his passion, he has worked with various organisations on issues like Talent Management, Performance Management and Employee Engagement. This has given him the opportunity to learn about various aspects that impact employee performance. He believes that the key to a great organisation is empowerment and building manager capability which can only be achieved with trust and transparency.
Dr Judith Davey
Senior Associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Read ProfileDr Judith Davey
Senior Associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of WellingtonDr Judith Davey was Director of the New Zealand Institute for Research on Ageing (NZIRA) from 2002 to early 2007 and is now a Senior Associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at VUW. Prior to 1991 she was the Deputy Director of the New Zealand Planning Council, and has been a consultant on social policy and social research since the 1970s. Judith’s current research is part of the MBIE-funded, Massey University research programme “Maximising Workforce Participation for Older New Zealanders”.
Dr Sally Keeling
Read ProfileDr Sally Keeling
Following over twenty years of research and teaching in the field of health and social care for older people, at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Dr Sally Keeling is continuing to work as a Research Associate with Massey University’s Health Work and Retirement Study.
Fiona Alpass
Professor of Psychology, Massey University Read ProfileFiona Alpass
Professor of Psychology, Massey UniversityFiona Alpass is Professor of Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North. She co-leads the Health and Ageing Research team in the School of Psychology. She is also co-PI of the longitudinal Health, Work and Retirement study, a population-level study which aims to identify the health, economic, and social factors underpinning successful ageing in New Zealand’s community dwelling population. Her research interests include older workers and their transitions to retirement, and the impact of combining work and caregiving on health and well-being.