Civil Contractors New Zealand’s branches are an integral part of the organisation, hosting regional events and connecting members across our 12 regions, writes Alan Pollard, CEO, CCNZ.
Our branches host annual general meetings each year, and these are now in full swing. It is great to see our members taking an interest in what is happening within their regions, and across the branch network. This is a good time to recognise the great work our branch chairs, secretaries, committees and sub-committees do on behalf of our association.
We have a small staff of 10, including three Regional Managers. However, regionally and nationally, we rely on our branch secretaries and a large group of volunteers (hundreds of people in total, including our Executive Council) to ensure the branches continue to provide value to our membership, and that our members are connected, engaged, and well informed.
Each branch is chaired by a branch chair as an elected representative supported by a branch executive committee (also elected from membership) and a branch secretary (often a paid role to support the branch). These are critical roles, and CCNZ would not function without the work these volunteers do on our behalf. Most of our volunteer chairs, vice-chairs and executive committee representatives have busy full-time roles and yet they devote considerable time to their respective branches for the good of the regional industry.
I appreciate the work they do and acknowledge their time commitment to furthering the greater good of the industry. We are indebted to these volunteers for the contribution they all make toward our society being recognised as the primary voice for the civil construction industry and as a trusted, reliable, and credible partner.
Branches give CCNZ the ability to interface with local authorities, such as councils and regional arms of significant clients such as NZTA and KiwiRail, as well as working at a national level.
The work of our branches makes events like the upcoming Forward Works Briefings we are hosting across the country (in partnership with ACE NZ and NZTA) possible. These events provide the industry with valuable insight for contractors and suppliers, including what work is likely to come to market and when; and what client expectations around tenders and market response might be.
As well as AGMs, many branches host open branch meetings every two months to discuss critical upcoming issues impacting their regions. All branches host Regional Excavator Operator competitions and regional awards to recognise outstanding skill, performance, people and delivery in their regions.
CCNZ branches also host young contractor groups and events for developing small business know-how, not to mention forums on critical industry issues, networking catchups, informal charity events such as golf days and fishing competitions, and opportunities to hear from prominent speakers on new tools and technologies.
While some of these events are informal, all add value to the industry. There’s a saying ‘you get out what you put in’. I think the number and quality of the regional events is a reflection of the work put in by our branch executive committees, working in partnership with our regional teams, with support from our national office.
Our regional managers include Northern Regional Manager Calum Twist, who supports the northern region, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty; Central Regional Manager Grant Radovanovich, who supports Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay East Coast, Manawatu Whanganui and Wellington Wairarapa; and Southern Regional Manager Eve Cooper, who supports Nelson Marlborough, Canterbury Westland, Otago and Southland. These regional managers provide valuable support for our branches and a connection between the regions and national office.
Despite tough economic conditions around fuel and workflow, we are seeing membership and attendance across our regional branch network either stable or growing, and the quality and frequency of member events continuing to improve. After all, part of the solution to troubling times is to share solutions to the issues we face, together.
So, as we enter ‘AGM season’, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those who devote their time to making our branch network and our national society a success. Your work is much appreciated, and it does the industry great credit.
Handing over the baton