Stepping forward
Competenz is a multi-sector industry training organisation (ITO). Our industries include engineering, manufacturing, forestry, food and beverage, printing, transport and textiles.
Our purpose is to help Kiwi industry grow skills, careers and businesses. We do this by delivering effective on-the-job training and apprenticeships, and designing workforce development solutions.
Guided by our industries, we are responsible for setting the standards for qualifications in 37 sectors and we support learners, employers and industry to achieve their goals. We’re proud to support more than 20,000 learners and 3,500 businesses nationwide.
Competenz continued to provide high-quality training outcomes during 2019, despite the potential for disruption from Minister Hipkins’ announcement of the Reform of Vocational Education, which will see the organisation disestablished by the end of 2022, along with all 11 industry training organisations (ITOs). Reflecting the views of over 80 per cent of our employers, we lobbied hard for amendments to the original proposal and, in particular, the retention of the arranging training functions. This advice was not accepted, therefore, we have had to adapt to working within the Government’s evolving new framework.
Mike Simm
Chairman
Business owner and professional director with a special interest in youth development and transitions from school to work.
John Blakey
Chairman of the ATNZ Trust and former CEO of Competenz with more than 20 years’ experience in vocational education and training.
Tupara Morrison
Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors with extensive governance experience in tertiary education and iwi development.
Judy Newcombe
Extensive experience in leading and managing change in a number of senior management roles in some of New Zealand’s largest corporates. Currently working in the not-for-profit sector as a professional director.
Bryn Thompson
Business owner, exporter and director with significant engineering and manufacturing experience. Qualified fitter/welder.
Bill Newson
National Secretary of E tū. He has a trades background and many years of involvement in trades training. Bill has played a major role in developing the engineering apprenticeship training trusts.
George Adams
An experienced company director with extensive expertise in the food and beverage sector.
I would like to acknowledge the uncertainty currently faced by everyone in our global community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing, this event continues to eclipse any challenges our people and our industries have experienced. My thoughts go out to all those who have been so severely affected by personal and professional loss during this time.
2019 began with the news of the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) proposal that recommended the disestablishment of all 11 industry training organisations (ITOs), including Competenz. In August 2019, it was announced the proposal was going ahead, largely unchanged.
Fiona Kingsford
Chief Executive
Competenz CEO since January 2016. Fiona has held portfolios that cover operations, strategy, innovation, business transformation and Māori and Pasifika development.
Sean Kirk
Chief Financial Officer
Finance, ICT, legal, procurement, office management, business insights, compliance and risk.
Amanda Wheeler
General Manager
Industry Training
Apprentice and learner service delivery, workforce development, operations and literacy and numeracy support.
Tim Wilson
Strategic Advisor
Strategy, RoVE and strategic projects.
Yvonne Lim
General Manager
Sales and Marketing
Customer experience, marketing and communications, workforce development, and careers promotion.
Matt Bagshaw
General Manager
People and Culture
Human resources, recruitment and retention, health and safety, organisational development and training, change management.
Susanne Martin
General Manager
ATNZ
ATNZ service delivery, business development, product development and learner support.
Samantha McNaughton
General Manager
Learning Design and Innovation
Standard setting (qualification development, learning solutions and quality assurance) as well as strategic sector engagement.
Qualification completions
Enrolments
Learners
We take a closer look at some of the major achievements and challenges of 2019, including the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) which will see the disestablishment of all industry training organisations by the end of 2022.
Fonterra Brands Jenkins Freshpac Facteon
Abhishek Sarda, Fonterra Brands GM Performance Excellence and
Debs Wand, Competenz Business Partner
Cherise Redden
Butchery
Butcher Apprentice of the Year
Natasha Mankelow
Forestry
Forestry apprenticeship graduate
Cameron Lamb
Forestry
Hawke’s Bay Forestry Apprentice of the Year
Inia Te Wiata
Mechanical Engineering
Stuart Tolhurst Award Winner
Josh Crawford
PrintNZ Apprentice of the Year
Toby Marsh
Signmaking
Signmaking Apprentice of the Year