Media release
9.7.2010

Education scholarships raise professional
standards in the property sector

Raising levels of education in the commercial property sector and assisting young students to gain tertiary qualifications they would otherwise not have had access to, are two of the paramount drivers for a charitable education trust.

The Keystone New Zealand Property Education Trust - is a charitable organisation founded through the initiatives of the Property Council of New Zealand, the Property Institute of New Zealand, the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors, the New Zealand Institute of Architects and associates of the late former industry figurehead Graeme Bringans.

The Keystone Trust was formed in 1994, with the objective of ensuring that potential leaders of the industry are given practical opportunities to build successful careers in property through education and on-the-job experience funded through student grants. The Trust has supported more than 70 students since its inception. Each year, the organisation selects up to five scholarship recipients – with applications for next year’s selection process being taken shortly.

The four Keystone Trust scholarship recipients for 2010 have utilised their grants to undertake studies at a range of academic institutions and in a variety of property-related disciplines. The group features:

• Lynda Granwal - currently in her first year at The University of Auckland studying engineering, where she intends to specialise in civil environmental engineering.

Through valuable contacts made by networking with corporate supporters of the Keystone Trust, Lynda plans to undertake work experience at a civil engineering company next year.

“In addition to providing ‘front door’ access to the industry, the Keystone Trust scholarship has given me the financial support to allow me to focus solely on my tertiary studies,” Lynda said.

• Shianne May - currently studying towards a diploma in architectural design and technology at Northland Polytechnic in Whangarei.

After first being attracted toward a career in architecture, Shianne has now refocused her direction toward project management and eco’ housing. As part of her studies, Shianne has been involved in the refurbishment of the old Whangarei library and its conversion into a new arts centre – working within the historical aspects of the building.

“An important aspect of this project has been the community liaison, and implementing
that public feedback into the design requirements of the centre,” she said.

• Jordan Marr - currently studying a bachelor of surveying at The University of Otago, and hoping to eventually broaden out this scope to include a major in geography.

During the Christmas break at the end of the year, Jordan has plans to put his studies into practice – working with quantity surveyors in conjunction with Environment Bay Of Plenty.

“Receiving the Keystone Trust scholarship has placed an expectation on me to perform to the best of my ability. This expectation has in turn challenged me to achieve higher results than I previously would have settled for, and motivated me to study more consistently throughout the semester,” said Jordan.

• Carinnya Feaunati - studying architecture at Victoria University in Wellington, where she hopes to incorporate building sustainability into projects she is involved with as her studies and career evolve.

A substantial review of the ‘green’ features encompassed within Brookfield Multiplex’s Deloitte Centre in Auckland has already earned Carinnya an A+ grade for the depth of understanding she portrayed throughout the document.

Keystone Trust chairman, Paul Duffy, said the property sector in all its guises – from quantity surveyors and lawyers, through to valuers and project engineers - is an important and valuable part of the New Zealand economy.

“The rewards from seeing the first groups of Keystone scholarship recipients now progressing through various arms of the property sector are enormous. It is easy to envisage that in years to come, these recipients, and those who follow in their footsteps, will become the future leaders of New Zealand’s property companies,” Mr Duffy said.

“As an independent body with high values and ideals, the Keystone Trust is unique – being a self-sustaining industry-wide organisation with no vested interests or ulterior agendas other than to see the continued evolution of New Zealand’s property sector.”

Keystone trustee and head of Bayleys Real Estate, Mike Bayley, said that while the trust’s objective of providing students with financial support in their chosen tertiary qualification was important, the opportunity for networking through mentoring and work experience within the various commercial companies which supported the trust was equally as valuable.

“The career backgrounds and experience of the trust’s mentors and role models ensure an incredible depth of knowledge is available to scholarship recipients,” Mike Bayley said.

“The Keystone Trust is proud of the part it plays in the development of committed young people who are well on their way to becoming key resources and stakeholders in our future property industry. This maturing of the scholarship programme has already begun to feed the momentum of the Keystone Trust, and will ensure the ongoing ability to deliver the organisation’s broader objectives.”

Applications for the 2011 round of Keystone Trust scholarships open in August. Suitable candidates wishing to register can contact the organisation through its website www.keystonetrust.org.nz

Platinum supporters of the Keystone Trust include some of the heavyweights of New Zealand’s commercial property sector – including DNZ Property Group, Bayleys Real Estate, Kiwi Income Property Trust, Fletcher Construction, Westfield, Coffey Projects, Davis Langdon, ASB Property and Bell Gully. Gold supporters of the Trust include Ernst & Young, Brookfield, Mainzeal, Holmes Consulting and Rider Levett Bucknall.

As part of ongoing fund-raising activities, the Keystone Trust is holding its annual rugby luncheon in Auckland on July 9 in the lead up to the All Blacks/Springboks Tri-Nations match at Eden Park the following day. The guest list of attendees at the luncheon is expected to feature many of the big players in the Upper North Island property market.

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