New APPNZ head reveals plans

Earlier this week, the Association of People Professionals New Zealand (APPNZ) announced it had appointed its senior leadership team and inaugural CEO, Angela Atkins.

With an extensive career spanning both HR and learning and development, Atkins has worked at an executive level for major organisations and later co-founded her own consultancy.

HRD caught up with Atkins to find out exactly what’s in store for the relatively new association as well as the HR profession in general.

“My immediate plans are to contact both members and those working in the people professions about the programs and resources that APPNZ offers to find out what the priorities are for supporting people’s careers and skill development,” Atkins told HRD. “We are also working through getting ISO Accreditation for APPNZ’s Certification and Chartering processes.”

In the long-term, Atkins hopes APPNZ could bring some exciting developments to the industry.

“One of APPNZ’s long term strategies that I would like to make progress on is to develop formal qualifications for Learning & Development and Payroll, to recognise the complexity of these professions,” she said.

Looking forward at HR in general, Atkins said she hopes the association can help elevate the profession so those within the industry are recognised for the value they deliver.

“I would like to see HR have the same status as chartered accountants, lawyers and doctors, with legislation that regulates the profession, and means that HR people can challenge their businesses on unethical or unacceptable workplace practices,” she told HRD.

“The #MeToo and #TimesUp movement show that harassment and bullying have been rife in workplaces. HR have often had limited power to be able to deal appropriately with this and that needs to change.”