While there has been a large focus on technical development events catering to existing members as of late, CIBSE NZ isn't letting up efforts in inspiring the next generation of building services professionals in our ever-growing industry. The CIBSE Young Engineers Network (YEN) committee in the New Zealand region has been busy with just that! With the school holidays now over and the new semester/term starting, two successful student outreach presentations were held last month.
The first of which was to a full house of students at the Auckland University of Technology where CIBSE committee members May Clancy, Jerry Zhang, and Anastasija Taranenko had the privilege of speaking about a career in the building services industry. The focus was encouraging students to consider applying to building services roles in the upcoming internship application season, as well as to join CIBSE via free student memberships. It was promising to see such a strong turn out of students interested in this industry, and a special thanks goes out to Aurecon for sponsoring the event.
Something we have come to discover is that, despite the building services sector being one the largest employers in New Zealand, it is often not until one's late university years that they discover what building services even is.
To that point, a presentation was held at Auckland Grammar School by Jerry Zhang focusing on raising awareness of the industry and advising on tertiary pathway options. The school was very pleased and has already locked in the CIBSE YEN to present at the Auckland Grammar School x St Cuthberts College careers evening next year!