Entries open for two $10,000 NZIOB scholarships

Entries open for two $10,000 NZIOB Charitable Trust scholarships

The New Zealand Institute of Building Charitable Trust (NZIOB Charitable Trust) today announced that it is again offering two scholarships, each to the value of $10,000. The scholarships, which were first offered in 2017, recognise, encourage and financially support recipients from a trade, technical or professional role, who are proposing to pursue a project linked to building through research, practice or professional development.

Gina Jones, NZIOB Charitable Trust Chair, said “These scholarships were established to encourage aspirational thinking that has the potential to increase the building industry’s performance and we are particularly interested in applications from those in industry and training, who have a project that will introduce improvements to the industry.

“We’re looking for applicants with a project that has the potential to advance some aspect of design, construction or management of buildings in New Zealand, and thereby enhance the quality of our built environment.”

The successful recipients will be chosen by a panel comprising three NZIOB past-presidents, with winners to be announced at the NZIOB’s New Zealand Building Industry Awards gala evening on Friday, 24 August at the Cordis Hotel, Auckland.

To be eligible, applicants must be New Zealand residents or citizens, actively involved in the building and construction industry, and be available for an interview with the selection panel if required. A copy of the Rules and Instructions to applicants is available online, see: www.nziobcharitabletrust.org.nz/awards . Entries close at 5.00pm on 30 June 2018.

The inaugural NZIOB Charitable Trust scholarship recipients were Gerard (Ged) Finch, a post-graduate student from the School of Architecture and Design at Victoria University of Wellington and Professor Robyn Phipps from Massey University, Auckland.

Ged says the scholarship transformed his research into the potential for prefabricated construction to eliminate building and construction waste, attracting interest from both academic and industry bodies.

“Winning this scholarship was a vital step and huge motivator to push the research to the next stage and has literally changed my career path,” Ged Finch said.

The NZIOB Charitable Trust wants to offer these scholarships annually and has an active fundraising programme underway to raise funds so the $20,000 scholarship grants are paid from earnings rather than from capital.

“Our challenge is to create a significant fund through standout events. To this end, on Friday the 15th of June, the day before France’s Les Bleus play the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium, we’ve organised a fundraising luncheon with Sir John Kirwan, known throughout New Zealand and the rugby world as JK, at Mac’s Brewbar,” Gina Jones said.

ENDS

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