Expressions of interest open for ACE elections
Expressions of interest are now open for the 2026 ACE New Zealand Board and Regional Champion elections. Could you or someone in your organisation be a good fit? We want to hear from a wide range of people who can represent our membership at governance level, including senior leaders as well as those starting out on their governance journey. Anyone from […]
Insights from the ACE New Zealand SME Summit
How can we win new business in a tight market? What’s the best way to attract and retain top talent? How can we keep up with the pace of change? And how can we do more with the resources we’ve got? The ACE New Zealand SME Summit in Auckland on 13 May asked some big questions and our presenters delivered a programme grounded in practical advice, shared experience and forward thinking. A […]
‘We’re trying to be better’ Minister tells business leaders
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop outlined his vision for improving how infrastructure projects are structured when he met with ACE members in Wellington last week. He highlighted the important role consultants play in major projects and acknowledged the significant challenges the Government faces when planning and funding large-scale developments. It was clear he was focused on […]
New ACE award He Tohu Auroa recognises commitment to Te Ao Maōri
Consultancies committed to embedding Te Ao Maōri in a genuine and enduring way will be celebrated at this year’s ACE Awards. He Tohu Auroa, a new award in 2026, recognises firms that have built strong, grounded relationships with iwi and hapū, and is designed to act as a beacon for the industry. We talk to L’Rey Renata (GHD Process Water Engineer, Maori Leadership […]
Navigating the tension between immediate demands and long-term goals
For business leaders in consulting, the real challenge isn’t choosing between priorities – it’s managing the constant juggle between what needs attention right now and what will secure the future. In an industry where decisions shape communities and environments for generations, this balance is critical. We talk to the speakers at our ACE New Zealand SME Summit in Auckland next month about […]
From Athens to Aotearoa: Lessons from the FIDIC Global Leadership Forum
ACE New Zealand Chief Executive Helen Davidson returned from the FIDIC Global Leadership Forum in Athens this month with a clear message: the most confronting challenges we face today aren’t technical – they’re about leadership. She shares her learnings on leadership and how they can lead to better infrastructure outcomes in Aotearoa. Helen Davidson spoke at the FIDIC Global Leadership Summit in Athens about how ACE New Zealand uses data and benchmarking to […]
Leading people and projects through fuel market uncertainty
Volatility in fuel markets is creating real pressure for engineering and consulting businesses across Aotearoa. Rising and fluctuating costs are affecting staff, project delivery, supply chains and client relationships – often all at once. For business leaders, the challenge is not only financial. It’s about maintaining confidence, fairness and momentum while operating in an unpredictable […]
ACE members feature strongly at 2026 Beaton Client Choice Awards
ACE members are once again well represented at the 2026 Client Choice Awards, of which ACE is a proud partner. The awards recognise best practice in the professional services sector in Australia and New Zealand and are based solely on client feedback – no panels, judges or self-nominations, only client ratings that are independently researched and benchmarked by Beaton. Congratulations to the following ACE […]
What are your hopes and challenges for 2026?
What will be the main challenges for professional consulting firms this year and what do our business leaders hope will change? Following on from last year’s insightful whakaaro, we’ve asked some more ACE members to share their thoughts on the big issues and changes that could make a real impact in 2026. What do you […]
Meet our Wellington Regional Champion Rob Napier
Rob Napier is Executive Client Lead at Resolve Group and the new ACE New Zealand Regional Champion for Wellington. He aspires to be an effective connector for the regional consulting community. We asked Rob about his career and what he brings to the role. Tell us about your career I started my initial career as a Chartered Civil […]