Reflecting on a Transformative Year – HERA’s FY25 AGM

HERA’s AGM was held last week and celebrated the achievements of our mahi across FY25. 

Last week, we welcomed several members to our Annual General Meeting to reflect on a year of significant progress, bold thinking, and collective resilience. FY25 was a year that tested our industry. The slowdown in construction activity and reduced steel demand presented real challenges across the sector. While the environment was tough, our focus remained on supporting the heavy engineering community with practical solutions, long-term vision, and new opportunities to grow and adapt.

Thanks to the foresight of our previous levy increase, and the strength of diversified income from training, grants, and consulting, we were able to not only meet our objectives but also invest in new areas that will shape the future of our industry.

Our research programmes made strong strides across sustainability, seismic, structural fire, AI for quality systems and construction 4.0. Amongst our many research achievements, we released new national guidance for low-carbon circular design in low-rise buildings and launched tools to support more sustainable steel specification. Our seismic research contributed to updated weld sizing criteria now reflected in the draft NZS 3404:2024.

We also advanced infrastructure research through our railway bridge standardisation programme and expanded into automation and robotics via international partnerships. Our investments in AI and structural fire showed promising potential to greatly support our industry.

Keith Smith Memorial Award 2025: Honouring Wayne Carson

This year, we were proud to present the Keith Smith Memorial Award to Wayne Carson, Managing Director of D&H Steel.

The award recognises Wayne’s long-standing contribution to the steel industry, and the leadership he has shown through his work with D&H, HERA, SCNZ and across the sector. Known for his practical thinking, passion for steel, and commitment to lifting standards, Wayne has helped shape the future of our industry in meaningful and lasting ways.

“Steel gets in your veins. It’s iron in the blood. Once it’s in your blood, it’s hard to shake.” – Wayne Carson

Board updates

At this year’s AGM, we re-elected four Board members: Brendan Smith (Steel & Tube),  David Moore (Grayson Engineering), Malcolm Hammond (MJH Engineering), and Wayne Carson (D&H Steel Construction). Darren O’Riley (SCNZ) was newly elected.

We also re-appointed three co-opted members to further broaden the depth of perspectives around the table: Bradley Luke (PeddleThorp), Sally Henderson (Farra Engineering), and Raed El Sarraf (WSP).

We extend our sincere thanks to all our Board members for their ongoing support, leadership, and commitment to our mahi.

CEO outlook

Moving forward, in the coming 12 months, HERA will have the following key focuses: 

Ngā mihi to our tribe of engaged metalminds that continued to support us through FY25.