Stirring The Pot

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we talk with Jane Kennelly. Founder and current Business Director of recruiting powerhouse Frog Recruitment. For 30 years she has been helping organisations unlock the potential of their greatest assets – their people 'he tangata'. Working with leaders on how to not only leverage their people to improve their bottom line, but also add significant value...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we talk about a subject that might be a bit unfamiliar to our industry – and that’s calculating carbon footprint. It’s a part of a journey toward SSC Certification that will enable businesses, especially SMEs to build their skill and capacity. To help drive this conversation, we’re joined by our very own CEO, Dr Troy Coyle, as well as Christin Schaller & Bar...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we talk to runner up of  HERA’s Leading Metalhead Award  - Mikaela Keir. As a Casting Production Engineer at New Zealand Steel, she was acknowledged in this award category as a high potential employee (not yet at Executive level) who had created a mind-shift change in her employers business. In Mikaela’s case, recognising her contributions to champion cultural c...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we talk to recent recipient of HERA’s Innovation Award - Chris Bumby. As a Victoria University of Wellingtons Senior Scientist, he has been heading exciting research that is leading towards the development of hydrogen as a reductant for iron ores. This would mean that water, instead of carbon dioxide, would be the bi-product of reduction and may eliminate the us...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot we talk about what the recovery process for the building & construction industry looks like post Covid-19. To help explore this, we're joined by Warwick Quinn of BCITO and Graham Burke of NZCIC. To give some background, Warwick is Chief Executive of BCITO and works with his team to ensure the construction industry has a skilled workforce full of confide...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Former Director of Australia's Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (or SBRC for short) – Professor Paul Cooper. His work was focused on bringing together a wide range of researchers to holistically address the challenges of making our buildings sustainable and effective places to live and work in. SBRC has a specific focus to retrofit existi...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we check in with our CEO Dr Troy Coyle and Metals NZ CE Nick Collins. Together we reflect back on the first of HERA's Future Forum Conference which this year was aptly called 20/20 VISION. Its theme was visualising the future - and our goal was to look at discussing some of the key challenges facing our industry so that together we could come up with ways...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Dr Shahab Ramhormozian and Prof Charles Walker from the Auckland University of Technology. Shahab is a Lecturer in Structural and Earthquake Engineering and Prof Charles Walker is Head of AUT’s new School of Future Environments and has a  background in architecture. Together we’ll be discussing the exciting two new degrees at AUT – the BEng (honour...

Today our conversation is with Puhoro STEM Academy’s Leland Ruwhiu who is responsible for Operations. As navigators their role is to better support Maori student engagement with STEM disciplines via mentoring, tutoring and wananga, which is experiential learning and field trips. We also have in studio our very first Whanake Scholarship Recipient and Mechatronical Student at Massey University, Sara...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Watkins Steel Managing Director, Des Watkins. He has gone through a truly transformative process in his steel fabrication business – developing a four-step end-to-end digital process utilising 3D scanning, digital twins, augmented reality and automation. This change has allowed him to achieve real world outcomes that have redefined his business. No...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with MX3D CEO Gijs Van der Velden - all the way from the Netherlands! His company has a clear mission to introduce the advantages of 3D metal printing to new, high impact industries. Designing intelligent, robust and easy to use robotic additive manufacturing technology to enable users to 3D print large objects in metal. He’s also the creator of the fir...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with NZ Steel Environment Manager Claire Jewell and Fletcher Steel Marketing and Innovation Manager and Former Technical Manager, Scott Morrison. We delve into their work in environmental product declarations (or EPD’s for short), the process they’ve gone through to achieve them, and the benefits of doing so.  This is a great podcast to gain visibility...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Amanda Nicolle - Director of Industry Partnerships at the Ministry of Social Development. She leads an MSD initiative to create strategic partnerships with industries and employers that have skill and labour shortages. Working with them to identify the skills required, and how their programs and services can be tailored to meet these specific needs...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we're excited to share the expertise of our very own technical team at HERA - General Manager Welding Centre, Michail Karpenko, Finite Element Analyst Nandor Mago & PhD Scholarship Recipient and (since recording) now team member – Hafez Taheri. They’re giving insight into the seismic research program they've been working on to specify weld details...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Professor Chris Cook who is the Former Executive Dean of Engineering at the University of Wollongong in Sydney, Australia. He was involved with the Facility for Intelligent Fabrication - who deliver expertise, technology, equipment and training in automating steel fabrication to help manufacturing businesses adapt and compete. Their knowledge and r...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Kemppi Managing Director David Green. David is very familiar with global technology trends in welding, and Kemppi is also a key sponsor of our Future Forum 20/20 Vision conference being held next year. We start with the 'so what?' of Welding 4.0 and why adoption by industry is pivotal if we're to remain competitive, improve quality a...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Tim Ng – Deputy Secretary and Chief Economic Adviser for Treasury. Together, we discuss the Governments Living Standards Framework – or LSF for short. A newly developed and broader way of looking at things which has been used to help Government decide it’s five Wellbeing Budget priorities. Most importantly we relate it back to NZ’s metals industry,...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with our General Manager Welding Centre on what research projects his team will be focused on to assist our membership in the New Zealand metals-based industry. We discuss the Welding Research Panel, who is represented on it, and how they were able to choose the projects to focus on for industry, as well as the projects themselves: seismic research prog...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with our General Manager Structural Systems Stephen Hicks on what research projects our Structural Systems team will be focused on to assist our membership in the New Zealand metals-based industry. We discuss the Steel Research Panel, who is represented on it, and how they were able to choose the projects to focus on for industry, as well as the project...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Pamela Bell. Founder and Former CEO of PrefabNZ whom we crossed paths with due to her involvement on the NZ Construction Industry Council. Pamela has been on a mission to innovate in New Zealand’s built environment and create a hub for prebuilt design and construction. We were keen to chat to her about this, as prefabrication has come up as one of...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Renita Reddy. Director at Reddy Diamond Group - a successful rollforming company in Fiji. Renita is not what you'd typically imagine as the leader of a large rollforming business. She's young, female, Fijian, has strong religious beliefs and is passionate about dog rescue!  But she is also brave and driven. Confronting the cultural bias o...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Industrial and Organisational Psychologist and self professed leadership, resilience and curiosity seeker - Alia Bojilova! In this thought provoking chat, she challenges our current perceptions around resilience and wellbeing within the work place. Making it known that paying lip service to these concepts are a massive risk to our industry which re...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with The Human Resources Project's Executive Director - Rowan Larsen. We know the skills gap is nothing new to our industry. It is well known and voiced. And that's why we knew it was important to explore what practical steps our members could take to address this challenge. Join us as we discuss how important it is to create a clear culture,...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Callaghan Innovation Application Development Engineer Emily Allison, to dig deeper into the idea of advanced manufacturing. We cover how advanced engineering can help solve complex design and manufacturing problems and processes, what additive manufacturing is and it's advantages over traditional manufacturing and more. We also discuss future...

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk with Metals NZ Chief Executive Nick Collins, to gain clarity around government procurement and how metals as a material currently sits within their plans. We delve into industry concerns around fair and free trade, imported steel and global competition against NZ fabricated steel and in the NZ context why government urgently needs to provide clear guida...