Kerry Watkins was raised on a Waikato dairy farm and enjoyed the lifestyle but wanted a mix of practical hands-on work and professional life. That led him to civil construction, which he says has been ‘seriously rewarding’.
He has held roles within small to medium civil construction companies, through to large-scale Tier 1 organisations, including Fulton Hogan, where he is currently the Regional Manager for the company’s Waikato region.
“I just really like contracting,” says Kerry.
“I like the ability to build something, to have something to show for your efforts at the end of the job, and bring complex civil projects together that others can’t visualise. You can turn a design into a special piece of infrastructure that can improve people’s lives.”
After joining the CCNZ Waikato Branch Executive Committee around ten years ago, he sees a role on the CCNZ Executive Council as a chance to give something back to the industry, while representing regional contractors.
He is currently Vice Chair of the CCNZ Waikato Branch and says he has particularly enjoyed working with the Branch Chair and the Waikato branch executive to deliver and grow significant events like the CCNZ Waikato Branch Hynds Construction Awards and CCNZ Waikato Branch CablePrice Regional Excavator Operator Competition.
“I’m passionate about the industry and its success. Sharing knowledge and maintaining high standards are areas I’m passionate about. This is a great opportunity to represent Fulton Hogan and the Waikato on the CCNZ Executive Council and contribute further to the industry.”
He says while he is drawn to the construction space, a range of construction, surfacing, maintenance and quarrying experience has given him a good grounding, exposure to numerous contract models, and a broad perspective and ability to lead large multi-discipline teams.
Managing a large civil business is complex, says Kerry. Balancing operational performance, business growth, and strategic direction is an exciting challenge. But it all comes back to the people, keeping them motivated and safe – you need a great team to achieve great results.