New industry leaders and sector reference groups to guide Accord transformation plan

A new steering group and new sector reference groups will be appointed to lead delivery of the Construction Sector Transformation Plan 2022-2025. The three-year plan for sector transformation was backed by $37.5m in funding announced in Budget 2022. The plan is expected to be released at the end of July.

Read more about funding to deliver the new transformation plan.

The new co-chairs of the Accord Steering Group (ASG) are Andrew Crisp, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Tracey Ryan, Managing Director of design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon.

They replace Peter Reidy who until recently was Chief Executive of Fletcher Construction, and Chris Bunny, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Deputy Secretary Labour, Science and Enterprise.

Andrew Crisp is a continuing member of the ASG and formerly chair of the Accord Agency CEs group, in which he will continue to be a member.

"This is a new-look governance group with a new approach, bringing deeper and wider cross sectoral input to deliver the new transformation plan. The Government gave the Accord a huge vote of confidence in the recent budget with a really significant chunk of funding to accelerate the transformation work, and we are really looking forward to getting on with it," he said.

Tracey Ryan is newly appointed to the ASG.

"I've closely followed the Accord's work in recent years and it mirrors much of the transformation work we have been doing within Aurecon, so it's really exciting to bring that experience to the whole sector here, alongside a powerful group of industry leaders around the table in this new ASG," she said.

A Māori Advisory Group is being established as well as new sector reference groups in Residential, Commercial and Infrastructure. Membership of these groups is yet to be finalised and other targeted groups may be set up on an ad hoc basis where a need for expertise is identified.

"The new ASG isn't solely appointed on the basis of sector representation. Instead we wanted a smaller, governance-focused body that will be supported by our new reference groups and the Māori Advisory Group to ensure deep and wide sector input and engagement to support transformation," said Crisp.

Nearly 60 construction sector leaders applied to join the new ASG. The full list of members for the new ASG, sector reference groups and Māori Advisory Group will be announced in the coming weeks.

"It goes to the importance of the role the infrastructure and construction sectors play in making Aotearoa New Zealand a better place for everyone and the many people who want to be part of this mahi," said Ryan.

"The quality of applications was very high and we'd like to thank the many sector leaders who applied. The Accord's new broader representation means we will have a wide range of voices at the table to support our sector and transform for a better Aotearoa."