CEO comment 7 January 2021
Welcome back and happy new year.
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OSEA manages and delivers training programmes on behalf of the Institute of Management New Zealand (IMNZ) and Export New Zealand in Otago and Southland.
We have a key relationahip with Business Mentors New Zealand.
We offer services that are registered with the Management Capability Development Voucher Fund
OSEA’s team brings together a wealth of expertise and practical experience to support OSEA member organisations with the right advice and advocate on behalf of business.
Virginia oversees all aspects of OSEA operations. She brings experience in small, medium and large businesses across the manufacturing, education, tourism and the not-for-profit sectors including senior management roles in FMCG companies and tertiary education. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
David is our Legal Team Manager and joined our team in 2014. He hails from the state of Virginia on the east coast of the US and earned his law degree from the University of Otago in 2009. He is pleased to now call Aotearoa his home.
Kate has a background in business consulting, she brings professional experience in human resources and people management, with strong hospitality and events knowledge. Kate is responsible for training & events and health & safety.
Mandy brings with her a range of administration and office management experience from the public and private sectors including local government, membership and hospitality.
Persia joined OSEA as a Senior Solicitor in 2020 and provides advice on all aspects of employment law. She also represents OSEA members at the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court and presents at OSEA Briefings and Conferences.
Persia has previously worked at an Auckland employment law firm and as a Barrister in Chambers. In addition to employment law, her experience includes intellectual property, defamation, and commercial and contract law. She has appeared as senior counsel in the Employment Relations Authority, and as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal, Employment Court, High Court, District Court and various industry disputes bodies such as the Advertising Standards Authority and IPENZ.
Persia has a Bachelor of Laws and Arts from the University of Auckland and was admitted to the Bar in 2010.
Adam has a central government background at MBIE working in policy and law whereby he worked with business and union representatives to find solutions to issues that impact New Zealand workplaces. He has also practiced law privately, advising clients on employment, privacy and commercial matters. Adam has volunteered for not for profits and board positions.
Ann is our Dunedin based Training & Events Coordinator. With a background in IT, customer support, marketing and sales, Ann brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Training and Events role. Ann will be specialising in Health & Safety and Dunedin Training Events so get in touch with her for all your training needs.
Madusha comes to us with a background in human resource development within the manufacturing industry and experience as a supervisor working within the New Zealand dairy sector. Madusha will be specialising in Invercargill Training Events so get in touch with her for all your training needs.
Our board members come from across the region and represent a broad range of business skills and governance experience.
Andrew is the CEO of Hospice Southland. Previously, he held the position of CEO for Credit Union South, where his achievements were recognised by the World Council of Credit Unions when he was the inaugural winner of the WOCCU Young Credit Union Professional Award. Other appointments include director of the NZ Association of Credit Unions and President of the Chamber of Commerce Southland.
Stuart is a chartered accountant, partner of GS McLauchlan & Co. He is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors. Stuart is currently chairman of Scott Technology Ltd, PHARMAC, UDC Finance Ltd and Dunedin International Airport Ltd, as well as being a director of a number of private companies. He is also pro-chancellor at the University of Otago and governor of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.
Michael is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with the Accounting and Business Advisory firm Polson Higgs where he works with large and small businesses mainly in the tax area. He has been advising clients for 26 years and a Partner for the last 16 years. Michael is passionate about business and in particular how to minimise the impact of taxation on business.
Lesley is employed in the Research and Postgraduate office of Otago Polytechnic, with a focus on delivering research by staff and students that benefits industry and the wider community. Previously Lesley was a lawyer for 22 years including 12 years as a partner at Anderson Lloyd. She has previously served on the Council of Telford Rural Polytechnic and is currently on the Audit and Risk Committee of the Cancer Society (Otago/Southland).
Nina is the HR Manager at Breen Construction Co based in Central Otago. She is originally from Ontario Canada, where she majored in Criminology, minored in Political Science and has a diploma in Human Resources Management. Nina has previously worked as an HR Generalist in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors in Canada, then as an HR Project Manager with the Bank of Montreal. Since arriving in NZ, Nina has worked in the Lodgement team at ACC, HR Consulting at Logan HR, as an HR Advisor at the Dunedin City Council and as the People & Culture Manager with the Queenstown Medical Centre.
Will is currently Legal Advisor at the University of Otago. Prior to this he worked with a Queen’s Counsel and as a lawyer at a commercial firm, prior to joining the Otago Southland Employers’ Association as a lawyer and then Business Manager.
In other voluntary roles, Will was a volunteer at the Community Law Centre for 15 years, and was an officer in the Navy Reserve for 12 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. He is also a former chair of the Dunedin RSA Welfare Trust, and currently a Dunedin Area Committee member of the Order of St John.
Darryl is a confident, articulate, passionate technologist who can lead people and design solutions to deliver great outcomes for whoever requires it. He has over 20 years' experience in the Information and Technology industry and has gained some relatively unique skills which can bring huge value to any organisation.
After moving to Dunedin in 2013 Emily established Human Connections Group, a Dunedin-based consultancy offering affordable recruitment and HR solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. She brings a strong background in recruitment, human relations and management from the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Having moved south from Auckland at the inception of Mainland Poultry 18 years ago, Hamish is now General Manager of Zeagold Foods, the egg division of Mainland Poultry. Zeagold is now ranked within the top 30 suppliers of branded goods to supermarkets in New Zealand. Prior to commencing at Mainland, Hamish was the General Manager Marketing for Goodman Fielder Milling and Baking.
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