Bay of Plenty Business News January/February 2017

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14 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS January/February 2017 EDUCATION Are you ready to step up? Who you study with, who you learn from, what resources are available to you, what employment links are established… these are important considerations when selecting where you undertake postgraduate study. Wintec’s postgraduate programmes have been designed in close consultation with industry to ensure that what you learn will advance your career in today’s workforce regionally, nationally and globally. You will be able to choose flexible study options to gain the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career aspirations. As a postgraduate student at Wintec you are supported in your studies by well-respected, experienced staff and researchers. You can make use of our dedicated resources and advice, excellent facilities, a broad range of additional postgraduate workshops, masterclasses and lectures. Studying at postgraduate level at Wintec will also give you access to a global network of respected academic staff who are highly skilled and experienced practitioners in their fields. Choose from options in Applied Information Technology, Health and Social Practice, Sport and Exercise Science, Media Arts, and Transdisciplinary Research and Innovation. You could also choose from a range of graduate options in Business. Find out more at wintec.ac.nz/postgraduate or phone 0800 2 WINTEC. create your world www.wintec.ac.nz/postgraduate
BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS January/February 2017 15 Get more women on boards, says Institute of Directors The Institute of Directors (IoD) urges listed companies to set gender diversity targets to improve the concerning NZX gender statistics – unchanged from 2015. The NZX reported only 17 percent of board members were women in 2016, unchanged in 2015. New Zealand lags internationally with UK FTSE100 at 27 percent up from 26 percent in 2015, Australia’s ASX200 at 24.5 percent up from 21.5 percent and the US S&P100 at 23.3 percent up from 22.3 percent in 2015. The IoD says boards need to lift their game as board diversity is critical to maintaining a competitive and vibrant economy. The challenges of disruption and the modern world call for modern and diverse boardrooms. “The IoD has long held the view that diversity of thought and perspective in the boardroom improves business performance and innovation,” IoD manager governance leadership centre, Felicity Caird says. “The dividend that diversity pays is bringing different perspectives and more robust decision-making, effective risk management and better company performance.” The IoD urges listed boards to take active steps to achieve 30-50 percent of women directors. To help encourage diversity, the IoD has a number of programmes and initiatives to support boards including: Getting on Board with diversity – a practical guide Released in June 2016 Getting on board with diversity, offers five practical steps to help boards ensure diversity is about attracting and retaining diverse talent in governance and highlights some of the classic challenges boards can face on the way to greater diversity. About 1500 people have viewed the resource on the IoD website, while copies were sent to all IoD members (currently at 8000). Future Directors programme Founded by Michael Stiassny, Des Hunt and Sir Stephen Tindall the programme helps to develop the next generation of directors by providing them with the opportunity to gain board experience by sitting at the board table of a New Zealand company for a year. There are 410 people currently listed on the Future Directors database, with 16 private sector companies have, had or are about to appoint a Future Director to their board. In 2016 the programme was expanded into the State Sector. Sixty-four percent of appointments so far have been women. Director Search database The IoD maintains New Zealand’s largest database of independent directors. We help boards recruit the best people by matching the right skills and experience to a board. Currently of the directors registered 29 percent are women, and the IoD would encourage more to register, and companies to use the service. Mentoring For Diversity Established in 2011, the programme in its first three years linked 74 high-performing female directors with experienced chairman and senior directors for mentoring. In 2015 the programme expanded to reflect diversity in a wider sense including ethnicity, age, skill and experience in relation to gender. So far 111 people have been through the programme. The IoD believes encouraging business to buy in to diversity is the best approach. “We must also create a diversity pipeline at senior management level to support development into governance roles,” Ms Caird says. “It is not realistic to ask the question why aren’t there more women on boards without asking where the female chief executives and senior managers are being developed. Nor can we pretend that without the willingness of senior board chairs we will have meaningful change” “We encourage companies to continue their diversity journey as we want the ultimate aim to achieve diversity of thought around the board tables of New Zealand. This means having different people working cohesively, exploring the same issues and bringing richness and variety to the board table.” Waikato academic speaks at TEDxScottBase University of Waikato Professor Craig Cary is one of 10 influential people who spoke at TEDxScottBase in January. Professor Cary is a microbial ecologist from the University’s School of University of Waikato professor Craig Cary. Science. He researches bacteria that live in extreme environments, including deep sea thermal vents and the soils of Antarctica. TEDxScottBase, held at Scott Base, Antarctica, is being held in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of New Zealand having an official presence in Antarctica and aims to celebrate science and highlight climate change. Professor Cary says the talk was a great opportunity to showcase more than 40 years of Antarctic research that has been conducted by the University of Waikato. “Our recent work in understanding how the terrestrial Antarctic ecosystem will respond to change will be the primary focus of my talk,” he says. The other nine speakers were American astronaut Dr Dan Barry, journalist, adventurer and advocate for the environment Ashlan Cousteau, photographer Jane Ussher, singer Gin Wigmore, filmmaker Anthony Powell, Professor Gary Wilson who has led more than 20 expeditions to the Antarctic and Subantarctic Islands, Otago University’s Dr Christina Hulbe, and business leaders Jeremy Moon and Claudia Batten. Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Peters Beggs says TEDxScottBase will play a crucial role in raising awareness about climate change and other issues across the world. “What happens in Antarctica will significantly impact the entire planet and we are delighted this line-up has so much expertise and appeal. Whether you’re interested in space, music, oceans, film, sustainability, photography, history, exploration or business, TEDxScottBase has something to offer.” Are you ready to up a level? Who you study with, who you learn from, what resources are available to you, what employment links are established… these are important considerations when selecting where you undertake postgraduate study. Wintec’s postgraduate programmes have been designed in close consultation with industry to ensure that what you learn will advance your career in today’s workforce regionally, nationally and globally. You will be able to choose flexible study options to gain the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career objectives. As a postgraduate student at Wintec you are well supported in your studies by well-respected, experienced staff and researchers. You can make use of our dedicated resources and advice, excellent facilities, a broad range of additional postgraduate workshops, masterclasses and lectures. Studying at postgraduate level at Wintec will also give you access to a global network of respected academic staff who are highly skilled and experienced practitioners in their fields. Choose from options in Health and Social Practice, Sport and Exercise Science, Media Arts, Applied Information Technology, Business, and Transdisciplinary Research and Innovation. Find out more at wintec.ac.nz/postgraduate or phone 0800 2 WINTEC THE AVERAGE ICT SPEND IS 4% www.stratusblue.nz *According to Computer Economics and Gartner SurveysWHAT IS YOURS? * TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FROM GROUND TO CLOUD
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Bay of Plenty Business News January/February 2017

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