Welcome to BRANZ Incorporated
Welcome to the website of BRANZ Incorporated. This page describes the role of BRANZ Incorporated as the Incorporated Society of the BRANZ Group of businesses. If you have any enquiries about BRANZ Incorporated or the content of this website, please contact research@branz.org.nz
About BRANZ Incorporated
BRANZ Incorporated is an investor in industry good research and knowledge transfer to the wider building and construction industry. It is the steward of the Building Research Levy and aims to ensure the industry gets the greatest benefit possible from the Levy investment.
The 1969 Building Research Act sets out the primary legal framework around the activities of BRANZ Incorporated and its investment of Building Research Levy.
We undertake research addressing current and emerging challenges of our built environment. Our portfolio consists of activities by BRANZ science teams, and external research agancies, to unlock new knowledge and make it accessable and actionable. We invest in assets to support this research. For more on our portfolio, click here.
Building Research Advisory Council (BRAC)
The Building Research Advisory Council plays a vital role in ensuring BRANZ\'s accountability and responsiveness to the New Zealand building and construction industry.
The Council is made up of representatives from the building, engineering, architecture, contracting, and property management industries; central and local government; and the wider business sector. Industry bodies nominate most members of the Council.
It elects the BRANZ Board, advises on issues affecting the industry, and influences development of the BRANZ portfolio.
BRANZ Ltd
BRANZ Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of BRANZ Inc. It is an independent and impartial research, testing, consulting and information company providing services and resources for the building industry.
Its two main areas of activity are to carry out industry-good research and knowledge dissemination and to conduct consultancy services. BRANZ Ltd aims to apply BRANZ’s industry-leading expertise to produce actionable, accessible knowledge for the industry. It also aims to develop enduring relationships with its commercial clients to help them achieve benefits over the long term.
It conducts research and investigates the design and construction of buildings that impact the built environment in New Zealand. It also enables the dissemination of knowledge from the research community to practitioners in the building and construction industry.
Its science and research are aimed at understanding how buildings work, and what needs to improve so that the industry can deliver better performing, better value buildings. Much of its work feeds into the Building Code and standards, or into changes in industry practice.
BRANZ Structure & Governance
BRACBuilding Research Advisory Council
19 representatives from 14 organisations
Elects
BRANZ Board
Hover over photo to view short profile
- Dr Helen Anderson
Dr Helen Anderson, Chair, was appointed Deputy Chair in 2011 during her first year on the Board. She is an independent director of several organisations and a former Chief Executive of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.
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Nigel Smith joined the BRANZ Board in November 2019. He has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry in New Zealand. He manages a New Zealand franchise building company, has served on the local executive of the Ashburton RMBA, and is currently a Director/Trustee of Construction Health and Safety in New Zealand, as well as a Director of the Registered Master Builders Association.
- Alan Bickers
Alan Bickers comes to BRANZ with substantial experience in the management and governance of construction industry and local government organisations. He was the formative Chair of the Building Practitioners Board and has served on the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board along with being a member of the Standards Council.
- Stephen Titter
Stephen Titter combines many years of practical financial and investment experience. Formerly a senior partner and Board member for Ernst & Young, he currently holds a number of independent Directorships including the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.
- Lesley Haines
Lesley Haines is a former Deputy Chief Executive of the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment with an extensive public sector and client focus background. Lesley is also currently a Board Member at IPANZ.
- Pamela Bell
Pamela Bell joined the BRANZ Board in October 2017. She is a consultant for innovation and the former Chief Executive of PrefabNZ Incorporated.
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John Brockies joined the BRANZ Board in August 2019 with over 20 years’ experience as CEO and COO of large infrastructure organisations across the private and public sectors . He is an independent director of several companies.
Appoints
CEO
- Fire
- Structures
- Material Performance
- Sustainability and Resilience
- Code and Standards Research
- Economics
- Knowledge Transfer
- Innovation CIL, Homestar, STIC
Investment of Building Research Levy
BRANZ Inc invests Building Research Levy in a wide range of initiatives, developing innovative solutions and supporting the education and development of the building profession. These in turn help the building industry deliver better buildings for New Zealanders.
Annual Review
Under the 1969 Act BRANZ Incorporated reports to the Minister of Science and Innovation on an annual basis about its activities. This includes the activities of all BRANZ Group and its subsidiaries including BRANZ Ltd.
The BRANZ Inc Board
BRANZ Inc is overseen by a board of up to eight people with significant building and construction, science and business expertise. The Board members of BRANZ Inc are also the Board members of BRANZ Ltd, but have clearly delineated responsibilities and the Board meetings are held separately.
Master Services Agreement
Important details about relationships within the BRANZ Group are set out in a Master Services Agreement between BRANZ Inc and BRANZ Ltd.
Accessing BRANZ Inc. Research and Information
Research and information funded by BRANZ Inc can be found on the www.branz.co.nz website which is maintained as a single access point for industry and stakeholders.