Gender Equity & Representation
Girl Boss
Paving the way to a cleaner and brighter future requires us to demonstrate leadership and challenge the status quo.
One way we do this is through our collaboration with GirlBoss New Zealand, which includes the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards. These awards celebrate remarkable young wāhine who embody exceptional leadership, defy stereotypes, and ignite positive change as trailblazers within their communities. Through their passion, determination, and innovative spirit, these GirlBosses exemplify the values we hold dear – a commitment to progress, sustainability, and prosperity. We are proud to be part of empowering these exceptional leaders who will undoubtedly be at the forefront of Canterbury’s bright future.
Gender Equity
As a leading player in the electrical sector, Connetics is deeply invested in addressing this issue. Our 2022 collaboration with The Female Career revealed a significant gender pay gap of 14.4% (base salary), and while this reduced slightly in 2023, we know we must do better.
The energy industry is undergoing a transformative period, driven by the urgent need to decarbonise the economy. This shift towards low-emission solutions presents both opportunities and challenges, and we know that tomorrow’s workforce will need to look very different to what it’s looked like in the past.
Connetics is committed to increasing female representation, particularly in trade and leadership roles. Reducing our gender pay gap is a strategic action in our 2025 business plan, and our 2030 strategy sets out Connetics commitment to having an engaged, welcoming, supportive, inclusive high-performance culture.
By focusing on early career opportunities and providing pathways for advancement, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
Here at Connetics, we are
- Supporting 30% of our women to participate in the Orion Group Women in Leadership programme – He Puna Manawa
- Developing and implementing a new parental leave policy
- Implementing a new process to remove unconscious bias within our recruitment process
- Establishing a guide for managers setting remuneration to remove unconscious bias
Closing the gender pay gap isn't just about fairness—it's about building a stronger, more resilient workforce and driving innovation. As Connetics leads the charge toward delivering sustainable energy solutions, it's imperative that every individual, regardless of gender, has an equal opportunity to contribute through a purposeful and rewarding career.
Inclusion & Culture
LGBTQIA+
We firmly believe that everyone has the right to be their true selves every day, and actively foster and encourage a culture where our people feel a sense of inclusion and belonging.
Aside from partnering with Orion to celebrate PRIDE and other LQBTQIA+ activities (including celebrations, workshops, and panels), we’re working to embed deeper inclusive behaviours with our recently updated Ways of Working framework. Ara Taumata (Our Ways of Working) includes concepts of empathy and respect woven throughout, which influences everything from our recruitment to our people’s development and reviews.
Kaimahi Māori
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri a muri ake nei [For us, and our children after us]
To us, this iconic Ngāi Tahu whakataukī outlines the importance of working with local tāngata whenua to build meaningful and enduring relationships.
We are committed to deepening our understanding of te ao Māori and tikanga Māori and partnering with tangata whenua.
We’re proud to support and be involved with CCHL’s He Huanui Māori Pathways programme, which is designed to help embed Te Ao Māori, Tikanga Māori, Mātauranga Māori and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the CCHL Group.
