Conference to take a fresh look at industry issues

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“Fresh Powder” is the theme for the 2006 annual Registered Master Builders conference in Queenstown over Anzac weekend, reflecting registered master builders’ desire to take a fresh look at issues facing the building and construction industry. 

From April 22 to 25 registered master builders from around New Zealand will gather in Queenstown to hear and discuss ways to handle business in times of weathertightness, a softening building market and a changing regulatory environment. 

Just over 200 people, including company directors, manufacturers and industry commentators are expected to participate. Timely insight into Government’s role Minister of Building Issues Clayton Cosgrove will open the conference, giving a timely insight into the role of the Government in the building industry as builder licensing comes into a critical phase. 

Guest speakers this year include John Anderson, who will tell his incredible story of how he developed a simple idea into one of the world’s major tour operators, Contiki Tours. Social commentator Celia Lashlie has worked for years in the prison service and knows what can happen when boys make the wrong choices.

Celia is the author of the current best seller He’ll Be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men. While her writing and research focuses on boys, her message is relevant to all who are involved in shaping the lives of young people. With economists predicting a softening in the market in the next few years, ASB Bank chief economist Anthony Byett and Stand Consulting’s David Stand will brief delegates on how to position and make the most out of business in a slowing economy.

The RMBF’s new publication Building your Business will be launched. Editor Chris Preston, along with a panel of experts, will present a series of workshop sessions on legal, employment, insurance, ACC and OSH issues — all subjects central to builders’ businesses. 

Ben Mitchell from Pro-Directions and Anthony Leighs from Leighs Construction are presenting the award winning Hillary Field Centre as an exemplar case study of how project management can exceed expectations in the harshest of conditions. 

Other speakers include a team of experts from various sectors of the industry who will discuss sustainable building. Nick Collins (Beacon Pathways), Peter Robertson (BRANZ), Peter Thorby (DBH), Mahara Inglis (Ministry for the Environment) and Peter Watt (EECA) will give an overview of sustainability and the Government’s perspective, and will also launch the latest BRANZ Sustainable Foundations Guide.

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