Board

Carol Stigley is the independent Chair of the HSI Board, first appointed in 2006. 

Carol is a professional director and consultant, with experience on a range of boards, including .nz Registry Services (Chair), Standards NZ, St James Theatre Ltd (Deputy Chair) and Wellington Institute of Technology, along with directorships on several not-for-profit organisations. She has been closely involved in the Institute of Directors, serving on the Wellington Committee and the National Council. Carol’s earlier executive roles include Chief Executive of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and then of Local Government New Zealand.

Carol brings an external perspective to the organisation as it seeks to achieve its vision of industry embracing HSI-led training.  “The industry’s need for qualifications, training and professionalism has never been greater if we are to increase productivity and business viability in meeting the requirements of increasingly discerning hospitality consumers. This is important as a contribution to New Zealand’s tourism earnings, but quality and excellence are rightly sought by the everyday consumers of the sector’s products and services - whether workers, students, hospital patients, or diners and guests - and whether in hotels or hostels, retirement homes or five star resorts.

My job is to lead the Board in creating the strategic drive and direction for the organisation in its mission of growing New Zealand hospitality talent.”

Alastair Duncan is the nominee of the Service and Food Workers Union to represent the interests of hospitality workers on the HSI Board and has served in that capacity since 1994.

Alastair's early experiences as a kitchenhand and his later union work as an advocate in the sector, ensure the Board is mindful of the needs to ensure industry training is available to all levels in the workforce.

"I want to see more understanding by employers of the link between qualifications and pay, as well as a greater commitment by the sector to value prior learning and industry contribution by both frontline and behind the scenes staff. As New Zealand moves increasingly towards a service based economy we need to respect and value the work of all staff and put and end to a culture of long hours for low pay. The beauty and attractions of New Zealand speaks for themselves, but let's not compromise that with sub standard training or pay".

Appointed by the HSI Board in 2007 to provide hospitality management experience and insights, Maryann has since 1995 held senior positions with Skyline Enterprises Ltd, based in Queenstown;  iInitially Manager Human Resources and Quality, Maryann took up the role of Operations Manager in 2003. Skyline Enterprises, one of New Zealand’s leading tourism and hospitality companies, operates five properties in Queenstown, Rotorua, Dunedin and Canada.

Maryann has had a close involvement in hospitality and human resource issues at both national and international level. She has been a director of Tourism Industry Association of NZ from 1998 to 2001 and deputy chair from 2001 to 2005; other roles have included Director Southland Otago Employers’ Assn 1998 – 2003, Director Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation 1999 – 2003, along with involvement in a number of industry committees. In 2001 Maryann represented NZ’s Tourism and Hospitality Industries at ILO tripartite negotiations in Geneva.

Maryann has a particular interest in the development of management capabilities, retention and performance management issues as they impact on hospitality operations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and G.Dip Business Studies (dispute resolution), has been an active workplace trainer and assessor since 1999, and as part of Skyline has won several HSI Excellence in Training Awards.

Director of Human Resources
Accor Hospitality – New Zealand & Fiji

Graeme has served on the Board as the nominee of the NZ Hotel Council since 2008.

After working in the food manufacturing industry and undertaking aligned tertiary studies, Graeme commenced in hospitality gaining qualifications in cookery and restaurant service.  

Involved with industry training from 1980 initially as a part time tutor at Waikato Technical Institute (Wintec), Graeme joined HCITB (now HSI) as Training Advisor for the Central North Island area.  Joining SPHC in 1985, initially as Training Manager for New Zealand and Fiji, he worked for 12 years in Regional Human Resources roles in New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia. He returned to New Zealand to set up Human Resources for Dynasty Hotels (now Heritage Hotels).

Since 1999 Graeme has been Regional Human Resources Manager now Director of Human Resources for Accor’s hotels in New Zealand and the South Pacific.  Responsibilities include the planning and implementation of Accor’s global and regional strategic HR initiatives in: employee attraction, recruitment and retention; employee orientation and skills training; learning and career development for supervisors and managers; attraction and development of next generation talent; maintaining employment and industry relationships; risk management, compliance and sustainable development; and personnel practices. 

Bruce has been the nominee of HANZ as the Liquor representative on the HSI Board since 1995 and was part of the team which led the restructuring of the Hotel Industry Training Board to its current form, the Hospitality Standards Institute. Bruce was Chairman for five years from 1997 to 2002 and is currently serving as Deputy Chair. Bruce has a strong commitment to industry training believing that training is a key ingredient to improve business productivity and profitability.

He has been Chief Executive of the Hospitality Association since 1995. The Hospitality Association represents over 2,300 members operating in the hospitality industry.The Association provides a wide range of services and benefits ranging from extensive employment and liquor licensing advice to significant buying benefits. Lobbying government at local and national level is a high priority on all issues impacting on the business of hospitality.

In 2005 Bruce was elected to the Board of the Industry Training Federation, which represents the collective interests of all Industry Training Organisations.

Warren Bias is the new Cookery Representative on the HSI Board. He has extensive experience in the hotel industry, and has worked for SKYCITY for 15 years. He was the Group Executive Chef for 12 years, and took the opportunity to become Food and Beverage Manager SKYCITY, a position he held for two years.  Warren is now Executive Manager Conventions and Outcatering, which includes the Auckland International and Domestic Koru Lounges. He leads a team of more than 60 full time equivalent roles.   

Prior to joining SKYCITY, Warren and his family lived in the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef, where Warren was the Executive Chef on Daydream Island Resort for 18 months.

“The wealth of experience Warren brings, and his strong comitment to training, will benefit both the HSI board and the industry, so we are looking forward to his input. He will certainly be a great boost to us in developing and promoting national qualifications,” Ms Stigley said, "both work-based and those provided by polytechnics and private training providers."

Warren took up his Board appointment in May. He will continue to chair the Cooking Sector Committee, which he has been a part of since it was first established.

Cherie Freeman is the Provider Representative (polytechs, schools and private trainers) on the HSI Board. Cherie is  the head of hospitality at Wellington Institute of Technology (Weltec) after moving from the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).  Cherie has extensive experience in the hotel industry, and is also active in a range of hospitality competitions, notably as a judge of Front of House events, where she is one of the few people holding a Level 5 Front of House judging qualification.