Skip to main content

Our Board

FMANZ was incorporated in 2008 by a group of facilities managers who recognised the importance of excellence and professionalism, and identified a need for knowledge sharing and education to advance the profession. Continuing this legacy, our elected board members volunteer their time to guide and shape FMANZ’s policies and direction.

Learn More

Bruce is the manager of the planning and advisory team within the Government Property Group (GPG) at the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment. GPG helps deliver the property functional leader responsibilities for government across 67 crown agencies. GPG is responsible for delivering the Government Workplace Strategy, as well as setting standards and guidelines and providing property advice.

Bruce was elected to the FMANZ Board in 2015 and has been Chair since October 2016. He is a Certified Member of FMANZ (CFMANZ).

Agnes McCormack, MFMANZ

Deputy Chair

Learn More

Agnes has over 20 years’ experience in asset and facilities management across the public and not-for-profit sectors in the UK and NZ. Her experience covers a vast portfolio of assets across both the built and open space from beaches, regional parks, sports fields, urban forests, playgrounds, modern high-density office accommodation, high use community spaces, housing and complex aquatic centres. Agnes has successfully mobilised significant contracts (circa $145M) for Full Facility Maintenance, arboriculture, ecological restoration and numerous technical contracts. Agnes is NEBOSH qualified with a keen interest in compliance and health, safety and wellbeing.

Elected to the FMANZ Board in August 2017, Agnes is eager to continue for another term to support the organisation in its advances in education, continued professional development, advocacy and growing the FMANZ whanau.

Agnes is passionate about our growing industry which globally touches every aspect of business and she is acutely aware that the industry has to adapt to the evolving needs of businesses as they navigate the new normal. Agnes’s motivation is to increase recognition of FM in the wider business world as we keep the cogs moving so they can focus on the job at hand.

Agnes is a Member of FMANZ (MFMANZ).

Ross Brunton, CFMANZ

Learn More

Since starting out in FM in the mid 1990’s, Ross has been involved in many sectors of the industry as a facilities manager. This includes large defence sites, as a consultant providing FM to local government and a national telecommunications provider, and developing condition assessments and maintenance planning for education organisations.

Ross currently manages capital and operational projects for buildings and grounds at multiple power transmission sites across the upper North Island. This involves long term maintenance planning, scope development, procurement and contractor management. This role requires high levels of Health and Safety, quality and practical solutions to building and associated projects. Ross also provides mentorship in Facilities Management and consultancy services.

A member of FMANZ for over 10 years, Ross has been keenly involved at branch level and helped to establish the Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch.

Ross was elected to the FMANZ Board in October 2019.

Learn More

Managing director at Cushman & Wakefield, Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality/facility services and facilities management industries in the UK and New Zealand.

His general management capabilities and drive for excellence in service delivery means customers receive a focused and effective range of services. A specialist in the government sector, with PPP (public-private partnerships) and corporate account experience, Paul is focused on team development and advancing the industry in New Zealand to be more partnership driven.

Paul was elected to the FMANZ Board in October 2019. Paul is a Certified Member of FMANZ (CFMANZ).

Chris Patchett

Learn More

Chris started out in facilities management in the late 1990s within New Zealand Rail, in a role that covered both building and machine maintenance. He was involved in setting up the asset management system for all NZR workshops and in project management of new buildings.

In the mid-2000s, Chris moved to an FM role in the education sector at Otago Polytechnic before moving to his current FM role at Otago Museum in 2018.

“I have a passion for growing staff around me; I believe it’s my role to help staff grow and upskill in their roles. I think being a member of FMANZ helps with the upskilling through networking with other FMs and keeping up to date with current trends.”

Chris has been a member of FMANZ since 2019 and has been on the Otago branch committee for the past 18 months.

Sam Pohiva, MFMANZ

Learn More

Sam fell into the FM industry by accident a decade ago, while studying for at AUT. He was working in a contact centre for an FM company that managed multiple maintenance and project contracts; a job which ultimately led to him working for one of their clients in the Local Government sector – in multiple roles. Working in the local government sector, Sam is passionate about the quality of outcomes the council provides for local communities while also ensuring that Auckland is the most liveable city in the world.

A highlight of Sam’s FM career has been working with Auckland Council to build the Full Facility Maintenance Contract, alongside arboriculture, ecological restoration and numerous technical contracts that span the whole Auckland region.

“What I love most about working in FM is the diversity, in terms of all the different stakeholders and customers we engage with on a daily basis. And I enjoy waking up every day knowing that something new will end up on my plate to try and resolve”.

Sam was elected to the FMANZ Board in October 2020.

Vanessa Powell

Learn More

Manager at Robert Walters, Vanessa has over 15 years’ experience both locally and internationally covering multiple industries in marketing, sales and account management for private and public sector companies.

Vanessa is a long-serving member of the Wellington branch committee and is uniquely passionate about advocacy for facilities management. With a primary role as a Recruitment Consultant she enjoys building futures for the Facilities Management profession and is known for her focus on future proofing the industry.

“I love that Facilities Managers have such an all encompassing role, their skills stretch across so many different areas and so, excellence in this space is not for the faint hearted! This makes the practitioners really great people to be around.”

Vanessa was elected to the FMANZ Board in October 2019.

Learn More

Anthony has over 30 years of technical and facilities management experience gained in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Working for WSP Consultants as the Building Asset Management Leader, based in Christchurch. Anthony is passionate about providing sound professional strategic advice that is supported by a strong technical background and leadership in property, facilities management, capital asset management and building services engineering.

Anthony is a Certified Member (CFMANZ)  and has been a member of FMANZ since 2010 and a Christchurch Committee member since 2011. He is also Chair of the Christchurch Branch. Anthony holds a Masters in Design Science (Facilities Management) from Sydney University and is also a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng).

Courtney Swann

Emerging Facilities Management Professional of the Year 2022 Award Winner

Learn More

Courtney has worked in facilities management for six years, working across multiple contracts. She currently works for BGIS as a Contract Manager for Compliance covering the North Island.

In 2022 Courtney won the Emerging Facilities Management Professional of the Year Award and was offered a position on the FMANZ Board for 12 months.

“This opportunity has opened my eyes to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes within the association.”

Courtney has also had the opportunity to work with the team to provide ideas around the FMANZ Foundation.

Courtney’s goal in the next three years is to study and gain further qualifications. “I enjoy that there are so many avenues and opportunities working within an FM business and look to further improve my skills to move into other roles within the business.”