Following a selection process, the WDC team is delighted to announce that there are 12 Design Group members and 35 Reference Group members that have been appointed to the design process.

Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) will be an integral part of the new vocational education system, helping industry to take a lead in making New Zealand’s workforce fit for today and the future. The design process is instrumental to WDCs as it involves developing the operating model design requirements as well as other recommendations to inform WDC establishment.

The Design Group and the Reference Group contribute to different parts of the design process. The Design Group, consisting of skills based participants and subject matter experts, will create initial design options. The Reference Group, consisting of a wide group of stakeholders including currently underserved learner groups, employers, industry representatives, unions, providers and senior leaders, will test and refine the Design Group’s initial design options to ensure they are fit for purpose.

"We are delighted to have attracted and engaged a strong balance of skills and experience in each of the teams. The calibre of applicants was very high and it was difficult to shortlist and select the final candidates," WDC Lead Jane Duncan says.

"Our selection process has achieved a good mix of stakeholders. The successful candidates are future-focused thinkers, good communicators, innovative and visionary, and collaborative in their mind-set."

The first Design Group meeting is on 26 March and the first Reference Group meeting is on 30 April. It is expected the design process will run through until September 2020.

Bio details of the Design Group and Reference Group will be released on the TEC website over the next week. Keep an eye on the TEC website for more information on the design process and the upcoming Establishment Working Groups, the next key stage of the WDC establishment process.