NZIOB National President Graeme Birkhead said, "Like many professional membership organisations, the NZIOB is constantly challenged with ensuring its membership and activities are relevant and responsive to younger people who are now developing their careers within the construction industry.
"To address this issue, we created the role of Young Practitioner Adviser to provide a millennial voice at NZIOB National Council meetings. The Institute’s advertisement for this strategic role yielded close to 30 applicants. Auckland-based James Reed of Dominion Constructors was selected, with James attending his first National Council meeting in December."
James Reed says, "I am excited to have been elected as the NZIOB’s first Young Practitioner Adviser. NZIOB has an important role to play promoting our industry, providing advocacy to ensure our voice is heard, and in supporting members and non-members to develop knowledge and skills not always found elsewhere.
"The opportunity to be part of the NZIOB’s national governance group, and to provide a voice on behalf of tomorrow’s leaders, is one I am very enthusiastic about. I am also looking forward to working with the wider Young Practitioner Adviser network to increase membership and to create events that all young professionals in the building sector will be encouraged to attend and to network at."