Profile
“My career approach has always been to continue learning, being challenged, to be curious and to try different things. I’ve long realised that linear career paths in a single field are the exception and not the rule”
Richard Parker,
The Warehouse Group
Mark Lewis was appointed head of people and culture at Connetics in 2022. Connetics is a full-service electricity distribution contractor operating in Aotearoa New Zealand for 27 years.
Critical to meeting its long-term strategy will be enhancing the performance of Connetics and supporting the team’s wellbeing. As part of his senior leadership role, Mark leads the people function which includes operational HR, talent acquisition and management, and organisational change and development.
Describing his professional approach, Mark explains, “I balance short- and long-term needs by understanding and embracing the complexity of the system, identifying the best places to start based on what will have the biggest impact and has the broadest support.”
His current role helps ensure sufficient focus, energy and expertise is available to not only increase the size of the workforce at pace, but more importantly, support the transition of the current workforce to meet the challenges ahead. It involves reimagining how work is conceived and delivered because future success will require people to work differently in a sector that has seen limited changes to date.
“I define myself by the positive impact my work has on individuals and teams to develop in a way that supports wellbeing and enhances performance,” he says.
Mark was directly approached for the role by Connetics based on his previous success at the NZ Army, NZ Defence Force and, more recently, in the health and legal sectors.
He started in a civilian role with the NZ Army when the organisation was facing unprecedented levels of attrition, particularly for people with six to ten years of service – a situation that was causing significant operational challenges with potential further long-term consequences. An analysis of the attitudinal survey and other data pointed towards two underlying drivers: a lack of military belonging and engaged leadership. This is an organisation that prides itself on its values, a sense of whānau, and leadership ability. As part of an overall strategy, Mark’s unit was given the mission to “enhance leadership and maintain warrior ethos,” armed with the freedom and resources to learn from the best. Off the success of this work, his team was asked to work with the NZ Defence Force (which extends to the Air Force and Navy) on how they could think differently about developing leadership and better support the mental health of an individual, their team, and their whānau.
His roles in the health and legal sectors have built on this philosophy, ensuring that employers put people at the heart of everything they do, coupled with building leadership that is about teamwork, not individual success.
Mark believes the challenges he has responded to in his career are the same challenges faced by most organisations today. His view is that the solutions are already there but just need to be contextualised.
Key for him is the need to balance priorities between building for the long term while supporting the immediate needs of individuals and the organisation.
“I am always looking for new and innovative ways to tackle persistent and emerging problems,” he adds.
11 Islington Avenue, Islington, Christchurch 8042
+64 27 307 7015
Mark.M.Lewis@connetics.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/marklewisnz
connetics.co.nz
Mark Lewis
Head of People and Culture
Connetics
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Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2014-16
2016-20
2020-22
2022-present
2019-2023
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Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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2014-16
2016-20
2020-22
2022-present
2019-2023
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2022
2022-present
2020-22
2016-20
2014–16
2019–2023
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Chief HR Officer at The Warehouse Group
2019–2023
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2022–present
Human Resources Magazine | key media
HEAD OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE AT CONNETICS (ALL WAYS CONNECTING)
2022: EXCELLENCE AWARDEE IN TWO CATEGORIES AT HRDNZ AWARDS (NZ HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR AND BEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAM)
2022: FINALIST AT HRNZ AWARDS (LEADERSHIP)
2022: FINALIST AT HEADFIT AWARDS (LEADER OF THE YEAR)
2022–present
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2020–21
Human Resources Magazine | key media
2020-22: PEOPLE AND CAPABILITY MANAGER AT LANE NEAVE (NATIONAL LAW FIRM)
2021: FINALIST IN TWO CATEGORIES AT HEADFIT AWARDS (LEADER AND SMALL WORKPLACE OF THE YEAR)
2020–22
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2016–20
Human Resources Magazine | key media
2016–18: Manager, Wellbeing, Health and Safety at Canterbury District Health Board (People and Capability)
2018–20: Head of Talent, Leadership and Capability at Canterbury District Health Board (People and Capability)
2019: WINNER OF CHAMPION BUSINESS AWARDS (CHAMPION WORKPLACE)
2016–20
1997
2014–16
human resources | key media
2014–15: Chief Instructor (acting) at New Zealand Army (Army Leadership Centre)
2015: Chief of Army Commendation
2016: HIGHLY COMMENDED, INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS (WELLBEING SURVEY)
2016: FINALIST NZ WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY AWARDS (EMPLOYEE WELLBEING)
2014–16
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Milestones
2019–2023
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
“My sole goal is to continue being challenged and excited about what I do, so I feel I am growing professionally. With that approach I have found great opportunities have come along – not always when I expected them, though”
Richard Parker,
The Warehouse Group
Subsequent to Fletcher Challenge, he held senior HR roles at Spark New Zealand, where he was involved with firstly the operational and then structural separation of its retail business from its network business, which transformed the NZ telecommunications industry, and then TVNZ, New Zealand’s national television broadcaster.
Richard has extensive experience in leading significant organisational transformation, including helping TWG become the first multi-brand retailer in the world to move to fully agile ways of working, which is all about driving better customer experience and faster speed of execution. He is also focused on growing TWG’s talent density, developing future agile leaders for TWG and New Zealand, and preparing all TWG employees for the future of work.
Ultimately, Richard is passionate about empowering TWG’s team members to support the Group’s vision of making sustainable living easy and affordable for everyone.
Looking forward, he says, “My sole goal is to continue being challenged and excited about what I do, so I feel I am growing professionally. With that approach I have found great opportunities have come along – not always when I expected them, though.”
Richard holds an LLB (Hons) and MPhil (Hons) from the University of Auckland.