Profiles

  www.womengoingplaces.net When Paris McCann first stepped through the doors of Buckley Systems Ltd, she never dreamed she would become an apprentice – but fast forward four years and all that has changed. Now, she’s forging an exciting career in the manufacturing sector and is set to become one of the first-ever Buckley employees to complete a general engineering apprenticeship. “I initially joined Buckley as an Assembly Technician, but when they offered me an apprenticeship through Competenz I jumped at the opportunity,” says the Mt Wellington resident.  “I like to learn new things, and the chance to study and work at the same time was just too good to turn down.” Buckley Systems Ltd is considered a great place for top-tier engineering talent, and although they’ve long offered apprenticeships in machining, fabrication and electrical engineering, general engineering is a recent addition. That spells great news for aspiring tradies like Paris. “The biggest highlight for me has been furthering my knowledge in areas I didn’t know much about,” she says. “Through this apprenticeship I’ve been able to learn new skills and develop my problem solving capabilities, and although the block courses pushed me out of my comfort zone, I got through them and they weren’t actually as hard as I thought they’d be!” The secret to her success? According to Competenz training advisor Luke van den Bos, a lot of it comes down to mindset. “Paris is motivated to complete and she works hard to keep herself on target,” says Luke. “When she was first employed at Buckley, taking on an apprenticeship wasn’t something she had considered so I’m extremely happy that the opportunity was offered to her, and she’s been able to embrace it, commit to it, and see it through. “Like I always tell my learners, completing an apprenticeship […]

    www.womengoingplaces.net                                                                                Explain to readers about Bridging the Gap Bridging the Gap (BtG) is an integrated early intervention centre dedicated to supporting children with developmental needs aged 18 months to 7 years. We take a multidisciplinary approach, combining speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational therapy, and social skills development to ensure that each child receives holistic and personalised support. Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where children can build confidence, develop essential skills, and integrate with their peers, empowering them to reach their full potential. What challenges do you have with your son Emmanuel? Emmanuel was born prematurely at 32 weeks and faced multiple medical conditions, including apraxia and global developmental delay. His early years were spent in and out of hospitals, undergoing surgeries and battling infections. As he grew older, I noticed significant challenges in his ability to communicate and integrate socially. Despite my best efforts to place him in mainstream settings, he struggled with anxiety and was often isolated or misunderstood. Watching him experience frustration and exclusion was heartbreaking, and it reinforced my determination to find the right support for him. Earlier on, you found there was a large gap in support? Yes, I quickly realised that there was a lack of comprehensive, holistic early intervention services in Singapore. Many centres focused on only one aspect of therapy—such as speech or occupational therapy—without addressing the broader developmental needs of the child. Additionally, there was minimal collaboration between early intervention centres and preschools, making integration even more difficult. I found myself navigating a fragmented system, with long waiting […]

Kae Porter, founder of Amicii  Sydney-based Kae Porter thrives on connecting people. So, it’s no surprise that this former legal industry marketer and award-winning PR agency owner has become a passionate tech entrepreneur. As the founder of Amicii, Australia’s first social experience marketplace, she is on a mission to put hospitality back at the heart of human connections. Amicii is not another social networking platform, it’s designed to bring people together in real life. By blending digital innovation with our innate desire for face-to-face interactions, Amicii fosters meaningful social connections over shared dining experiences, while also supporting local hospitality businesses. “Put simply, this is not a dating app,” Kae explains. “It’s an authentic way to meet new people, create friendships, and socialise. Hence the name, which is derived from the Italian word for friends.” The idea for Amicii was born from Kae’s own experiences. When her adult children moved out, she found herself eager to rediscover Sydney’s vibrant dining scene but often lacked the right company. “For probably the last two decades, people have gone deeper into the online world, and we are told we are more connected than ever before,” she says. “But in reality, we’ve systematically removed so many of the natural opportunities for serendipitous connections that used to happen in everyday social life.” Life transitions, whether becoming an empty nester, relocating for work, or simply experiencing shifts in social circles, can leave people feeling disconnected. Rather than accept this as the new normal, Kae saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and solve her own problem of how to meet new people. “We all go through changes that disrupt our social networks,” she says. “And we’re left asking ourselves, ‘What do I do now?’ I realised that enjoying great hospitality venues shouldn’t depend on whether you have […]

Marsya Ruzana Aw is the Head of Study Skills at First Principles Education, Singapore’s study skills education technology company. Marsya’s journey from a struggling Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student to spearheading transformative educational innovations offers a compelling narrative of perseverance, empowerment, and innovation. Marsya’s path with First Principles Education began during her undergraduate years at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where she struggled academically and realised the limitations of traditional education methods. Lacking effective study strategies, she crossed paths with Emil Lim, CEO and Founder of First Principles Education, who became her mentor. Under his guidance, Marsya not only improved her academic results but discovered her passion for mentoring others, leading her to pursue a Master’s Degree in the Science of Learning from NTU. Her postgraduate studies deepened her understanding of neuroscience, educational theories, and practical applications of study skills, all of which she now applies to empower students. As Head of Study Skills, Marsya spearheads innovative programmes designed to transform how students approach learning. Grounded in neuroscience and tailored to individual needs, her methods are practical, student-centred, and focus on equipping learners with lifelong skills. Marsya’s leadership has also driven the development of an A.I.-powered tool, a groundbreaking initiative to help students identify and learn from their mistakes, ensuring they do not repeat them. Her vision is to empower students to become independent learners, confident in their ability to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Marsya’s leadership style is collaborative and community-focused. Inspired by insights gained during her Master’s studies alongside school leaders, she has created a nurturing environment where mentors act as elder siblings to students. This approach is reflected in initiatives like weekly refresher clinics at First Principles Education, which help students remain engaged, reinforce their study skills, and stay accountable for applying these techniques to their schoolwork. […]

How are you finding life as CEO of Master Electricians NZ?  I’m loving working with passionate people who are committed to advancement of this industry, which in many ways is at the centre of the energy transition.  I’ve found that the people around me share many of the same values – a desire to support members in a proactive way and grow the industry, and a willingness to take risks and innovate so that electrical contractors are future-ready.  What are the challenges in this role?  The electrical industry is undergoing rapid change – from technological innovation and sustainability imperatives to regulatory shifts and evolving consumer demands. In this dynamic environment I see every challenge as an opportunity. There are opportunities to enable technology adoption at a faster rate. There are opportunities that flow from convergence of industries and infrastructure in terms of dynamic careers for electrical contractors and diversified business opportunities.  We need to lean into regulatory reform and having the funding needed to keep up with rapid changes in standards – both in terms of product and practices.  Another step up is that the industry is currently served by multiple ministers and parts of government which often means we never have the ability to communicate about the impact across the value chain!  Do your members have issues recruiting the right staff? Yes and no. We have got a workforce skill shortage, and the economic situation does mean we don’t recruit and train enough. There is also the need and desire to innovate and adopt new technologies – the electrification of the NZ economy relies on individuals and businesses who can pick up micro skills faster than ever before and in ways that meet their needs in terms of experiential learning.  That is why we are investing in a new […]

The stereotypical and unwelcome practice of calling women ‘too emotional’ is still all too common in New Zealand’s business environment, and while it is easy to call for change, any real shift will only happen when society starts to recognise emotion as a strength and not a sign of weakness.   Simone-Ellen Keller, founder of Genius You , says the stereotype of seeing emotions as a weakness is deeply ingrained, as most women will have experienced.    Keller says emotions are not a weakness—they are a fundamental part of the human experience and a source of strength. The issue lies not with the emotions themselves but with our collective discomfort and misunderstanding of them.   “Women are better at expressing their emotions. Men just hide it, or they shout, but without emotion, it is difficult for us to connect both personally and professionally. Emotions make us human, but how we translate emotions triggers how we respond to a situation, for better or worse.   “Part of the problem is that New Zealand society often allows men to express anger—a defence emotion—while shaming women for showing vulnerability, a core emotion.”   Keller says our discomfort with emotions stems from a lack of understanding.    “We have been taught to suppress them, particularly in professional or public settings, under the guise of being ‘rational’ or ‘professional’. But this suppression does not eliminate emotions; it only drives them underground, where they can fester and influence our behaviour in ways we may not fully understand,” she says.   Emotional literacy is key to navigating this landscape.    “The difference between feeling an emotion and expressing an emotion is critical. Use them to navigate your life, and that’s not just about moving towards emotions that make us happy and away from those that do not—all emotions have a purpose, and we should not run […]