As Group Director People, Zak Sutton is passionate about creating an environment where kaimahi can do their best work, feel valued, and are aware of opportunities within the organisation.
Following a varied career in public and private enterprises, including the role of Head of HR for the Office of the Auditor-General, Zak joined Emerge Aotearoa at the start of 2022.
“Emerge Aotearoa is very much a values-driven organisation, and I feel that everybody is here for the right reason,” he says. “Our kaimahi want to do great work, make valuable contributions and help people and society - that comes through strongly.”
“Our challenge is enabling a working environment that lets them do that to the best of their ability.”
Zak says Emerge Aotearoa’s values and strategic pou align with his own. He also believes that it’s important expectations between kaimahi and management are clear and well structured.
“I believe in a fair and transparent working environment,” he says. “We are trying to make it easy for people to do their best work, and it’s also about understanding that people have a life outside of work, too.”
“If everything is as harmonious as we can make it, that’s a good environment for people to thrive.”