People are at the heart of Local Government and this year's Strategic HR Forum has been developed specifically to explore the big issues facing those in our profession, as well as to inspire others by showcasing best practice within the sector.
- 01 Jul 2021-02 Jul 2021
- 09:00 - 17:00
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- Wharewaka Function Centre, Odlins Square, 2 Taranaki Street, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- 735.00 (plus GST) Members
- 860.00 (plus GST) Non Members
About this event
This two-day forum will bring together an exciting range of speakers, provide excellent networking opportunities and cover topics specifically identified by the Taituarā Workforce Working Party because of their relevance and importance to the sector.
The themes we will address using local government case studies, expert speakers and diverse panel sessions are:
- Growing a more diverse workforce, with a specific focus in the construction profession
- Addressing pay equity issues and designing inclusive workplaces
- Building cultural confidence through HR systems
- Innovative approaches to well-being and leadership
Don’t forget to save the date in your calendar so that you do not miss out on this development opportunity, and most importantly the opportunity to connect with your colleagues across the country.
Who should attend:
- Local government chief executives
- Local government professionals in the HR and people leadership space
- AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize applicants
Please see the AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize application in the Events Documents section on this page.
DAY ONE: Thursday 1 July 2021
8.30am Registration opens
9.45am Welcome to the forum
10.00am Living and working in the new New Zealand: the challenges of change
Professor Paul Spoonley, Massey University
Paul is one of New Zealand's most distinguished academics, a sociologist and public commentator on population trends, cultural understanding and ethnicity. He is the author or editor of 28 books. The most recent are an edited book, Rebooting the Regions (2016) while his book, The 'New' New Zealand. Facing Demographic Disruption was published in late 2020 (it is now in its second edition). He is also writing a book on the extreme right in this country. He was a Programme Leader of a research programme on the impacts of immigration and diversity in Aotearoa.
10.45am Morning tea
11.25am Addressing pay equity
Cathy Hendry, Managing Director, Strategic Pay
Maria Green, Learning & Development Lead, Rotorua Lakes Council
This workshop will provide context on pay equity and explore how Rotorua Lakes Council assessed and addressed its pay gap over three to four years. Looking at the analysis undertaken in conjunction with Strategic Pay over the last three years, the approach and tools used for this analysis, the issues identified through this analysis and the action taken - the approach and practices developed and implemented to address the gaps identified and the outcomes of these actions on the pay gap.
This will include opportunity for discussion amongst the group and sharing of other councils’ experiences.
1.00pm Lunch
1.45pm Cultural confidence, one word at a time
Tūraukawa Bartlett, Cultural Confidence Specialist, Manavation
This interactive session focuses on language being the gateway to a Māori worldview – a people connecting worldview. Providing a practical perspective of how to bring cultural confidence to life through all HR systems.
2.45pm A word from our sponsor: Civic Financial Services
Ian Brown, Chief Executive, Civic Financial Services
3.15pm Afternoon tea
3.30pm Growing women in construction
Kelly Bennett, Principal Advisor for Women, BCITO
BCITO is passionate about leading the construction industry to create the best-skilled people for tomorrow and recognises women as an important part of the construction workforce. BCITO have set a target to have women making up 10% of all apprentices. Women currently make up 4% of all BCITO apprentices and Kelly will share with us the journey BCITO are on to support women in making trades a viable career choice and employers in hiring a more diverse workforce.
With this in mind Kelly will be able to share with us insights as to how the work BCITO are doing fit into the big picture of growing a more diverse construction workforce.
4.15pm Maximising workforce participation for older New Zealanders: Considering workforce ageing from organisational perspectives.
Fiona Alpass, Professor of Psychology, Massey University
Dr Sally Keeling, Research Associate, Massey University
Dr Judith Davey, Senior Associate, Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand public policies, including the removal of compulsory retirement, legislation to discourage age discrimination, and universal superannuation, contribute to New Zealand having the second highest employment rate of older workers (55-64) in the OECD. However, work participation rates still decline after age 55+. Thus, despite current policy emphasis on the importance of older workers to the economy, and some legislative and organisational provisions, there remain problems of retention of older people in the workforce.
We need to understand the apparent gap between government policies and employer practice. Organisational case studies help us learn about successful strategies in recruiting and retaining older workers, as well as challenges facing particular industrial, sectoral or regional labour markets related to population ageing
This session presents findings from two organisational case studies undertaken pre-COVID. The following questions are addressed: What are employers’ attitudes towards older workers? What do employers need to work with an ageing workforce and to support older workers? What successful practices and strategies are used to recruit, retain, and support older workers?
4.45pm Close of day one
5.00pm Networking drinks
DAY TWO: Friday 2 July 2021
9.30am Welcome to day two
9.45am Harnessing neurodiversity: tapping into your council's hidden potential
Callum McKirdy, callummckirdy.com
Callum helps organisations design inclusive workplaces that harness the potential & power of neurodiversity. In this session, Callum will explore:
- What, where and who your neurodiverse cohorts are
- Why considering neurodiversity as a key facet of your D&I strategy is just that - very strategic!
- Given all workforces comprise a subset of neurodiverse professionals, how do we uncover, unlock and unleash their potential?
- Why most organisations are yet to harness this untapped existing resource....to their detriment
10.45am Morning tea
11.10am Workforce strategy workshop
James Lord, Manager Workforce Leadership, Taituarā
12.00pm Lunch
12.45pm Well-being and leadership
Wiremu Matthews, Kānuka, Kaiwhakahaere | Directors Wellbeing
Steve Hersey, Kānuka, Kaiwhakahaere | Directors Leadership
Kānuka teach principles that build deep connection, get to root causes, shape professional environments for healthy, collaborative diversity and increase personal and team wellbeing. We work alongside both leaders and their team members to mentor and support wellbeing and leadership strategies that increase growth, results, energy and productivity of people.
2.45pm AskYourTeam Emerging HR Leader Prize
Representative from AskYourTeam
Help us celebrate the awarding of this inaugural prize to an HR professional within local government. Our thanks to AskYourTeam for supporting the HR profession through this prize - $2,500 towards their professional development.
3.00pm Close of forum