Latest news with #IanFraser
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
'It really is hard for older job seekers to find work at the moment'
Older workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find work. Photo: RNZ Dozens of people are signing up to a job site for older workers every day, with more and more of them noticeably struggling to find jobs over the past nine months. Wellington Pools is looking for a lifeguard who is more than 50 years old, according to an advertisement which told applicants to "forget your preconceptions of what lifeguard looks like... we want people from all stages of life". But the team behind the seniors at work website says with 7000 registered jobseekers over the age of 50, they need many more opportunities like this to match the spike in people looking. Seniors at Work Founder Ian Fraser said the general slow down in recruitment increasingly impacts older workers. Fraser told Checkpoint they were getting between 50 and 100 new people signing up to the site every day. "It's definitely gone up and I have to say unfortunately, that in the last especially six to nine months, I've had more and more job seekers who are struggling, contact me and ask for assistance and advice." He said the increase was a huge jump from what they were seeing just over nine months ago. "That figure has gone up probably at least 50 percent." Fraser said the tough economic climate was making it incredibly tough for older jobseekers, and while the same issues were also affecting young people looking for work, unemployment has different implications as people aged. "Let's not forget the 50 and overs who are also struggling and they've got to put food on the table.... they've got mortgages, their health costs are increasing... it really is hard for older job seekers to find work at the moment." While New Zealand's ageing population was contributing to the issue, Fraser said the economic environment was having a bigger impact on the issue. "We're fitter, healthier, we're living longer. So we either want to work or we need to work. "There are a lot more people in the older age brackets that are working now than there were 20 years ago. The number has gone up quite drastically, but there are still an awful lot out there that are really looking for work and need to work." Fraser said misconceptions about older workers - which often were not true - often hindered their ability to get a job. "A lot of people say [older people] are not tech savvy, that comes up all the time... whilst it might be fair to say that some people struggle, a lot don't struggle." As for those who were struggling to keep up with changes in the workforce, Fraser said there were easy fixes. "If you get an opportunity to do some retraining, take that opportunity. Don't ever ignore it. And even if you're not working, there are courses out there that are generally free and if you see one of those and you might be lacking in a certain skill do take advantage of that." Currently the site has about 80 different job listings, which includes about 10 employers who are actively seeking older workers. "They've got jobs that are listed where they are openly encouraging and welcoming older people to apply for those jobs, and there's some fantastic brands in that lot. "So there are opportunities out there and there are companies and employers that want to encourage older workers and are very, very supportive." Fraser said the company would love to welcome more employers to assist in helping get more seniors back into work. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Older jobseekers struggling to find employment
Wellington Pools is looking for a lifeguard over 50 years old according to an advertisement, which told applicants "forget your preconceptions of what lifeguard looks want people from all stages of life." But a job site for older workers looking for jobs said with 7000 registered jobseekers over the age of 50, they need more opportunities like this to match the spike in people looking. The team behind the seniors at work website say they have noticed more and more older workers have been struggling over the last nine months and a slow down in recruitment generally especially impacts them. Seniors at Work Founder Ian Fraser spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
All go for global firm's new NZ chairman
Christchurch will remain home for Ian Fraser who has just taken on the chairmanship of GHD, a company with 12,000 employees and turning over $3-plus billion. PHOTO: SUPPLIED New GHD global chairman Ian Fraser will likely spend 100 days away from his Christchurch home over the next year. That is nothing new for the first Kiwi head of the global design, engineering and environmental services company. Earlier this month, he took over the responsibility of leading the governance for a business with a workforce of 12,000 employees, many of them shareholders, and turning over more than $3 billion. Returning from the Philippines only last Saturday, he accepts long-haul flights come with the territory. "In the last few years, it would be in excess of 100 days away a year. That is the reality of the job and it is important for us to remain connected with the business and the owners across the world so that I can hear what they need and what their clients are needing." From experience, he's learnt to travel lightly, avoiding check-in luggage. Christchurch will continue to remain home for him and his family. Unlike many companies, GHD is without a central headquarters and its staff work in more than 160 offices on five continents, while the executive team and board members live and work around the world. "We have a virtual leadership team and a virtual board and always have had this — so as long as people are prepared to work the clock a little bit for the different time zones you can typically live where it is best for you in one of our major offices around the world. We have 140 people here in Christchurch now, so it's quite a decent-sized office for GHD. It's a good lifestyle here. We see the value in people working together in offices, but our executives are typically very mobile, having to travel a lot as part of our jobs. Hence having a home base where you have got your family and extended friends is a really strong thing for when you come home." GHD can be found operating internationally in water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Established in 1928, it delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services to public and private sector clients. More locally, it is among one of three consortiums shortlisted for the tender design for the next stage of the Ara Tūhono project extending the Northern Motorway (SH1) in the upper north. Other work includes supporting local governments' water and transport infrastructure needs and building projects for Corrections and the Ministry of Education among others. Before the new role, Mr Fraser was chief executive of GHD's Australia, Asia and Pacific operations for three years. He started with the company just over 10 years ago, initially managing its New Zealand business and then joining the executive leadership team. That led to him being a board member for the past two years. The transition from former chairman Canberra-based Rob Knott to him has been in the offing for a year. "I worked closely with Rob for 10 years and he's retired, so it's been a planned succession and I've been in a succession handover period for the last year and have had a great apprenticeship. He was a great leader and left big shoes to fill." Ahead of him is the task of running the board and working with executive leaders to seamlessly develop and drive the long-term strategy of the business. Ultimately, he was accountable to the shareholding to make sure the business continued to thrive, he said. GHD is owned by just over a quarter of its 12,000-odd employees. "There's not many large, privately held professional services companies in the world now. About 27% of our employees are shareholders and they receive a dividend for their investment and are the only people with a stake in the company. It enables the company to be self-determined because there's no third-party investors influencing our strategy and it's really managed by us, for us and for our clients." The breadth of its business was diverse, he said. "We like to call ourselves a professional services company now because we definitely do quite a lot of up-front business advisory work right through to engineering design and construction supervision and we are a full services company. Predominantly, we are involved with the built environment in roads, water, buildings and energy infrastructure." Gross revenue for the 2024 financial year of about $3.1b was up on previous years and another good result was likely. "Continued growth in transport, energy and water infrastructure is needed around the world from continuing urbanisation. The growth has slowed a little bit this year, but those fundamentals of a growing population around the world will need good-quality infrastructure." After graduating from the University of Auckland as a geologist, Mr Fraser spent more than 30 years in environmental and engineering consulting, previously living and working in the United States, and working on projects throughout the Pacific, Southeast Asia, South America and Mexico. In northern Mexico's Saltillo, he worked for several months, on and off, preparing plans for a much-needed upgrade of the drinking water system. Another early project was the Tiwi geothermal field in the Philippines in 1992 and his connection with the nation's development has remained strong following many visits since. Closer to home, he's been involved with the environmental assessment and cleanup of many contaminated sites in New Zealand, including industrial properties and petrol stations. About 20 years ago he moved towards leading teams, challenging himself to keep learning which has evolved to the next governance chapter. He said it was an immense honour to take over as chairman, particularly as the first to hold the position from New Zealand. "We have got a very strong leadership team and a great CEO in Jim Giannopoulos in Melbourne and I am supported by a very experienced board. The company is going to turn 100 years old in 2028, so it will be a privilege to be chair at a time when it is celebrating it centenary", Mr Fraser said. Christchurch-born of Scottish parents who migrated in 1961, he started his schooling years in North Canterbury's Hawarden. Continuing to be based in Christchurch had many advantages. The city was a great place for an international role and the time zones were good to work into the US most of the morning, he said. "And it's got an international airport you can get off to Asia and Australia pretty easily in the morning. New Zealand and New Zealanders are well respected overseas and have a lot to offer." A certain Christchurch symmetry in GHD is also not lost on him. "GHD was formed interestingly by Gordon Gutteridge, Gerald Haskins and Geoffrey Davey and Haskins was a Christchurch man who went to Australia and then joined the other two to form GHD. So it is quite a nice parallel there. Haskins' dad was the town clerk for Christchurch city, so there is a Kiwi in the H of the acronym. I love the fact Haskins was there nearly 100 years ago and now there's another Kiwi in the governance of the business."
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
GHD Announces Leadership Transition with Ian Fraser as New Chair
Transition continues GHD's model of employee ownership Former Asia Pacific CEO brings 30 years of global experience and industry service Global professional services company, GHD, has appointed Ian Fraser as Chair of its Board, effective 1 July 2025. GHD reported gross revenue for the 2024 financial year of AUD 2.9 billion. The company is fully owned by its employees, with approximately a quarter of its 12,000 people being shareholders. Ian was most recently GHD's CEO for the Asia Pacific region, leading the company's operations in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. He has more than 30 years' experience in environmental and engineering consulting. Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, he has also lived and worked in the United States, and his project experience extends across the Pacific, throughout Southeast Asia, the USA, South America, and Mexico. Ian is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a graduate of the INSEAD Advanced Management Program. He has lectured at the universities of Auckland and Canterbury, and held leadership roles in industry associations such as the New Zealand Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) and the New Zealand Association of Consulting and Engineering (ACE). Ian is also a founding signatory to the Diversity Agenda in New Zealand. 'It's an immense honour to take over as Chair as GHD approaches its centenary in 2028,' Ian says. 'I am focused on the continued evolution of our business, driven by our commitment to our clients and our investment in developing the outstanding technical capabilities of our people.' Ian succeeds Rob Knott, who is retiring after chairing the company since 2017. About GHD GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD's network of 12,000+ professionals are connected across more than 160 offices located on five continents. More info: Media Contact Company Name: GHD Contact Person: Kirill Reztsov Email: Send Email Country: Australia Website:
CBC
19-03-2025
- CBC
Organized crime is expanding into the Yukon from southern jurisdictions, report says
Organized crime is becoming more prevalent in the Yukon, as networks from B.C. and Alberta are expanding into the territory, according to a law enforcement intelligence report. "I think the Yukon is a significant market for drug consumption," said Ian Fraser, crime reduction supervisor of the Yukon RCMP crime reduction unit. "Its access over the years has increased with daily flights into Yukon from southern jurisdictions." The Criminal Intelligence Service British Columbia/Yukon, which is made up of representatives from various law enforcement services, completed the report in December 2024. It says that there are currently five organized crime networks operating in the Yukon. The report states that lost productivity associated with opioid overdose deaths and the illicit drug market is estimated to have cost $58.9 million. That's $1,273 per capita in the Yukon. Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee said she is not surprised by the report's findings. "We have been well aware of the activities, the fact that there's been movement in and out," McPhee said. "Addressing the causes and effects of organized crime in the territory will take both a strong RCMP response and working together with our partners to address the root causes of crime." Fraser said Yukon RCMP have also seized larger amounts of illicit drugs in recent years. "The amount of money and drugs we're seizing is surprising and I think that follows a trend across the country," Fraser said. "We recently had the largest seizure in Yukon history." Cocaine is the most prevalent illicit drug in the Yukon, according to the report, with an estimated 15 to 20 kilograms of cocaine being trafficked into the territory per month. Dealers entering from the south Drugs dealers are "rotating in and out of the Yukon from southern jurisdictions," said Fraser. "We call these individuals nominees, and what they're doing is they're using either threats or intimidation or financial reward or otherwise to basically take over homes and vehicles of Yukon citizens who may be vulnerable persons susceptible to those types of activities," Fraser said. Fraser suggested Yukoners who rent out their properties remain "vigilant" and make themselves aware of what to look out for. "If they have a rental property and somebody from down south with maybe a story that doesn't make sense wants to rent their property," Fraser said. "There have been some people that have had some unfortunate surprises when their guests leave and they find the remnants in their homes of what's going on there." Illicit drugs causing more harm per capita The report concludes that illicit drugs from organized crime account for more harm per capita in the Yukon than alcohol and tobacco. This data stems from another report on the economic costs of substance use by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Since more individuals drink and smoke than use illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco still cause the most harm overall. However, illicit drugs also surpassed alcohol as the leading contributor to early death in the Yukon in 2024, according to the report. Yukon NDP Leader Kate White said she is concerned that the report does not "reflect the reality of alcohol consumption in the territory." "Alcohol consumption kills more Yukoners than any other single thing," White said. "But it's not tracked in the same way because it's not so easy to identify someone that goes into the hospital with any of the side effects of alcohol. It's much easier to track if someone's coming in for an overdose reversal." According to the report, illicit drug related deaths in the Yukon have decreased since 2021, but there has been a rise in the number of emergency department visits related to overdoses. White said she views these as "success numbers." "I think that the territory as a whole has done a really good job about learning, for example, about support and prevention," White said. "The reality is overdoses are happening now and overdoses will happen in the future. But the more we can remove the stigma and the more we can tell people that they're valuable, that we want them to live, that they should access health care, is really important." John Baker is a citizen of Carcross/Tagish First Nation in the Yukon and works in community health and wellness. He sees a lot of drug use in the community. "When something like [an overdose] happens, I'm right there, and if I'm first on the scene. Then I'm on the phone with 911 right away," Baker said. Baker said his community needs better aftercare programs to help citizens who come back to the community after receiving treatment. Need for 'upstream investments' White says the report's findings outline the need for more "upstream investments" in the territory. That's investment in things like social housing, sober housing, land-based treatment options and family support. "The unfortunate truth is things like organized crime or illicit drug use or like an increased dependency on alcohol are things we see when people are missing critical things in their life, like hope," White said. The justice minister said the government has been working to provide these critical supports. "Supportive housing is key, but we have to meet people where they are," McPhee said. "Sober housing is appropriate and necessary for some individuals who are recovering, but it's not where everyone is. So we've got programs that support both." McPhee acknowledged that more work needs to be done to address the root causes of organized crime in the Yukon. "We know the RCMP is doing a great job trying to battle this organized crime and the crime that takes place here in the territory, but we also know that we have to work on providing opportunities for people and addressing root causes."
