Steve has been a Director on the Etco board since 2011 and is the current Chair. Steve manages a medium-sized electrical contracting firm with branches in Auckland and Northland that have a number of Etco apprentices learning from his team of skilled technicians (many of whom are former Etco apprentices themselves).

Steve’s passion for the industry has seen him hold several regional and national roles with Master Electricians during the past 15 years. His ability to network and his relationships with industry stakeholders enable Steve to offer strategic insights and advice. Outside of the industry he enjoys motor racing and boating which allows him time to relax with family and friends.

Stuart has a number of independent director roles which he combines with his consulting business, The Outperformance Hub. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors as well as having over 30 years’ experience across many sectors, including education. His knowledge, independence and professionalism combine to add depth to risk management and business improvement strategies.  He offers a special blend of business oversight with the ability facilitate the development of both strategic and business plans by working with senior leaders to assess risk and seize opportunities. Having worked with over 100 firms, he believes every business can be an outperformer!

Dean is GM and cofounder of EIS, a multi-disciplined engineering and electrical company with offices in Christchurch and Invercargill, and a satellite in Hokitika. Dean is committed to helping people thrive and training young men and women to become the next generation of leaders in our industry. Dean is proud of his Māori and European heritage and is a believer in full inclusion of all people. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management, a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, and has held many regional and national board roles. Being a director of Etco is something Dean takes seriously because the organisation is a very important part of the eco-system that allows the industry to thrive.

Wendie joined the Etco board in 2016. She is a professional director based in Hawke’s Bay, with interests in strategy development, organisation change, Human Resources practice and the promotion of health, safety and wellness in the workplace. Wendie currently holds other board appointments with Eastland Group Limited, Aurora Energy Limited, Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. She has been a Commissioner with the New Zealand Gambling Commission since 2014.

Craig joined the Etco board in October 2020. He has a broad consulting and governance background covering public, private and NGO sectors, and chairs several boards. Craig, who has degrees in Economics and Psychology from Victoria University of Wellington, focuses his consultancy and board work on resolving complex issues, facilitating and leading strategy development, ensuring sound financial and management accounting practices, and oversight of leadership and organisational culture. Craig returned to Wellington in 2000 after 20 years living in Christchurch.

Jeremy has been CEO at Etco since 2016.  Previously he spent time with MBIE in the Auckland Construction Sector Workforce Engagement Programme, after having been CEO of the NZ Contractors Federation involved with Government relations and industry advocacy. He has also worked on consulting projects in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and Japan. Jeremy’s qualifications include Advanced Trade Certificate in Automotive Engineering, University Certificate in Training and Human Resources Development, Post Graduate Diploma in Business in Employment Relations, an MBA from the University of Auckland, Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction and he is a graduate of the Institute of Strategic Leadership’s Strategic Leadership Programme. Jeremy says he’s had a career as in ‘careering all over the place’ with interesting jobs rather than a planned career. He acknowledges that isn’t for everyone, but he is pleased that his working life has been a good demonstration of what you can do with the confidence, tenacity, self-belief and analytical mindset you develop while working as an apprentice towards a trade qualification. Jeremy says trade qualifications are a gateway – not a destination – and there are a million journeys that can emerge from completing an apprenticeship. 

Janice (Ngati Aukiwa, Te Aupouri, Ngati Kuri, Ngati Rehia, Ngapuhi) is responsible for Etco’s strategic planning and forecasting, managing financial operations, risk profile and compliance, and stimulating development and innovation.

She has considerable experience at a senior level in strategy, leadership, finance, education, iwi asset management and IT network management across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Janice, who has been with Etco since 2003, is a trusted member of Etco’s executive team, and provides a Maori lens over the organisation’s operations. She values good relationships where people come first.

Gary completed his electrical apprenticeship in 1982 in South Africa and worked as an electrician until December 1989, while also attaining his diploma in electrical engineering. 

In 1990 he started teaching at a secondary school, and completed his teaching qualification and teacher registration in 1993. His passion for education and desire to have a positive influence on young people – both in the classroom and on the sports fields was extremely rewarding. 

Gary immigrated to New Zealand in 2003 and took up an Etco tutoring role at the Auckland Training Centre, enabling him to put to use his passion for both the electrical industry and education. 

Gary has held several senior roles within Etco and in 2018 was appointed National Learning Manager, overseeing both the Training and Apprenticeship teams nationally.  He took up his current role, General Manager Learning, in 2019, charged with providing support to the Training, Apprenticeship and Development teams.

Stuart has been the General Manager People & Culture at Etco since 2021. He is an experienced global Leader, having held a number of senior Human Resource positions across a range of sectors including Invitro Diagnostics, Life Sciences, IT, Biopharma, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG and Business Services. Stuart has developed and delivered people & culture strategies and solutions across multiple geographies including, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Stuart holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Waikato and was admitted as a Barrister Solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand in 2007.

Stuart is passionate about increasing the value people bring to organisations through initiatives that leverage diversity, drive a healthy, sustainable culture, and enable talent to achieve their potential. He is in his happy place when enabling people to be their best self and achieve their career goals, and he sees this as what our electrical apprentices are working towards on their journey to becoming registered electricians.

Brian joined Etco as Regional Manager Southern in 2020, and took over the Nation Wellbeing, Safety & Health Manager role in 2021, after some 27 years in the industry. He says his electrical apprenticeship, which he completed in Dunedin, provided him with diverse experience across all aspects of the trade, creating opportunities to advance his career. Brian worked as a qualified electrician for more than 15 years, and for most of the decade before joining Etco he worked as a project manager. During this period he had three stints ‘back on the tools’ as an underground shift electrician. Managing large construction projects, including different stakeholders, has given him valuable experience that has been put to great use in Etco.

Heather has been a senior leader with a focus on quality delivery of service and project management for more than five years.  She has worked for large organisations such as Fletcher Building, SIRVA Worldwide Relocation and GE Finance.  Heather has also been a Diploma Teacher at Queenstown Resort College, teaching Macro Economics to hospitality students. 

Heather works at Etco Auckland in the support office as GM Quality Assurance and Projects, responsible for information management and compliance.

Helen has spent many years in management positions across different industry sectors and in different roles including executive management, HR, sales, marketing, and operations. Prior to this, for many years she owned and ran retail businesses across Auckland with her husband. Helen lives in the bays and can often be seen cycling round the waterfront (not in lycra!)  She joined Etco in 2021, works in the Auckland support office as the Marketing and Communications Manager, and is passionate about supporting both apprentices and host businesses.

Nadia is a registered occupational therapist and practiced as a clinician and in management for seven years in both New Zealand and Australia. She has worked in the private and public tertiary education sector since 2008 in executive leadership positions including human resources, general manager, and director roles. Nadia, who has a passion for leading high-performing teams, joined Etco in 2021. Her passion is to foster an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.

In 2018, after 13 years away from the organisation, Neil re-joined Etco – and says it was almost like he had never been away. He had left his role as Apprentice Coordinator in 2005, to set up his own electrical business. He later joined a global company involved in installation, maintenance, and training on their packaging machinery. The job took him all around the world and he is now considered an expert in filling a packet of potato chips with air! 

Neil’s apprenticeship began in 1976 in the UK where he was mainly involved in the industrial sector. He then spent almost 10 years working for the East Midlands Electricity Board doing installation work, metering and inspecting. 

Neil’s current role as Etco’s National Placement Manager sees him assist the great team of Coordinators in finding placements for apprentices.