The 2014 AuSAE Leadership Symposium held in Rotorua got some fantastic coverage in the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of meeting newz! 

AuSAE thanks the team at meeting newz for their support and we have included a few snap shots of the coverage below.

Matt Reilly, Michael Stokeo and Martin Svehla about to head down the track on the luge.

Fourteen winners took home highly coveted awards at last night’s New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards, held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. The Awards, running since 2005, celebrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and excellence in engineering projects, people and practice.

“It was a great night with such a high calibre of entries. It reminded us again just how well New Zealand’s engineering community deserves its world-leading reputation. The judges certainly had their work cut out for them,” Kieran Devine, interim Chief Executive of IPENZ, says. IPENZ is one of eight partner organisations hosting the awards.

The 14 winners were selected from a pool of 53 entries, covering everything from earthquake-resistant building design, sewerage, waste and water management, through to electricity supply and safety. There were some excellent examples blending engineering design with New Zealand’s cultural heritage.

“These are New Zealand’s premier engineering awards,” Panel Judge, Peter Higgs, says.

“This year’s entries included some outstanding examples of innovation and creativity in engineering projects and practice that are making a huge difference in the lives of countless New Zealanders – from innovations in the management of sewage and wastewater in Christchurch to a world-first in the use of redeveloped earthquake-resistant building technologies.”

The overall supreme award was given to the team behind the creation of Whangarei’s Te Matau ā Pohe bridge – which is only New Zealand’s second-ever bridge, and the first in 50 years, with a lifting mid-section to enable boats to pass underneath it. The design of the bridge incorporates the traditional Māori fish hook and takes its name from Wiremu Pohe, the Māori chief who greeted the first ever Europeans to visit the region.

“It was a pleasure to announce McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd, Transfield Services, Novare Design Ltd, Gaia Engineers Ltd, Knight Architects, Eadon Consulting, Northern Civil Consulting and Whangarei District Council as the joint winners of the Supreme Award for their work on Te Mata ā Pohe. It’s a well-deserved accolade that we hope will also inspire others to continue to integrate excellence in design with New Zealand’s unique cultural identity and ingenuity,” Mr Higgs says.

The Awards are run by the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) on behalf of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA), Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ), Civil Contractors New Zealand, Water New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans and the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ).

More information here: http://nzeeawards.org.nz/news/14-11-Award-winners.cfm

For the past two weeks in a row AuSAE has annouced new annual partners for 2015. It is our great pleasure to annouce another one, Conference Innovators, to assist the NFP/ Association sector.

As New Zealand's leading professional conference organisers (PCO's), Conference Innovators (CI) are considered the best in the events field when it comes to bringing people together successfully. With nearly 20 years of proven experience producing memorable, rewarding, enjoyable events, CI not only does everything a PCO should do, from concept to completion, they do it with style, a sense of fun, and most importantly, INNOVATION!

We are delighted to have Tracey and his team on board. Contact Tracey Thomas tracey@conference.co.nz 03 379 0390

Wine Grape Growers Australia is pleased to announce its 2014-15 Executive Committee which was confirmed at its Annual General Meeting earlier this month.

With roll-over of half of the executive committee each year, WGGA confirmed the four incoming grower members in 2014-15.  Three of the representative bodies that appoint the members saw fit to renominate the existing members for another two-year term while the Wine Grape Council of South Australia nominated Dr Mardi Longbottom to replace the outgoing Simon Berry at the completion of his term.

WGGA Chair, Mr Vic Patrick said of Mardi’s appointment “This appointment continues the process of youthful invigoration of the WGGA Executive Committee and I welcome her willingness to be involved.”  Mardi brings extensive viticultural knowledge and experience to the position as well as familiarity with WGGA’s operations.  Mardi has a family interest in a South East South Australian vineyard and is a viticulturist with the Australian Wine Research Institute.  Mardi’s prior involvement with WGGA is as a general member as well as a member of WGGA’s Decision Support Network – a network of younger growers who receive an introduction to the organisation’s decision-making processes. 

Simon Berry stood down from representative duties at the national level to focus on his leadership role in the South Australian growers association and his own vineyard and viticulture consulting work.  After four years with WGGA, Simon will not be lost to the organisation however as he will continue to provide input into the organisation’s market access and MRL negotiation initiatives.

The remaining four members of the executive team will serve out the second half of their two-year terms in accordance with the Constitution.

In all, the WGGA Executive Committee membership for 2014-15 is as follows:

• Andrew Weeks, Riverland (SA)
• Mardi Longbottom, South Australia (1)
• Vic Patrick, South Australia (2)
• Robert Bellato, Riverina (NSW)
• Brian Englefield, Murray Valley (VIC)
• Justin Jarrett, Rest of New South Wales & Queensland
• Ben Rose, Rest of Victoria & Tasmania
• Colin Bell, Western Australia

In the first meeting after the AGM the new committee appointed its Chair.  Vic Patrick was reappointed to the role and agreed to continue for the next year.  Executive Director of WGGA, Mr Lawrie Stanford, said “Vic’s experience and the respect he holds in the industry are invaluable and I look forward to this ongoing partnership in leading programs and services for Australia’s winegrape growers.”

Media enquiries to Lawrie Stanford, Executive Director on 0417 859 282.

Images available for publishing on 08 8133 4400 or info@wgga.com.au

About WGGA

WGGA is the national voice for Australian winegrape growers.  It is an incorporated association that is accountable to its members through a representative Executive Committee.  There are roughly 6,200 winegrape growers in Australia and WGGA can count around 3,700 of these as having a direct involvement in the organisation. 

The value of winegrape sales across approximately 55 of Australia’s electorates is estimated to have been roughly $880 million in 2012.  At a recent peak in winegrape prices, earlier in the 2000’s, the value of winegrape sales was around $1.5 billion. 

Around 95% of the value of winegrape sales is concentrated in 17 commonwealth electorates. 

WGGA embraces a mission of advancing the development and sustainability of the Australian wine sector and pursues this mission across the four dimensions of a quadruple bottom line:

• Economic ‑ enhancing grower competitiveness, grower profitability potential and maximising contribution to the Australian and regional economies.
• Social ‑ strengthening supply chain business ethics; responsibility to communities and employees; supporting responsible wine consumption.
• Environment ‑ embracing a custodian role for water and ecological assets; supporting biodiversity.
• Governance ‑ championing transparency and equity across the wine value chain and positive revenue growth for government from a progressive tax base.

A PDF copy of this Media Release can be downloaded from the WGGA website

Optometry Australia has announced its new National President, Kate Gifford, who is only the second female and youngest candidate to be elected to the optometry profession’s highest office.

The sole practice owner of Gerry & Johnson Optometrists in Brisbane, Mrs Gifford’s appointment further exemplifies the trending nature of Australia’s small business sector which has seen a significant growth in women running a business .

Mrs Gifford said: “I enjoy the challenges of running my own practice as this has taught me to constantly innovate and to demonstrate value to our patients”.

She takes this philosophy into her leadership roles: “Being involved in the sector’s professional development is important to me, and I’m particularly interested in advancing and evolving clinical and commercial education for optometrists.

“I’m also very passionate about Optometry Australia and the role that it plays, in collaboration with the State Divisions, in leading, engaging and promoting the profession of optometry and eye and vision health.

“The optometry sector is changing rapidly, not only due to technology advancements but due to policy, structural, societal and gender adjustments. Optometry Australia is working to ensure that these changes are benefitting and not hampering our profession, supporting the profession in meeting the eye health and vision care needs of the Australian community.

“Preventative eye health and vision care is critical to a healthy Australia and as a result of the work undertaken by Optometry Australia, and the profession of optometry, we have one of the best optometry sectors in the world. I am deeply proud to be given this opportunity to lead the sector.”

Mrs Gifford has been a Director of Optometry Australia since late 2010. She is formerly President of, and remains on the Board of Optometry Queensland and Northern Territory. She is a graduate from QUT (2003) where she received First Class Honours and a University Medal. She joined Patrick Gerry Optometrists, now Gerry & Johnson, in early 2005 and took over the practice in July 2007.

A part-time PhD student since 2011, Mrs Gifford specialises in children’s vision, binocular vision and contact lenses. An award winning clinical supervisor and visiting lecturer at QUT, she has written 21 peer reviewed and professional publications and presented more than 50 lecturers at conferences in Australia, New Zealand, England and the USA.

“I enjoy solving clinical puzzles and delivering best practice clinical care to each of my patients. I also enjoy being involved in a professional smorgasbord of activities and believe that my diverse professional experience informs my understanding of nearly every facet of optometry - clinical, academic, research, professional education and business ownership”, Mrs Gifford said.

Mrs Gifford succeeds Andrew Harris who has served on the National and Victorian Division Boards of Optometry Australia over the last 15 years. He held the role of National President from 2007 to 2010 and resumed the role in late 2011.

Mrs Gifford said she was honoured to be taking over the role of National President. “Andrew Harris has done an outstanding job leading the optometry sector and through the recent brand review, putting the foundations in place to support the profession strongly into the future.

“We sincerely wish him every success as he returns his attention to his private practice whilst pursuing his commitments on a

For further information please contact: Richard Amos - richard@royce.com.au, 0418 344 978; Tony Faccenda – tony@royce.com.au, 0411 231 433.

Optometry Australia is the peak professional body for optometrists. Representing more than 90% of all Australian-based optometrists, Optometry Australia’s focus is to lead and advance the profession of optometry by putting eye-health front and centre of Australian healthcare. Optometry Australia was formerly known as Optometrists Association Australia. The name change was made on 28 May 2014 to better reflect its role and purpose.

On 26 February 2015, the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards will celebrate the individuals driving the agenda for women – as leaders, mentors, innovators and excellent managers.

Are you one of the individuals driving the change agenda right now? Are you an emerging leader who deserves recognition? Are you an entrepreneur producing groundbreaking ideas? Does your mentor deserve a gong? Do you know a change champion who should be celebrated? 

Nominate for the NAB Women's Agenda Leadership Awards today.

Entry's FREE, simple and open to a wide range of people via a broad mix of categories.

For more information please click here.

The CEO of UnitingCare Queensland, Anne Cross, has been named the 20th Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.

Telstra said Cross, a former front-line social worker and champion of the Not for Profit sector, has reshaped the way healthcare, community and aged-care services are delivered to hundreds of communities and the thousands of people UnitingCare helps every day.

On receiving the award Cross said that the win, while being a great personal accolade, would hopefully help to profile the important role the Not for Profit sector plays and help attract even more high-achieving people to offer their skills and talent to valuable community based organisations.

"The health and community services sector is a significant contributor to Australia’s social and economic fabric," Cross said.

"UnitingCare Queensland is a significant business. As one of Queensland’s largest employers, much of what we do is world class. Hopefully this award will highlight our role and importance in society."

Telstra said that within a year of her appointment as CEO in 2003, Cross used her business nous to lead the transformation process, consolidating more than 100 separate organisations into four service groups - Blue Care, UnitingCare Health, UnitingCare Community and Australian Regional and Remote Community Services.

Under the four umbrella groups, Cross oversees 16,000 employees and 9,000 volunteers across 400 locations. The organisation has a sharp focus on being people-centred and delivering digital services.

“In 2012, she cemented a partnership with the Commonwealth Government to construct Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital at Hervey Bay, along the way extensively redesigning how clinicians and staff go about their work to deliver quality treatment for its patients,” Telstra said in announcing the winner.

Cross joins other 2014 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards category winners including: Kate Weiss, the owner of Victorian food company Table of Plenty, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, the CEO and Managing Director of ASX50 property company Mirvac, Assistant Commissioner Donna Adams, Tasmania’s highest ranked female police officer, Andrea Galloway, CEO of the NSW Not for Profit organisation Evolve Housing, and Tina Tower, the young owner of franchise tutoring business Begin Bright.

“It is a privilege to be able to lead an organisation of great complexity that aligns with my personal values and aspirations for our communities,” Cross said.

“I am so humbled and overwhelmed to be named the overall national winner at this prestigious event amongst such an impressive group of inspirational women.”

National Director of UnitingCare Australia, Lin Hatfield Dodds, also expressed her delight at the recognition Cross has received.

“Agencies like UnitingCare Queensland demonstrate the incredible strength of Not for Profits in this country,” Hatfield Dodds said.

“Our agencies are mission rather than profit-driven. We exist to support and serve vulnerable people, but as Anne Cross’s leadership demonstrates, this is underpinned by sound business acumen.”

“Our entire network congratulated Ms Cross for the recognition she has rightly received for her outstanding leadership and work.”

Telstra Chief Operations Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Kate McKenzie said  the event celebrates six truly brilliant women as national winners in the 20th year of the Awards.

"Australia’s economic future depends on the leadership and innovation of women like these and the inspiration they’re giving younger women," McKenzie said.

"At a time of increasing momentum on gender equality and workplace flexibility, I’m proud to say through the Awards and other initiatives, Telstra is taking a leading role in championing the achievements of Australian business women such as Anne Cross."

McKenzie said the judges were truly impressed by how Cross had brought together such a fragmented group to enhance service delivery for society’s most disadvantaged people.

"They said that her leadership of the organisation - which was authentic and based on strong values - has positively impacted many people including people with disabilities, the elderly and the Indigenous community," she said.

- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/11/nfp-ceo-named-telstra-business-woman-year#sthash.n5UnVhfw.Wws8yopJ.dpuf

Claire Austin has been named as Chief Executive of the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Announcing her appointment, National President, Murray MacCormick said “Claire brings a diversity of experience to the role. She has first-hand knowledge of the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand, the health sector, development of the health sector workforce and she has worked in the areas of health policy development.”

Claire’s last position was as a consulting Principal with Sapere Research Group specialising in health workforce issues, primary and rural health care policy, health reform and service development, health practitioner regulation and health sector organisation strategy and change management.

Throughout her career Claire has held a number of national and international strategic, governance and health policy advisory roles. These include being a member of the New Zealand Minister of Health’s Advisory Council focusing upon the implementation of the New Zealand Primary Care Strategy, International Federation on Ageing Advisor and New Zealand Health Strategy expert reference group. She has also provided advice to a range of Australian, New Zealand and United
Nations policy makers and organisations and the New Zealand Health Workforce Advisory Committee.

“I am looking forward to taking on this role and working with the Divisions, their staff and volunteers. They do a fantastic job and have a huge impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families. At the end of the day that’s what we are here for,” said Claire, “to support that role.”

For further information contact
Lynne St. Clair- Chapman
National Communications Manager 027 4444 150

Ms Mac Dermott was previously the Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council for the past four years. Her career in property includes 11 years as a property journalist for the Australian Financial Review (including seven as Queensland Bureau Chief) and corporate advisory roles in Brisbane and London.

Chief Executive of the Property Council Ken Morrison said: "Kathy brings more than 25 years' experience of working in the property industry and has led a highly successful Queensland Division, achieving excellent member and political engagement.

"Most recently she has been very involved in the formation of the Property Male Champions of Change, a national initiative to help increase the number of women in leadership roles and achieve gender equality in our industry."

"She brings strong communication and change management experience to the COO role."

Mr Mountford has more than a decade of experience in public policy advocacy and has been the Deputy Executive Director of the Property Council's Queensland Division for the past four years. His career includes working with the Local Government Association of Queensland and Civil Contractors Federation.

"Chris is an outstanding advocate for the industry and has played a leading role in several recent public policy debates, including the review of Queensland's infrastructure charges framework," Mr Morrison said.

"I am confident his appointment will help the Property Council continue to build on our achievements in Queensland and maintain open communication with policy makers at all levels of government."

The announcement follows recent appointments of new Executive Directors in South Australia and Tasmania and a restructure of the Property Council's national policy team.

Both appointments are effective immediately.

Media contact:

Kathy Mac Dermott on 0427 243 986, or Chris Mountford on 0408 469 734

Sourced from: http://www.propertyoz.com.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=16&id=10312

AUSAE has the great pleasure to announce Rydges Hotels and Resorts NZ as their new annual partner in New Zealand. 

New Zealand may be known as the “land of the long white cloud,” but when it comes to quality hotels, Rydges has the country covered.  Rydges currently offers five hotels in New Zealand- Rydges Auckland Hotel, Rydges Wellington Hotel, and Rydges Rotorua, all located in the North Island. The South Island includes the Queenstown Resort located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, plus the newest addition Latimer Christchurch. No matter which you chose, we are certain you will be satisfied by the amenities awaiting you at Rydges.

We are delighted to have Danelle and her team onboard. Contact Danelle Ayers danelle_ayers@rydges.com 04 498 3780