Council Doing Its Part in Boosting Diversity

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Auckland Council’s CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) Board Intern programme will now run annually

From Auckland Council:

Board Interns boost Auckland Council’s diversity

Auckland Council’s CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) Board Intern programme will now run annually. 

The programme is designed to give aspiring directors first hand boardroom knowledge and allow them to establish relationships and networks with current directors, in conjunction with Auckland’s CCOs.

CCO Governance and Monitoring Committee chair and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, says the decision to run this programme annually is a bonus for aspiring directors and the council.

“A lack of gender and ethnic diversity on boards is an issue in New Zealand and overseas and by running this programme Auckland Council is helping address that issue,” she says.

Interview panel member for the programme Councillor Denise Krum says the calibre of the applicants was very high.  All interviewees applauded Auckland Council for the programme’s creation citing its uniqueness in allowing them a ‘foot in the door’.

“This is Auckland Council’s contribution to building a more diverse pool of experienced directors for Auckland organisations and companies,” says Cr Krum.”

The appointees are:

  • Mere Kingi to Watercare Services Limited with a strong background in audit and risk, Mere brings a broad range of international banking industry experience.  Mere has also represented New Zealand in women’s rugby (Black Ferns) and women’s touch rugby, understanding the role working together toward the end goal.
  • Kavita Khanna to Regional Facilities Auckland – with a background in human resources, Kavita has strong experience where cultural change is required.  With experience of working in organisations required to meet strict project outcomes (on time and budget) while ensuring supportive systems are established for teams and individuals.
  • Louise Ward to Auckland Transport – with strong experience in second-third tier management and experience of working and reporting to boards.  Having previously worked in central government, Louise understands the need to develop a strong trusting shareholder relationship. With additional expertise in property and facility maintenance.
  • Daniel Mussett to Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development – has a strong career in consulting, particularly within the investment industry, Daniel also brings governance expertise as Chair of Dilworth Charitable Trust.

The programme is designed to run from July 2015 to June 2016.

The Human Rights Commission 2012 Census of Women’s Participation found that in New Zealand’s top 100 companies by market capitalisation, only 14.75 per cent of directors are women (90 directorships held by 69 women in 55 companies). The HRC notes that at the current rates of progress, equality in New Zealand corporate governance will take another 35 years to achieve.

Central government has a gender diversity target of 45 per cent by 2014. In 2012, 35 per cent of directors of crown companies and 41 per cent of directors of state sector boards were women.

—ends—

Excellent to see

Sydney to Get Second Rail Harbour Crossing – While National Continues to Dither With Auckland

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While we waiting on our dithering Government for our City Rail Link

[That would enable the North Shore Line]

 

Again in Australia (this time Sydney) things get done while we continue to dither around.

From SMH:

Transport minister Andrew Constance says new Sydney Metro train line a ‘massive city shaping project’

Date June 16, 2015 Jacob Saulwick
New residential and commercial buildings are likely to be constructed as part of Sydney’s latest rail project, a mammoth underground train link carving under the lower north shore and inner city Sydney.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance briefed hundreds of industry executives on Tuesday morning about the $10 billion-plus project, which the government recently dubbed “Sydney Metro”.

“This massive city shaping project will be the new spine of our city’s public transport system and will serve us for generations to come with room to grow,” Mr Constance said.

Two options for the second harbour rail crossing, with stations at either Sydney University or Waterloo. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

 

…….The new line, which will use single-deck driverless trains, will connect to the proposed extension of the north west rail link at Chatswood, run under the city, and connect to the Bankstown Line at Sydenham.

At least three new train stations will be built in the city, at Martin Place, Pitt Street near Town Hall, and Central, with the possibility of another station at Barangaroo.

The stations that are being built for the north west rail link in Sydney’s outer north west suburbs have involved the digging of large boxes underground, a process that could need to be repeated in Sydney’s central business district.

Asked if new developments could be built on station boxes in central Sydney, Mr Constance said: “We’ve got to be open to everything.

“We are going to see a massive influx of people into Sydney as we grow, we are going to see the population grow to six million people by 2031, that means a combination of transport projects facilitating both urban developments in terms of brownfield sites and obviously greenfield sites as well,” he said.

“You only need to look at the development that’s happening in the north-west, and what we will see in terms of the uplift associated with Sydney Metro North West, to know that this type of infrastructure is a game changer in terms of urban design, urban planning,” he said.

“We want to maximise the development opportunities off the investments we are making on behalf of the taxpayer because it makes economic and social sense.”

 

Construction on the project is slated to start in 2017 and finish in 2024.

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Full article: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/transport-minister-andrew-constance-says-new-sydney-metro-train-line-a-massive-city-shaping-project-20150616-ghoy0v.html

 

So like In Victoria They Are Getting Stuff Done, New South Wales is also getting stuff done. This is while our Government continues its fine form of excuses and complete dithering.