Investing in the Next Generation: Supporting Our Graduate Members

Every year, our Welcome Back to Work Bowls events bring members together across Aotearoa to reconnect, strengthen professional relationships, and start the year on a positive note.

Through a raffle held during the Wellington event, funds were raised to support three graduate members as they continue their professional journeys. The initiative reflects our commitment to helping emerging professionals build connections, develop their careers, and become active members of our industry community.

Supporting graduate members is an investment in the future. As an industry, we benefit when new professionals are encouraged, supported, and given opportunities to grow. Initiatives like this ensure that those starting out have access to the networks, experiences, and opportunities that can help shape their careers.

Here are the three graduate members who benefited from this year's fundraising effort.

Nick Kerr

“This membership will help me to continue to build important relationships as I step into the industry and grow my career. The building institute has been a key factor in helping to improve my soft skills and opened doors to rooms students don’t often get to be in”

Nick Rowe

"I’m really excited to be a part of the Graduate Membership with Building Institute Aotearoa. A big thank you to the Central Regional Committee for the warm welcome and support. It’s awesome to be part of an organisation that genuinely connects individuals across New Zealand’s construction sector and actively nurtures their professional growth. I’m looking forward to getting involved, contributing where I can, and continuing to grow alongside such a strong community of industry professionals."

Kanoa Woollams

“As a student, being a Next-Gen member of the Building Institute Aotearoa connected with industry professionals and helped open doors to opportunities. Now as a graduate working in project management, having a graduate membership will allow me to stay involved, continue to build connections, and be part of the awesome events the institute runs throughout the year.”

For our graduate members, support like this can create opportunities to engage with the wider industry, build professional networks, and gain experiences that will help them succeed in the years ahead.

For our long-standing members, it is a visible reminder that we are committed to encouraging the next generation. By investing in emerging professionals today, we are helping to build a stronger and more connected industry for the future.