By Debbie Wickliffe, New Zealand Women in Roofing (NZWiR).

With a letter from their committee chair, the New Zealand Women in Roofing (NZWiR) prepare to move forward.

Greetings to all our members, sponsors and supporters, as this is our first newsletter since the new board has been established I thought I would introduce myself and the board members. My name is Debbie Wickliffe and I have taken on the position of chair of NZWiR, alongside me I am very lucky to have a great team of dedicated, talented and amazing women that make up the committee.

Vice chair: Olivia Larson
Secretary: Levern Thomas
Treasurer: Marina Ralph
Assistant treasurer: Sophia Kahakura
Other current members: Liz Watson, Marcia Hintz, Rebekah Fraser, Genia Znarok and Deborah Brown

Previous members Jenny Maxwell and Jade Thomas have been appointed as the Board Advisors for the 2023 – 2024 term.

We are all excited to be part of this organization and we are committed to continuing the great work that has already been done by the previous committee. NZWiR aims to support and empower women in the industry by providing networking opportunities, professional development, mentoring, recruitment and education.

One of our key objectives for the year is to increase membership and create more opportunities and offerings for our members to engage in.

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and supporters who help us to make these initiatives possible. We encourage all members to spread the word about NZWiR and invite other women in the industry to join us.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to working with you and growing our organization.

By Adam Cabrera. 

An organization working to pave the way for women in the traditionally male-dominated industry. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips, Heidi J. Ellsworth takes a trip across the globe to speak with Jenny Maxwell, chairperson of New Zealand Women in Roofing (NZWiR). A unique organization in the male-dominated roofing industry of New Zealand, the organization provides opportunities and support for women in this sector. Together, Heidi and Jenny discuss the role and impact of NZWiR as well as what the future has in store for it. 

Jenny, who started a roofing company with her husband in 2009, has been leading the Roofing Association of New Zealand since 2020. "I was approached to put my hand up and looked to actually go on to the executive, which I did in 2016. So here I am, all those years later, and just about to go into another two-year term as president," she says. 

The idea of NZWiR was inspired by Jenny’s visit to the National Women in Roofing Day event in the U.S. It sparked a passion in her to foster a similar supportive network for women in the roofing industry in New Zealand. "It really made me passionate. It really stirred something in me," Jenny says. Despite New Zealand's small size and the isolation many in the industry might feel, Jenny believes that the NZWiR has the potential to bring people together. 

To further encourage women in the industry, NZWiR introduced a scholarship for first-time attendees to the Roofing Association of New Zealand’s annual conference, providing them an opportunity to see the industry as a whole. Along with this, they're launching a new scholarship this November for a leadership and adventure course called Outward Bound, promoting both personal and professional growth. 

The NZWiR follows the four pillars of recruiting, mentoring, education and networking, similar to its U.S. counterpart. Jenny’s vision and the initiatives of NZWiR not only seek to empower women in the roofing industry but also significantly contribute to the industry's growth and development in New Zealand. 

Listen to the podcast to hear more about NZWiR and what the organization is doing to change their industry for the better.