Speakers & panellists


Below was our full fantastic line up of industry leaders, experts and decision makers for our Constructive Virtual Series 2020.

Keynote Speakers

Hon Grant Robertson

Virtual Event Series 3
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September
 
Hon Grant Robertson was born in Palmerston North and lived in Hastings before his family settled in Dunedin.

He studied politics at Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in 1995. At university he was the President of the Otago University Students Association and became Co-President of the New Zealand University Students Association.

Grant joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1997 where he managed the New Zealand Overseas Aid Programme to Samoa. He was then posted to the United Nations in New York, working on global environment and development issues. On his return to New Zealand, Grant became an advisor to former Prime Minister Helen Clark. Following this, he took a business development role with the University of Otago, working with researchers, investors and businesses to develop and commercialise the university’s world-leading research. 

Grant’s belief in social justice and a desire to see every New Zealander achieve their potential led him to politics, and he has been the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central since November 2008. In Opposition, Grant held a range of portfolios, including Finance from 2014 to 2017.

After the 2017 election, Grant was appointed Minister of Finance, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
He met his partner Alf in 1998 playing rugby and their family now includes four grandchildren. In 2009 they were joined in a civil union.
 

 

Hon Paul Goldsmith

Virtual Event Series 3
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September

 

Born in Mount Eden, and having attended Auckland Grammar School, Paul lives with his wife and their four children in Epsom.

First elected off the National Party list in 2011, Paul served as the Chair of the Parliamentary Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. Following the 2014 General Election he was appointed Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Associate Minister for ACC.

In 2016 Paul was appointed Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Minister for Science and Innovation, and Minister for Regulatory Reform, and served in the Cabinet until the 2017 General Election. He is now Opposition Spokesperson for Finance, and the Earthquake Commission.

Before entering Parliament, Paul created his own business as a historian and biographer focusing on New Zealand’s history and economic development. He has published 10 books, his last were biographies of Alan Gibbs (Serious Fun) and Sir William Gallagher (Legend). Between 2007 and 2010 he served as an Auckland City Councillor.

Paul is an enthusiastic pianist and has a broad interest in the arts; he is a 2nd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and plays on the right wing for the Parliamentary Rugby team

 

Aidan Jury

Virtual Event Series 2:
Building Residential Sector Resilience, Thursday 3 September

As the Jennian Franchisor - Aidan is responsible for the Jennian network nationally focusing onSales, Marketing and Franchise Director rolling out best practise to Jennian Franchisees across the national Jennian network.

Jennian teams feature in most regions on RMBA Regional Boards and are representative of the typical RMBA member base. 

Prior to joining Jennian, Aidan held a selection of senior roles with suppliers to the building sector in both Australia and NZ.

Aidan is currently a member or the RMBA – Residential Working Group and has most recently worked with the RWG to develop construction protocols for the Residential sector during Covid 19 Levels. 

Campbell Mattson

Virtual Event Series 2:
Building Residential Sector Resilience, Thursday 3 September 

Campbell, along with wife Hannah, began implementing their vision for a vertically integrated construction group in Taranaki in 2006. Their idea was to encompass timber and hardware sales, residential and commercial construction, land and build development and a residential and commercial build and hold portfolio.

The involvement in all parts of the property industry gives Campbell insight into the pitfalls and opportunities that each industry holds. As the various businesses have become established, with key leaders and partners helping run the day to day, Campbell’s focus has turned to property acquisition and working with other industry partners to create support and awareness for mental wellbeing in the construction industry.
 

Karen Mitchell

Virtual Event Series 1:
Shaping a Resilient Commercial Construction Future, Thursday 27 August

Karen has held senior and executive level positions within both the public and private sectors  Currently, Managing Consultant for Advisian NZ, Karen is a well-respected leader in complex, high profile infrastructure procurement and commercial negotiations. With her in-depth knowledge of the government and infrastructure sectors she led the establishment of Treasury’s Infrastructure Transactions Unit, transitioning it to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission – Te Waihanga. In this role she was a valued member of the Construction Sector Accord Steering Group, leading work to examine infrastructure procurement and contractual issues, respond to COVID impacts and support sector recovery. 

Karen has led some of New Zealand’s largest public-sector infrastructure projects from the decision to invest through procurement and commercial negotiation, including pathfinder Public Private Partnership prisons, roads and social housing. She has advised clients on numerous infrastructure projects including City Rail Link, Dunedin Hospital, KiwiRail Terminals Upgrade, Let’s Get Wellington Moving.  She was the author of Infracom’s Major Project Governance Guidance and has been an observer and member of a number of project governance boards.   

Peter Fehl

Virtual Event Series 1:
Shaping a Resilient Commercial Construction Future, Thursday 27 August

Peter retired as Director Property Services, University of Auckland, in June 2019. During his fourteen years as Director he oversaw the largest capital works programme in the University’s history. He played a major role in all projects including as Engineer to the Contract. Under his leadership, the Property Services team developed a culture of undertaking successful projects by creating able consultant, contractor and subcontractor teams through strong leadership and close relations from project creation to completion.

Peter’s career in the construction industry spans over 50 years, including civil engineering and vertical construction. He’s worked working for some of NZ’s largest contractors, as well as setting up his own company in partnership. Through being a  self-employed consultant, Peter has assisted various organisations with business and strategic planning, contractual claims, and resolution of construction and mining disputes. Peter was a member of Standards NZ Committee for over 20 years and drafted NZS3910 and NZS3915 standard conditions of contract. He is a Fellow of AMINZ and is a practising construction arbitrator and adjudicator. 

Shane Brealey

Virtual Event Series 1:
Shaping a Resilient Commercial Construction Future, Thursday 27 August

Shane Brealey has been in the property and construction industry for about 30 years.  Starting as a Civil Engineer, moving through project management with Lend Lease, then running New Zealand operations for Mirvac Developments and Multiplex before establishing Auckland based firm NZ Strong.  This was followed by NZ Living, a business concentrating on providing well located, high quality and more affordable housing solutions for Auckland.  

NZ Living’s team of five is delivering 200 new homes this year making full use of its broad spectrum control.  As developer/builder/investor we are able to put into action what has been a career long passion – The Toyota Way principles – continuous improvement, waste elimination, lean practices, collaborative working relationships, OSM (On-Site-Manufacturing) – thinking production more than construction.  

NZ Living sells to first home buyers for 10% under valuation on average and has just completed 102 new homes in 55 weeks – one new home every 2.7 working days.  How?  We “cheat” -  no meetings, no tendering, no pyramid contracting, fast decision making, no retentions or bonds, short contract forms, no expensive office.  Just pure building.
 

Panellists

Chelydra Percy

Virtual Event Series 4:
Managing the Shocks: Ensuring Business Resilience, Thursday 17 September

Chelydra Percy took up the role of Chief Executive at BRANZ in 2013. Prior to joining BRANZ, Chelydra held a range of leadership roles with science and innovation organisations such as Callaghan Innovation, KiwiStar Optics, and Scion. Chelydra has also worked in the electricity supply and telecommunication industries.

She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, a Companion of Engineering New Zealand and Vice-President of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB). She is also a member of a range of New Zealand organisations such as the Construction Strategy Group, Construction Industry Council and the Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum.

Chris Hunter

Virtual Event Series 1:
Shaping a Resilient Commercial Construction Future, Thursday 27 August

Chris Hunter is Managing Director of NZ Strong, an Auckland based commercial construction company. With over 35 years construction experience in New Zealand and overseas, Chris has overseen a significant number of both large and complex projects across a range of industry sectors including Rail, Geothermal, Process and Government projects. Chris has also been an independent director on several NZX listed companies and is involved in many industry-wide bodies, promoting innovation within the wider construction industry. 

Darrell Trigg

Virtual Event Series 3:
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September

Darrell served his carpentry apprenticeship in Whangarei. He’s been delivering quality commercial builds for local businesses in Northland for over 25 years. 

Specialising in partnering with clients prior to having plans drawn up, Darrell firmly believes that early involvement of all parties in a project helps understand the outcomes, reduce risk and achieve the project deliverables in a hassle-free way.

Darrell has a clear understanding of how to extract the best value for the client by constantly testing the cost of the project from prior to design through to start of construction. He’s a member of the New Zealand Institute of Building, the New Zealand Institute of Directors, and is a current Director of New Zealand Registered Master Builders Association.

 

David Kelly

Virtual Event Series 1:
Shaping a Resilient Commercial Construction Future, Thursday 27 August

Virtual Event Series 2:
Building Residential Sector Resilience, Thursday 3 September

Virtual Event Series 4:
Managing the Shocks: Ensuring Business Resilience, Thursday 17 September

David Kelly is Chief Executive of the Registered Master Builders Association. Prior to talking up his current role, David was a Deputy Chief Executive for the Department of Building and Housing and subsequently Director of the Canterbury Recovery Programme for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

David was extensively involved in the Government’s response to the Canterbury earthquakes from day one, including establishing the technical investigation into major building collapses, which provided key technical information to the Royal Commission. He also led the Building Act changes that were part of a package of reforms in the construction sector. Going back further, David held a number several senior roles in local government, including that of Chief Executive of South Waikato District Council.
 

Graham Burke

Virtual Event Series 4:
Managing the Shocks: Ensuring Business Resilience, Thursday 17 September

Graham has worked in the construction industry for over 35 years. Graham is chair of NZ Construction Industry Council; a member of the Construction Accord Steering Group and board member of Construction Health and Safety NZ. He is president of NZ Specialist Trade Contractors Federation. 

Graham is passionate about improving outcomes for businesses in the construction sector. He is co-lead of the Developing People workstream of the Construction Sector Accord and heavily involved in the Review of Vocational Education. He is committed to leading change in the construction sector, moving emphasis from bottom price to value, safety, and quality.
 

 

Helen O'Sullivan

Virtual Event Series 3:
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September

Helen is Chief Executive of Crockers Property Group, an Auckland based provider of property services including property management, body corporate management, real estate sales and valuation services. 

Helen is a Chartered Accountant by training, having spent 14 years with Korda Mentha carrying out a wide range of consulting assignments leading significant business change.   Helen also served as Chief Executive of REINZ during its transformation from a regulator to a customer focused industry body.  Helen was also CEO of Ockham Residential, a leading Auckland property developer, and Head of Delivery - KiwiBuild for the Ministry of Housing And Urban Development. 

Johnny Calley

Virtual Event Series 3:
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September

Johnny founded industry leading Calley Homes in 2008, which specialises in designing and building architecturally designed homes. Johnny's breadth of experience covers almost the entire residential spectrum as he is also a director, founder/co-founder of two other development companies that deliver house and land packages and land only options to the market. As well as extensive local industry knowledge and experience, he has worked in the UK for several years, giving him an international perspective. 

Johnny is currently a director of Registered Master Builders and Chairs of the Residential Working Group, which provides strategic residential building and development information back to Master Builders. 

Judi Keith-Brown 

Virtual Event Series 2:
Building Residential Sector Resilience, Thursday 3 September

Judi Keith-Brown is President of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA). A graduate of the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), Judi was employed by an architecture firm in the Capital before working in Glasgow on large public housing projects. On her return to Wellington, she practised as an architect and taught at VUW before establishing her own architecture practice, JKBA–Judi Keith-Brown Architects, a decade ago. Judi has also served as an assessor and convenor for the New Zealand Registered Architects Board and has continued to review the projects of VUW architecture students.

Kirk Hope

Virtual Event Series 3:
Opportunities for Reinvention and Transformation: The Political Agenda for the Sector’s Future, Thursday 10 September

Kirk Hope is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand's leading business advocacy group, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes. Mr Hope and his Wellington-based team work with companies, organisations and political and other decision makers, advocating for New Zealand's success through sustainable economic growth.

Before joining BusinessNZ, Kirk was CEO of the New Zealand Bankers' Association.  Prior to that he was Executive Director of the Financial Services Federation, the industry body representing the non-bank sector.  He previously held a range of senior positions at Westpac, including Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs.

Kirk holds a Master's degree in law, focused on regulation of financial services, and an Honours degree in political science.

Kirk has represented BusinessNZ on the 2018 Tax Working Group, the 2018 Fair Pay Agreements Working Group, the Future of Work Tripartite Forum, and is a Commission member of the Tertiary Education Commission, and  a member of the Defence Employers Support Council.
 

Leonie Freeman

Virtual Event Series 4:
Managing the Shocks: Ensuring Business Resilience, Thursday 17 September

Leonie is a well-respected industry leader with extensive experience in the New Zealand property industry, having held top positions in both the public and private sector. In 2011, Leonie was appointed to the board of NZX listed company Goodman Property Trust, and up until her 2018 appointment as Property Council’s chief executive, she dedicated her time to leading an independent philanthropic initiative to solve Auckland’s housing crisis. 

Leonie holds a Master of Commerce, majoring in valuation and property management and is a life member of the Property Institute of New Zealand, a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, and a member of Global Women. Leonie is a strategic thinker, capable of seeing the big picture whilst also digging into the detail – a rare combination that makes her both an inspirational leader and exemplary spokesperson.

 

Scott Fisher

Virtual Event Series 4:
Managing the Shocks: Ensuring Business Resilience, Thursday 17 September

Scott is CEO of PrefabNZ, New Zealand’s peak body representing the offsite construction sector. Scott is passionate about how the offsite sector and new technologies can achieve a better built environment - through high quality, smarter, greener, safer, faster, more innovative and efficient building solutions. 

Scott has extensive commercial and leadership experience in the public, private and NGO sectors and with a number of membership bodies.  Scott’s construction experience has been gleaned from both personal and professional interfaces, including time with the Master Plumbers Association. Personal experience has come from numerous renovations, extensions and new builds at a domestic level. Scott is passionate about design and its principles from the classics to contemporary. 

 

Wayne Zeng

Virtual Event Series 2:
Building Residential Sector Resilience, Thursday 3 September

Wayne started Chancellor Construction in 2012 and has since developed a strong business in the Auckland market with sole focus on large scale residential builds and affordable Kiwibuild projects. Chancellor Construction completes well over ten thousand square metres of building floor areas per annum and contributes over 100 finished new homes a year to the market.

Wayne graduated with a bachelor’s degree at the University of Canterbury in 2005 and spent eight years in the finance industry before starting Chancellor Construction. He obtained his MBA degree through AUT and is a professor in Civil Engineering at Hainan University in China.