Waikato Business News September/October 2018

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6 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS September/October 2018 From the editor A week or two ago, I interviewed the Waikato Rugby Union’s two newest directors, Diane Hallifax and Anna Connell, for this issue’s cover story. Each of them has useful expertise for a board that needs to adapt as Kiwi lifestyles change and provincial rugby fights to fill stadiums. In my opinion, it’s also a good thing that the board now has two women directors. That’s about striving for equality, and it’s about offering role models and fostering opportunity for other women and for girls. It’s also about facing some commercial realities. When it comes to rugby, the men’s game feels close to saturation; at a purely pragmatic level, the women’s game must surely be an area of potential growth, and having women directors on boards can only help. We’ve seen professionalism introduced for the Black Ferns; my sense of that was that the rugby hierarchy was dragged there slowly, helped along by some brave women players speaking out. Things can only improve as women gain leadership roles in the unions. Diane and Anna have had an overwhelmingly positive reception after starting with the union in July, and I have no doubt are making a positive impact in turn. They attended a women in rugby governance conference soon after they started - an NZRU initiative that is to be applauded. The broader picture is dismal. A report by consulting firm Grant Thornton International found the proportion of women in leadership in New Zealand companies is at a low, sliding to 18 percent of senior teams this year, down from 31 percent in 2004, ranking us 33 out of 35 countries. The picture is mixed when it comes to boards of directors. NZX figures show 27 percent of directors on NZX/S&P50 boards were female in 2017, up from 22 per cent the previous year. Outside the NZX50 female director numbers rose from 12 percent to 14 percent. WRU, with two women directors out of nine, is doing comparatively well at 22 percent. The NZ Rugby Union has one woman among its nine directors. Whichever way you look at it, New Zealand has a long way to go. Elsewhere in this issue, Russell Alexander looks back on 20 years of Hobbiton, which has become one of this country’s prime international tourist destinations. Meanwhile, TDM Modular Homes’ timing is good, with its new factory meshing perfectly with the Government’s focus on prefabricated homes to help tackle our housing shortage. Ngā mihi nui Richard MONTHLY POLL VOTE AND WIN Sponsored by the Helm Bar and Kitchen This month’s poll Primary and secondary school teachers are set to vote on strike action after rejecting government offers that would give most teachers a pay rise of about 9 percent over three years. Are they right to take industrial action? Vote on the WBN website (www.wbn.co.nz) and fill in the entry form to be in to win a meal voucher for two at The Helm Bar & Kitchen. Voting closes Thursday, November 3 2018. Last month’s results Should Hamilton City Council put an unelected Maori representative on each of its standing committees to improve representation? An overwhelming number of you think our councils are failing the test when it comes boosting productivity. A total of 83% of respondents to our poll said councils have dropped the ball when it comes to boosting productivity and research and development, leaving us 17% saying Waikato councils are good operators doing their best. 17% 83% 83% 17% Are teachers right to take industrial action? A. Yes, strike action is a valid way to get the pay rise they need for the sector to be properly resourced. B. No, the offer on the table is good and striking is the wrong way to negotiate Cast your vote at: www.wbn.co.nz WINNER OF THE HELM DINNER VOUCHER IS: Rob Bull Yes No
Company-X finalist in two prestigious awards Multi-award winning Waikato software specialist in running for more awards. WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS September/October 2018 7 Company-X is among a powerful line-up of finalists in two prestigious awards. The Waikato-based software specialist is a finalist in both the independent software vendor category of the newlook Reseller News Innovation Awards as well as the Westpac Waikato Business Awards. “This year sees increased focus on customer innovation and excellence,” says Reseller News editorial director James Henderson on the Reseller News website. “Reseller News asks the CEOs, managing directors and channel managers to put forward these unsung heroes, and for partners to recognise outstanding work that makes their business successful.” Finalists were selected by a shortlist panel comprising James alongside Reseller News president and publisher Susan Searle, Reseller News associate publisher Cherry Yumul and Reseller News Hall of Fame inductee Keith Watson. The winners of the fourth annual Reseller News awards will be selected by a panel of more than 70 industry judges and announced at a celebratory dinner in Auckland on October 10. Reseller News has tracked, reported on and championed the New Zealand ICT Industry for 20 years. Company-X won the Homegrown Innovators Independent Software Vendor award at last year’s Reseller News ICT Awards. Company-X was named a finalist in the Westpac Waikato Business Awards by Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Chris Simpson at the finalist announcement evening at Waikato Museum on September 13. Company-X entered the business growth, service excellence and global operator categories of the Westpac Waikato Business Awards. The winners will be announced on November 2 at an awards dinner at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton. Company-X has experienced tremendous growth in its work and team, earning a ranking on last year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list. The software specialist was also a finalist in the global operator category last year. “Company-X’s successes is down to our ever-growing world-class team of more than 50 project managers, business analysts, software architects, designers and developers,” said Company-X director Jeremy Hughes. “We’d like to thank them for their hard work, which has got us to where we are today.” Company-X and Enquero Inc. announce strategic partnership Software specialists Company-X and Enquero Inc have formed a partnership spanning the Pacific Ocean. Company-X, based in the Waikato region of New Zealand, has partnered with Enquero, based in Silicon Valley, California, USA. The partnership enables both software specialists to grow their enterprise software development businesses. The collaboration marries Company-X’s TEAM WORK: The ever growing Company-X team led by directors David Hallett (front left) and Jeremy Hughes (front right). software development dexterity with Enquero’s expertise in digital engineering and solution architecture. The alliance enables both companies to deliver next-generation software integration services to global enterprise customers. Company-X and Enquero executives described the partnership as a perfect match. The strengths of the respective team skills, geographical presence and existing client base complement each other. They possess a natural alignment of values and business practices – both companies being agile, adaptable and people focused. Company-X and Enquero has delivered solutions (including data platforms, capability architecture and unified customer experience) to several Fortune 500 clients. Such clients will now get access to a greater pool of talent than if they were working with just Company-X or Enquero alone. Company-X director Jeremy Hughes, who founded the software specialist with fellow director David Hallett, said: “Company-X and Enquero are already working together to solve the business problems of clients with smart software that they couldn’t get elsewhere. Our collaboration will drive innovation both within our teams, and within our clients’ businesses.” Enquero chief executive officer Arvinder Pal Singh said: “Enquero is excited to form what will surely be a winning partnership that is dedicated to delivering enterprisegrade solutions. “We see great synergies between our two companies and their track record of successfully delivering exceptional software. Combining the teams and experience will create a strategic partnership where our customers leverage a world-class engineering experience.” We really like solving problems with software. Tell us yours. Business Analysis Business analysts are an integral part of the team creating software solutions designed for your business. Solution Architecture We define, in plain English with simple diagrams, your business’s new software solution’s architecture. Software development Our clever software developers turn design into reality through coding, testing and deployment. 0800 552 551 info@companyx.nz www.companyx.nz Level 2, Wintec House, Cnr Anglesea & Nisbet Street, Hamilton
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