StopPress and the National Business Review have featured AC’s latest client acquisitions GHD New Zealand and Challenge Trust – we are pleased to welcome them both to our portfolio!

GHD, an engineering, architecture and environmental consulting firm that was formed in 1928 and employs more than 6,000 people around the world, is working on several large projects in 2010 and has asked AC to engage with media in support of its objectives and offer a nice helping of strategic of reputation management.

Challenge Trust, a charitable trust which set up shop in 1993 and now has 230 staff providing services to more than 1,500 people around the country has also enlisted the services of AC. Challenge Trust’s clients include people affected by mental illness, physical disability, intellectual disability, addictions, dual disability and dual diagnosis.

Co-owner Dwayne Alexander attributes the new appointments to the company’s use of the internet to transparently communicate, through case studies and specific examples, the work it does for clients.

“Since the company’s inception in 2005 we have steadily built both our client base and the tools we use to promote their work and services and help clients engage with their markets. These tools include our online newsroom, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, which are together proving hugely effective.”

Campaign Overview

International engineering consultants GHD have been making in-roads in New Zealand – both literally and figuratively. While paving the way for a brighter future in infrastructure, GHD wanted to share both great news about a new certificate qualification and an international perspective on public-private partnerships in the sector. 

By introducing a Vocational Graduate certificate course, GHD has invested in the future development and maintenance of asset management as a skilled profession. Recognizing this particular gap in the market, GHD has created both solution and opportunity that supports the industry and its budding minds.

National infrastructure strategy group manager Sara Dennis believes New Zealand’s skills shortage in this area has potential long-term implications for our economic development. To help address this, the course caters to a range of different disciplines and the syllabus takes a broad approach to infrastructure topics. Already highly successful in Australia, the certificate qualification in Physical Asset is offered in conjunction with the Chifley Business School in Melbourne and will be introduced here in September.  

GHD facilitated two major infrastructure forums in March, with key decision-makers and international stakeholders in attendance. The AC team was briefed to raise awareness of GHD’s involvement in infrastructure projects, and bring to light the topic of public-private partnerships, without compromising the confidentiality of the first forum, held privately in Wellington on 8 March and attended by New Zealand and Australian government policy-makers and key private sector representatives.

The second infrastructure event was the NZ Trade and Enterprise New Zealand-Australia Investment Forum on 10 and 11 March in Auckland. GHD was a sponsor, facilitator and presenter at the forum. 

Both AC and GHD acknowledged how important the direction, progress and impact of New Zealand’s infrastructure is on the wider public. With infrastructure announcements coming from the government in recent weeks, we agreed that topics of discussion, in particular public-private partnerships should be delivered directly to the public.

Results

The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Physical Asset Management announcement was received with great interest.

Sara Dennis appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business with Corin Dann to discuss the opportunities and philosophy behind the course and explain its key objectives.

In addition, a full-page article was published in New Zealand Management magazine. The piece, titled ‘A Focus on Asset Management’ outlines the course disciplines and what it sets out to achieve. It positions GHD as an industry leader, highlighting the organization’s foresight and commitment to the future of infrastructure.

AC secured a second GHD television appearance in early March, this time on TV3’s ASB Business with Michael Wilson. Addressing a hot topic at the infrastructure forums in Wellington and Auckland, international economist Steve Kanowski discussed the pros and cons of public-private partnerships (PPP). 

In the same week, the National Business Review covered the issue in the article ‘Public private partnerships needed to drive infrastructure’.  The article was selected as an editor’s choice piece and was of significance to government and key stakeholders; it included quotes from Bill English, Anne Tolley and Steve Kanowski.

Along with the television interviews, the strategically-placed print articles have helped raise awareness of GHD’s investment and positioning in relation to the development and future of infrastructure. These results reaffirm GHD as an industry authority able to communicate with an independent voice on a range of industry subjects to different audiences.

Challenge Trust Chief Executive Clive Plucknett

Challenge Trust chief executive Clive Plucknett tackles the silent epidemic that is depression head-on today in the National Business Review, 05 March.

In his interview with Niko Kloeten, Plucknett says depression is the next global crisis, it happens to more people than we realise, the problem is, NZ executives are too afraid to open up and confide in one another.

Depression the silent epidemic for executives uncovers another side of the corporate world and identifies several issues;

• Boards are not dealing with the issue effectively;
• Outlines NZ within the global context;
• Depression does not necessarily happen gradually, and it may strike anyone, at any time;
• Challenge Trust offers help at hand with the Wellness & Recovery model based on International Benchmarking, a model that may be applied to a whole organisation or individual;
• Challenge Trust runs sessions on emotional resilience;
• Sufferers should not go-it-alone, support in recovery is key;

Clive also appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business, 16 March, to discuss the ‘corporate’ attitude of depression among New Zealand offices.  In this segment he reiterated the culture of ‘macho’ bullet proof executives and stressed the importance of support structures for leading business likening the countries’ support of the All Blacks. 

Plucknett understands pressure and hard-work as the head of Challenge Trust, an organisation dedicated to recovery services for people from all walks of life.

Niko Kloeten interviewed Sara Dennis recently on the subject of Asset Management , Infrastructure planning & development. New Zealand is facing a serious skills shortage in this area  which has long-term implications for our economic development.

In an article published to  subscribers of www.nbr.co.nz Sara discusses the plans with Niko around the course and how the partnership with the Chifley Business School is bringing the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Physical Asset Management to New Zealand this year. 

Sara also appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business with Corin Dann on 16 February to discuss the launch of the new business course aimed at refining the management and vision of infrastructure projects.   Since the success of the course in Australia, GHD has recently launched the course in Canada, and will soon introduce it to New Zealand in September.

Sara also appears in the March issue of NZ Marketing magazine discussing the topic of asset management.  Click here for the NZ Management article or read the NBR article here behind a log on.

About Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis joined GHD as National Infrastructure Strategy Group Manager six years ago, and now heads a team of 16, providing asset management and management consulting services to clients.

This comprises strategic advice, development of ‘best practice’ policies, strategies, procedures, skills transfer/training/mentoring, asset management planning, asset valuations and financial and improvement planning.Sara is one of the few people in New Zealand who can bridge the gap between asset management, financial planning and strategic planning. She developed much of her experience, before joining GHD, at a local government level, including an eight-year role as Group Manager Business Services at the Far North District Council. Her recent projects with GHD have included asset management and programming for the Rodney District Council, a quality management system for the Dunedin City Council, a gap analysis and improvement plan for the Tauranga City Council, and an asset management plan update for the Whakatane District Council.

Sara has a Bachelor of Business Studies, a Certificate in Business Computing, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and is a Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Assessor.

About GHD

GHD is one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and environmental consulting firms. Established in 1928, GHD employs more than 6,000 people across five continents and serves clients in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.
 
Wholly owned by its people, GHD is focused on client success. Our global network of engineers, architects, planners, scientists, project managers and economists collaborate to deliver sustainable outcomes for our clients and the community. Our core values of Teamwork, Respect and Integrity help create enduring relationships that deliver exceptional results.
 
GHD is recognised for its commitment to innovation, safety and sustainable development. We care for the wellbeing of our people, communities and the environments in which we operate.
 
A member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, GHD operates under a Practice Quality Management System, ISO 9001:2008 and an Environmental Management System, ISO 14001:2008 which are certified by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.

Dr Frances Pitsilis is no stranger to stress and the challenge of work-life balance.  A highly qualified and practicing professional in this area, Pitsilis is not only an expert but a voice of experience, having twice recovered from burnout caused by stress.

In the 22 January National Business Review, Dr Pitsilis reviews the average workaholic’s lunch habits, and notes that the majority of people aren’t doing themselves any favours by eating lunch at the desk.

She says New Zealanders are almost as bad as the Japanese for staying glued to our desks; we rate second in the Western world for the longest hours worked (International Labour Organization, 2004), and it doesn’t stop there – our bad habits can compound the negative effects of overwork.

However, Dr Pitsilis encourages Kiwi workers to start the New Year with a few good habits and easy tips for staying stress-free in the workplace.

In a recent btobonline.co.nz article, Dr Pitsilis discusses the importance of understanding where stress comes from and how it can be managed, and identifies the need to manage stress in the workplace, from the recruitment stage forward.

“Whether you are the employer or the worker, keeping stress at work down really pays dividends for all concerned.  The first place to start in avoiding stress at work, for both employer and employee, is at recruitment.” Dr Frances Pitsilis, btob.co.nz

Dr Pitsilis’ keen interest in communications and professional speaking has secured her roles as the Easy Mix Radio Doctor, New Zealand Herald medical blog writer, TVNZ Breakfast health expert and opinion commentator.

She operates her own general practice on Auckland’s North Shore, and holds qualifications in nutritional medicine, obstetrics, and preventative and regenerative medicine. She also practices cosmetic and appearance medicine.

Niko Kloeten from the National Business Review investigates the unfolding situation of  a dispute that relates to an electronic referrals (eReferrals) system launched two years ago that enables GPs and specialists to send patient referrals to their local District Health Boards (DHBs).

Tom Bowden was also interviewed on TVNZ’s NZI Business Breakfast about his views on why New Zealanders should not accept these anti competitive practices and why Healthlink is currently at loggerheads with Medtech

More detailed background information is found in this media release

In an article in the online National Business Review, Auckland PR outfit Alexander Communications has picked up a trio of new accounts.

It’s won Konica Minolta, Brokers’ Independent Group (BIG) and Solutions Financial Services accounts.

Alexander Communications director Kate Alexander said each of the accounts will entail a strong focus on business to business communications.

She sees the tri-fold coup as a strong start to the year for her firm, amid many reports of redundancies and tough going.

“We’re proud that we’re continuing to grow at around 40% [2008-2009 financial year] and we expect the curve to continue,” she said. .. more