Waikato Business News August/September 2023

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Fund launch marks
20 years of Waikato
Engineering Careers
Association
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More than 100 engineering leaders, educators and
supporters gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of
Waikato Engineering Careers Association at the University of
Waikato’s impressive new The Pā recently.
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The occasion was marked with the launch
of a new Waikato Engineering Education
Fund, focusing on innovation, diversity
and equity in the sector.
Hanga-Aro-Rau, the Workforce Development
Council for Manufacturing Engineering and
Logistics, is applauding the launch, with the sector’s
skills shortage set to grow by 38 per cent to
40,000 workers by 2028 if immediate action is
not taken.
The council’s chief executive Phil Alexander-Crawford,
who attended WECA celebrations,
says WECA’s fund spearheads a direct regional
response to the shortage, supporting innovation
and underrepresented groups in our community.
“This approach is hugely encouraging for our
sector as Aotearoa faces critical skills shortage.
Women are a major source of untapped talent
and are a big part of the solution and we are also
fortunate to have a growing Māori and Pacific
WECA Life Member nominee Roger Evans and
General Manager Mary Jensen cut the cake.
Event organisers Destiny Iraia and
Monique Aitchison of FutureForce®
Careers Hub with Sally Birch, Mary
Jensen and Maddie Walker of WECA.
community. These people are increasingly essential
for creating an innovative and skilled workforce,”
Alexander-Crawford says.
WECA general manager Mary Jensen says
marking the 20-year milestone was a way to celebrate
the strong foundations of the region’s engineering
sector.
The association was founded in 2003 to combat
disconnection between the tertiary education
system and employers, who were struggling to
work together to build a workforce.
“Before WECA was established, engineering
and manufacturing was somewhat a hidden
industry. WECA has been able to bring our sector
to life for young people. It’s paid off, with those
who have been involved for 20 years still around
today – testament to the fact that training and
growing your own workforce from the ground up
grows strong businesses,” Jensen says.
WECA was the brainchild of Roger Evans of
Stafford Engineering, a long-time proponent
of skills development in the region’s business.
Evans was nominated for a WECA Life Membership
at the celebration.
“Roger, and those like him have been a strong
employer voice and generous crusader for better
skills and training in our region.”
Jensen says in two decades the WECA team
has attended more than 60 Careers Expos, spoken
to 1000s of young people, built websites,
facilitated work placements, and lobbied on
behalf of the sector.
“We’ve advocated for members, including
seven years on the Waikato Labour Market
Forum and, more recently, supporting Pam Roa
of Longveld in her role with the Regional Skills
Leadership Group. Our members have also profiled
more than 100 young engineers across a
broad spectrum of roles in the regional careers
resource, FutureForce Careers Hub.”
Jensen also represents the region – and
WECA - on the Industry Stakeholder Group for
Hanga-Aro-Rau, the workforce development
council.
The Waikato Engineering Education Fund
will be managed by Momentum Waikato Community
Foundation and is primarily for scholarships
for trainees, apprentices, and professionals
in the Waikato engineering sector, with
a focus on innovation, equity and diversity.
To donate: www.momentumwaikato.nz/donate.
WECA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
was supported by Vulcan, Beca, University of
Waikato, Wintec – Te Pūkenga, Hanga-Aro-Rau
and FutureForce Careers Hub.
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1. WECA originals Lou Ewington, Steve Andrew, Bruce Howatt and Roger Evans, Stafford Engineering.
2. A great crowd celebrating WECA’s 20th anniversary at the University of Waikato Pā. | 3. The crew from
Vulcan, Jason Merrie, John Teuru, Geoff Maisey, Dean McGovern and Rod Hagan with WECA Chair Mike
Welten. | 4. University of Waikato Professor Janis Swan, Wintec – Te Pūkenga’s Trudy Harris and Smart
Waikato’s Kris Anderson. | 5. WECA Board Member Mike Duke, of University of Waikato, and John Gallagher
of Gallagher Group. | 6. Pam Roa of Longveld and Janice Lapwood of Momentum Waikato. | 7. Owen Embling
of Convex, Shelley Wilson of Wintec - Te Pūkenga and Longo Takataka of Longveld. | 8. David Hallett of
Company-X, Rosie Spragg of Te Waka, Les Roa of Longveld and Keith Gallagher of Gallagher Group.
9. University of Waikato Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Alister Jones telling the story of The Pā. |10. Graeme
King of Mainline and Dean McGovern of Vulcan. | 11. The JP Marshall crew Alex Mowles, Marcus Heayns,
Adrian Marshall and Blair Ussher. | 12. WECA Manager Sally Birch, University of Waikato Senior Deputy Vice
Chancellor Alister Jones and WECA original Lou Ewington. | 13. Beca’s Vinal Kumar, Iona Young and Richard
Douch with University of Waikato’s Jess Vanxay. | 14. Dave Stuart of Stafford Engineering, Mike Welten WECA
Chair, Peter Wilkinson of Wilkinson Transport Engineers and Roger Evans. | 15. Raffle winner David Hallett of
Company-X and Monique Aitchison of FutureForce® Careers Hub. | 16. Hanga-Aro-Rau Chief Executive Phil
Alexander-Crawford, WECA General Manager Mary Jensen and Hanga-Aro-Rau’s Hagen Tautari.
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