Delivering a sustainable talent pipeline for our Construction sector

A new Executive Director of ConCOVE: Tūhura has been appointed at a key time for workforce development.

The centre of vocational excellence for construction and infrastructure (ConCOVE) is responsible for using education, research and innovation to help build a more productive, sustainable and resilient national sector for both businesses and employees.

Katherine Hall has been appointed to the role after recently leading the Construction Sector Accord’s People Development and Health & Safety workstreams.

This mahi included guiding initiatives such as a Roadmap towards diversity, equity and inclusion and a new Construction Skills Strategy.

Ms Hall has also led the successful ‘Got a Trade? Got it Made!’ campaign and helped foster collaboration in the effort to attract more women to trades and engineering futures.

“I’ve been living and breathing workforce development for the last ten years. I have a passion and vision for the sector and look forward to linking and guiding the work currently underway across Tūhura projects,” she says.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to connect the dots with the work I’ve been doing for the Accord.”

Her appointment comes as the industry anticipates increased activity rebounding from last year’s slow down caused by COVID-19.

“I have huge confidence in Katherine’s abilities,” says ConCOVE Board co-chair Graham Burke. “She combines strong interpersonal skills with design-thinking, which makes her ideally suited to the role.”

Currently, ConCOVE is focused on five key projects designed to address significant long-term issues in creating a talent pipeline:

• Disruption – preparing industries to manage disruptions to the nature of work brought about by new technologies and develop training solutions.
• Entry – reform entry-level training to decrease the time it takes workers to become engaged in meaningful employment
• Progression – improve workforce productivity and retention by developing career support services including training, mentoring and networking.
• Diversity – provide tested strategies and models for stakeholders to grow workforce diversity, particularly in relation to Māori, Pasifika and women.
• Sustainability – help the industry respond to increasing demand for environmentally sustainable practices.

The centre is an important part of education helping to deliver on the shared goals of the Construction Sector Accord agreed between Government and industry.

“To build the best sector we can, we must build the best futures we can for employees. The first step to developing the talent pipeline we need is developing and retaining those currently in the industry,” says Katherine Hall.

“I am excited by the skillsets and knowledge Katherine will bring to Tūhura,” says Board co-chair Phil Hokianga. “We have the greatest opportunity to transform vocational education to improve Māori, Pasifika and wahine aspirations within the construction and infrastructure.”

“He whakataukī  – He aha te kai o te rangitira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. Katherine will utilise her vast networks and connections to drive this transformation,” says Mr Hokianga.   

Establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence is one of Government’s reforms of vocational education, including the creation of Te Pūkenga, Workforce Development Councils and Regional Skills Leadership Groups.

The centre hosted by Manukau Institute of Technology has members and associate members nationwide.

Katherine Hall will be welcomed to ConCOVE with a pōwhiri at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Ōtara next week.

Manukau Institute of Technology is part of Te Pūkenga, a nationwide network of providers redesigning vocational education to best meet the needs of learners and their communities – now and in the future. More than 11,000 students choose MIT each year to gain the skills they need to build long-term, rewarding careers in essential fields like healthcare, social services, IT, business, hospitality, trades and infrastructure. When they graduate our learners know their qualifications are backed by Te Pūkenga, the largest tertiary institution in Aotearoa – New Zealand.