ACCREDITED MEMBERS
The road to HRNZ accreditation
Human Resources magazine caught up with Jackson Barber and Emma Bennett, to ask about their careers, their paths to HRNZ accreditation and their thoughts about the role of HR in Aotearoa New Zealand today.
What have been your career highlights to date? Three experiences stand out for me so far in my career: 1) Along with my team, growing the Ministry of Education’s summer internship programme from fewer than 10 to more than 35 in two years and turning it into an award-winning programme. Seeing that many diverse young people get their first opportunity in a professional setting has been the most fulfilling experience in my career to date; 2) Serving as the Branch President of the Wellington HRNZ Branch for eight months, leading a great committee to deliver some fantastic events; and 3) Something I am doing right now, which is moving to Kuala Lumpur as part of a rotation programme with PwC to learn more about the workforce services we deliver in South East Asia.
12 HUMAN RESOURCES | SUMMER 2023/24
What inspires and motivates you in your career and why? My inspiration is derived from seeing others achieve their potential, and I get motivated by opportunities to empower people within the workplace. That’s why I initially pursued a career in HR. I believe we are in a unique position to positively influence people’s experiences at work no matter what part of the employee lifecycle we work in. How has HRNZ membership helped your career? Both of my jobs thus far in my career have been the result of
Jackson Barber connections I have made via my HRNZ membership. The ability to meet people within the profession, learn new skills and stay on top of industry trends has immensely benefitted me in my career. Being an HRNZ branch president and committee member has also taught me leadership and governance skills, which I continue to see the benefit of in my day-to-day career. Please describe your journey towards becoming a Distinguished Fellow. How was the experience? I’ve been a member of HRNZ since 2018, beginning as a student ambassador at Victoria University of Wellington. Through that opportunity I was able to be part of the Branch Committee, which I stayed connected with until I became President of the Branch in 2022, which I maintained for eight months. Earlier this year, I completed my Emerging Professional Membership with HRNZ, which has been a chance to demonstrate my commitment to the profession and my credibility in the field.
