Our goal at ACE is that members have a valued and trusted voice. We’re about raising the profile and value of professional services in the eyes of our members, future members, clients, communities, and decision-makers, and growing enduring and trusting relationships to enhance our influence.

• We rebranded to give us a clear and unambiguous presence in our market, enhancing our influence.
  
  
• We reviewed our Rules and you voted to change them, including adding new obligations that set a clear benchmark for what ACE membership stands for, which builds our credibility with stakeholders.
  
  
• We spoke with media about the skills shortage and on how professional consultants must be part of the conversation in the rebuild of communities devasted after the weather events earlier in 2023.
  
  
• We had our voice heard on matters directly affecting our membership including through representation on the NZS3910 review, the Engineer to the Contract Panel Steering Group, the DIA’s steering group for the new three waters Code of Practice, Auckland Council’s consumer advisory group, and Waka Kotahi’s Road Worker Safety Governance Group and associated temporary traffic management groups.
  
  
• We spoke loudly about our concerns with various contracts and producer statements including with Te Whatu Ora, Tauranga City Council, Christchurch City Council, at construction law conferences/forums, and with Construction Sector Accord Ministers who have affirmed their expectation for standardised contracts to be the norm in central government engagements. We also worked with Waka Kotahi to review their cost fluctuation index.
  
  
• We advocated successfully for better immigration settings for professional services consultants to MBIE and at conferences, we piloted an international recruitment campaign with HainesAttract that attracted more than 2000 engineers and consultants to apply for roles in New Zealand, and in partnership with four other associations we secured funding from the Construction Sector Accord to support an international recruitment campaign for the construction and infrastructure sector in partnership with NZ Story which will be launched in 2023 – watch this space!
  
  
• We’ve talked directly with minister Megan Woods and Christopher Luxon at industry and ACE-initiated events about the issues that matter to you.
  
  
• We partnered with industry associations for our advocacy on the skills shortage, the Diversity Agenda, and our mentally healthy workplaces Kaupapa.
  
  
• We have a strong international presence, with representation on the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Directors and Secretaries Advisory Council, Sustainability Committee, and Business Practice Committee, and we won a FIDIC award in Geneva for our advocacy on the skills shortage.

Our goal is that members are ready to face the challenges of today and tomorrow and lead the way for others. We’re raising awareness among our members of key issues affecting their business, providing clarity on our objectives, roles and responsibilities, and putting the right structures, agreements, and guidance in place to enable our members to thrive and lead through the challenges.

• We moved the Diversity Agenda forward in its evolution, moving it to be industry-led and appointing a dedicated programme director to lead it. Following consultation with members we have a clear and compelling strategy and plan of action.
  
  
• We raised awareness about the importance of mentally healthy workplaces and how to design them, we benchmarked members’ current activities, and held workshops to map our member’s strengths and opportunities. We’ll soon be launching the culmination of this mahi, which is an ongoing programme to give professional consultants tools and resources to enable their people and business to thrive.
  
  
• We delivered webinars, events, workshops, and shared members’ thought leadership on key issues relevant to leading professional consulting businesses in today’s environment including cultural competency and meaningful engagement with Māori, sustainability, ESG, contracts and insurance, fair pay, and more.
  
  
• We delivered an outstanding conference focused on helping you work on your business, and not just in it.
  
  
• We’ve supported members post this years’ extreme weather events with check-ins, advocacy, support, and learning.

Our goal is that we grow our sector to be the best it can be. We’re enabling our members to set the standard for consultancy skills and professionalism for the success of our sector.

• We celebrated our members amazing work through our awards programme and associated PR.
  
  
• We developed a new guidance note on Digital Engagements, and have two in development around CCCS and intellectual property and the Fair Trading Act.
  
  
• We published our annual remuneration survey, which includes valuable insights into attraction and retention.
  
  
• We began work on our competency framework, which will set a clear standard for what great consulting looks like and will guide skills development across our membership.
  
  
• We continued our support of our three transport forums and Legal Panel, and we supported the Māori Leadership Forum.