Executives say that Keystone Trust alumni in critical roles across asset management, contract management and site engineering were the catalyst for Fulton Hogan to become the organisation’s newest sponsorship partner.
Keystone Trust provides education and career support for students working towards qualifications in Aotearoa’s property and construction sectors.
Keystone’s general manager Amanda Stanes says the trust has enjoyed a rewarding relationship with Fulton Hogan.
“We have seen how working together can change the lives of individuals, especially young people, and look forward to a richer partnership as Fulton Hogan comes onboard as our newest sponsorship partner,” Stanes says.
Under the partnership, Fulton Hogan will tailor an annual scholarship to the developmental needs of the student recipient, who will have been a successful applicant of the Keystone Trust’s scholarship programme.
Fulton Hogan’s chief operating officer – infrastructure, Simon Dyne, says the partnership is a natural progression of an existing relationship, and the two organisations have many shared values.
“We are thrilled to extend Fulton Hogan’s support of young people training to join the industry.
“There’s everything to like about the Keystone philosophy and its track record in helping capable and talented young people reach their potential in the property and construction sectors,” he says.
Dyne points to the value Keystone Trust has provided to Fulton Hogan through current team members; Adam Humphries, Rick Gardner and Maria Garcia, each of whom are previous recipients of Keystone Trust scholarship awards.
Fulton Hogan’s Australian-based New South Wales site engineer, Maria Garcia, says she is pleased the business has offered resounding support to the trust as a sponsor.
“Receiving a Key Partner Scholarship gave me a life-changing pathway into the industry – through the trust and the support of its affiliates, I gained opportunities to meet industry leaders, receive mentorship, and broaden my knowledge through workshops, site visits and networking events.
“The trust also provided me with the opportunity to undertake a summer internship with TSA Management which was a key stepping stone in my career,” Garcia says.
Fulton Hogan’s East Coast (NZ) Contracting Divisional Manager, Rick Gardner, fondly remembers his experience as a student with Keystone.
“It was bloody amazing,” he says.
“The financial input was significant, but I benefitted hugely from networking opportunities which were so valuable for an 18-year-old lad from Gisborne. Those meetings and conversations with industry professionals really opened my eyes.
“I remember the interview process so well. I had to borrow a tie from a teacher at school because I had never worn one before. There were applicants from flashier schools from Auckland and Christchurch, and I remember thinking – I don’t stand a chance here.
“But I won a Keystone Trust Study Award, which supported me while I worked at Fulton Hogan and studied to achieve a diploma in civil engineering at the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC),” he says.
For Adam Humphries, Fulton Hogan New Zealand’s national asset manager, the partnership’s true value is in supporting the next generation of talent to realise their potential within the industry.
“Capacity constraints and skill shortages have been well-documented across the building and construction sectors, and we are 100 percent behind any initiative or avenue that helps to mobilise young people and provide them with pathways into rewarding careers that benefit the industry and the broader community,” he says.
For further media enquiries, please contact
Amanda Stanes
Keystone Trust – General Manager
M: 021 689 380
E: amanda@keystonetrust.org.nz
Andrew Allison
Fulton Hogan – Strategic Communications Advisor
M: 021 810 246
E: andrew.allison@fultonhogan.com
