Waikato Business News | February 7, 2024

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6 FEBRUARY 2024 The village people Gary Cox accepts his gift box from regional construction manager Dave Gibson. Gary Cox is a wellknown face at two Waikato retirement villages. For 15 years he has worked at several Ryman Healthcare construction sites including more recently at Linda Jones in Hamilton and Patrick Hogan in Cambridge. Regional construction manager Dave Gibson recently surprised Gary, affectionately known as Coxy, at a prestart meeting on site with a giftbox and letter of appreciation from head office. Coxy, now Ryman’s longest-serving project manager, began in 2008 when he worked at Jane Mander Retirement Village, in his hometown of Whangārei. This was followed by stints at New Plymouth for Jean Sandel, Waikanae for Charles Fleming and Tauranga for Bob Owens. Then it was down to Petone for Bob Scott and last year he finally completed one of Ryman’s biggest villages, Linda Jones in Hamilton. It was during that build that he really got to grips with what his role as project manager was about. “I’m like a structural psychologist,” he said at the time. “I’ve got to get inside its head and visualise how A meets B and C.” The role has also enabled a fair amount of personal growth too. “If someone had said to me when I was backpacking around Europe that I would be doing this job now I would have laughed because I hated public speaking and yet that’s a lot of what I do now. “When I first started doing our toolboxes on health and safety, I never used to sleep on a Monday night but now I don’t think anything of it.” Now, the focus is on completing Patrick Hogan Retirement Village, Ryman’s 8.6 hectare site in Cambridge which will eventually have 185 townhouses, 60 serviced apartments and an 80-bed care centre. Four stages have now been finished, so 66 townhouses, and they’re laying down the slabs for the next stage now. While he never believed he would be in the same job for 15 years at the start, the reason, he says, is simple. “I love building, it’s the only thing I’m knowledgeable and passionate about.” JOIN THE CHAMBER TODAY to take advantage of our many opportunities, create additional growth for your business and make vital connections. Connect - Grow - Inspire - Represent For less than the price of a glass of wine per week, you and your business will be SEEN, HEARD and CONNECTED. Kick off your membership networking at our EXCLUSIVE NEW MEMBERS EVENT taking place on 7 March at Good George Dining Hall. WIN $ 500 OF TRAVEL FROM NETWORKING & EVENTS It’s not just who you know, it’s who others know. Networking is powerful. CREDIBILITY Raise your reputation through membership. HAVE A VOICE Inuence both central and local government through the Chamber lobbying and advocacy efforts. MEMBER BENEFITS DISCOUNTS Increase your purchasing power through members only discounts and perks. VISIBILITY Stand out and get noticed in your community. LEARNING Get a competitive edge over non-members with exclusive training opportunities on a variety of hot topics. FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.WAIKATOCHAMBER.CO.NZ/MEMBERSHIP/ ALREADY A MEMBER? Share with us the details of a business you think would benet from being a Chamber member and if they join, you'll go in the draw to win a $500 Air New Zealand travel voucher! TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY. VISIT WWW.WAIKATOCHAMBER.CO.NZ/MEMBERSHIP-REFERRAL/
FEBRUARY 2024 7 Walking the talk on zero carbon Hamilton Airport has achieved another goal in flight towards net zero carbon emissions. The airport, part of Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL), has been awarded Level 4 airport carbon accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI). The globally recognised accreditation programme measures how airports manage and reduce carbon emissions. Hamilton is one of only a handful of New Zealand airports to reach Level 4 -but chief executive Mark Morgan said it was just one initiative in WRAL’s sustainability agenda. WRAL established a formal carbon and sustainability programme in 2021 based on its three-pillar strategy – people, profit and planet, he said. “We’re aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – that is a very clear goal, set by our board with our emissions calculated and reported annually. We’ve seen a 20 per cent reduction in emissions since 2019 and we’re aiming for a 46 per cent reduction by 2030. We’re on the right track but we don’t underestimate how much more we can and should do.” He was proud to lead an organisation that sought sustainability, “rather than just tinkering around the edges”. “We’re absolutely committed to this from the board down and that’s reflected in our priorities and investments.” One of those investments was a $1.5 million solar energy farm, We factor carbon emissions reduction into all our planning and the refurbishment of our terminal building in 2022 is a good example of that.” commissioned before Christmas. The solar farm powers the airport terminal and ancillary buildings during the day. It has provided immediate energy savings of about $100,000 a year and that will ramp up when the next stage is completed over the next two to four years. Stage two will enable solar powering of EVs plus more energy. Other sustainability initiatives go right across WRAL, Morgan said. Jet Park Hamilton Airport hotel, part of the group, has a silver environmental accreditation from Qualmark, New Zealand’s tourism accreditation scheme, and is working towards gold. “We factor carbon emissions reduction into all our planning and the refurbishment of our terminal building in 2022 is a good example of that.” “Sustainability was a key driver for decision-making on that project. Energy saving measures have driven a five per cent reduction in energy use. During the build itself, 45 per cent of demolition materials were recycled and readied for reuse. Those were Mark Morgan pictured with WRAL board chair Barry Harris (right). deliberate choices.” WRAL was “laser-focused” on spotting opportunities thanks to in-house sustainability champions whose role is to drive and implement green initiatives. “Our café, for example, uses local Kaipaki Dairies milk on tap. We’re supporting a local business and we’re cutting back on plastic, so everyone wins.” If you’re going to be committed, you must walk the talk every day, Morgan said. The aviation industry, often criticised for its carbon emissions, had even greater responsibility to act. “I think as a publicly owned regional airport company, we should show some leadership - fiscally, socially and environmentally. Some initiatives like the solar farm will have a financial payback and others will provide different benefits over the long-term,” he said. “Fundamentally however, our driver is that reducing carbon is the right thing to do. We are kaitiaki and we have a responsibility to play our part in protecting our environment for future generations.” As part of Level 4 accreditation, WRAL is now required to work with other stakeholders to help support their own emissions initiatives. “We’ve got some other projects in the pipeline alongside partners which are really exciting. We have a long-term commitment to a very clear goal and while we’re making progress, there’s a lot of work to do yet.” Waikato and Bay of Plenty’s growing tech sector draws international experts’ home. ADVERTORIAL Graham Howard The Waikato and Bay of Plenty’s burgeoning startup tech sector and lifestyle is drawing international experts back to the Waikato. Grayson Clements’ newest lawyer Graham Howard is the latest to make the move. Graham, who started his New Zealand career working as legal counsel at Buddle Findlay and then WaikatoLink as their general counsel, has been working in the United Kingdom and counts Fortune 500 companies, Barclays Bank and Saudi Aramco as previous clients. With a special interest in intellectual property and growing start-ups, he says he was drawn back to the Waikato by the growing start-up tech sector, the entrepreneurs and innovators based in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty and the region’s enviable lifestyle. The Technology Investment Network’s annual TIN200 survey of New Zealand’s 200 largest and fastestgrowing tech exporters shows nationally the total revenue in the sector increased 11.8 per cent to $17.1 billion in the 2023 financial year. Export receipts jumped 13.1 per cent to $13.05 billion. “From my time at WaikatoLink I know the business landscape in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty reasonably well. The region has always been known for its tech and start-up landscape, we have a huge number of entrepreneurs and innovators and working with them is something I love,” says Graham. Returning to New Zealand, Graham says he sees tremendous potential to support the local ecosystem, leveraging his skill set to aid entrepreneurs and innovators in navigating legal challenges to help them drive growth. “I’m not just about drafting documents; I’m about understanding the DNA of my clients’ businesses. Whether it’s a joint venture between a Kiwi firm and an overseas entity or aiding local ventures in international markets, I want to be the trusted advisor who foresees the opportunities and the pitfalls.” During his time overseas Graham also worked for a leading private equity firm and family office based in Dubai and says his move back to the Waikato was driven by a desire to move away from big law and wrap his experience as a total service around businesses in New Zealand hunting for growth both nationally and internationally. “Over my career I’ve had the privilege of working with businesses in diverse formats, from commercialising Intellectual Property to joint ventures and complex mergers and acquisitions and I’m keen to bring that experience to the fore for our clients at Grayson Clements,” he says. “We want to provide useful solutions for clients. I’m very keen to help clients build relationships not only in New Zealand, but out of New Zealand, so the joint venture side of my experience is important too,” says Graham. His interest areas focus on intellectual property, commercialisation strategies, mergers, acquisitions, and international joint ventures and he has a proven track record of shepherding businesses through the intricate landscapes Grayson Clements – Design, Deliver, Protect Grayson Clements was established in 2008 by lawyers Michael Grayson and Andrew Clements, who both had a desire to grow a firm that focused on designing solutions, delivering results and protecting people. Their work and reputation have gained traction and their client base has grown organically to a point where they now have a team of 28 staff across a range of practice areas. of international collaborations and challenging regulatory compliance. “My focus is always on relationships. I want to understand a client’s ambitions, their challenges, and aspirations, providing personalised guidance tailored to each client’s unique journey.” “My career has been about understanding business and how it deals with modern risk. And that’s not just a question of a checklist, it’s just about experience and I’m excited to offer that to Grayson Clements’ clients,” he says.
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Waikato Business News | February 7, 2024

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