2021 Conference Review

reSpoNd, rethiNK, recover coNfereNce 2021 review

It’s fair to say that this was a conference like no other. So close were we to a countrywide lockdown that once again it nearly didn’t happen. but fortunately we dodged a bullet and were able to get together before everything closed down.

othEr orGanISatIonS have not been so lucky. We know of other associations whose conferences were planned in the weeks following ours and it cost them dearly. Food has to be ordered 2 weeks out and setups were well underway. The bulk of non-refundable costs are realised so if you cancelled last minute and paid back attendees money, you’d still have the bear the majority of the costs. We were just so lucky to have got it done and dusted. This year saw a change to the exhibition floor plan in the form of a wagon wheel shape. Instead of the normal layout, exhibitors were setup around an outer ring, with “spokes” of stands extending back to a centre stage to provide a more inclusive environment. This year’s conference was capped off with the Hire Excellence Awards which recognise and reward performance within hire companies. This year’s winners were Hirepool North Shore, Royal Wolf Auckland and Kennards Hire Dunedin. All of the entrants were awarded Gold Awards and according to our judges Angie Williams, Mark Bacon and Tim Mikkleson each presented first class operations that they could be rightly proud of. We are going to re-invent the Hire Excellence Awards and will be running learning and support webinar classes on this in the new year. We are also considering incentives as part of the review. Our big name key presenters at the conference included MC and a very pregnant and due anytime Antonia Prebble of ‘Outrageous Fortune’ and ‘Westside’ fame. She was ably assisted by Madeline Sami, NZ comedian and star of Sione’s Wedding who, as a key presenter agreed given the circumstances to also MC the Hire Excellence Awards. On top of this we had the most moving keynote presentation from Wiremu and Marsella Edmonds. This presentation was both amazing and thought provoking. Others to speak were, motorcycling legend, Andrew Stroud who bought with him a special show piece – a Britten motorcycle in the flesh! Business advisor Hannah McQueen, and Mike Allsop, Air New Zealand pilot and adventurer, rounded off the list. Our breakout speakers included Paul Harrison on ESDS sheets, APEX programme with Greg Ward, Andrew Messent of Downer, National Association of Woman in Construction programme representative Lynette Oxford, Silvercard training by Rodney Grant, Angie Williams on Hire Excellence Awards, Andrea Leighton of Ezicheq on paperless checklists, Geoff Hardy from Martelli McKegg on repossessions, Fleet disposal options with Josh Olsen from Olsen Commercial, Mark Walker of Worksafe on machine guarding and finally Gareth Kieran of Infometrics with an economic forecast construction sector report. It was a great week had by all and I think/hope the outcome proved beneficial for all concerned. Planning is already underway for the 2022 conference, watch this space! ■