Class of 2010 Celebrate Their Graduation
Each year the New Zealand Maritime School holds its Graduation Ceremony, and students from the freight and logistics courses receive their awards in front of an audience of family and friends and industry representatives. The event is an important occasion in every student’s life, as it marks a threshhold as they move from training and student life into the commercial world of freight and transport.
The foyer of the NZMS building in Auckland was abuzz with 140 excited graduates and their friends and families, as School Director Tim Wilson welcomed everybody, and then intrdouced the guest speaker, Noel Thompson, CEO of Cargo Co-ordinators Ltd, a leading logistics and freight forwarding operator in New Zealand, (shown below left) .
Mr Thompson has 40 years experience in the industry in New Zealand, having worked in shipping, cargo devanning, rail freight and other sectors of the total transport industtry. He described some of the remarkable changes which have occurred within the industry during his career, and challenged the graduates with the message that this ceremony was not the end of their training but just the beginning. Education and qualifications were critical to the success of the people now working in the industry and for those wishing to join the sector.
He highlighted the new influences for the transport industry - increasing fuel costs, emissions and carbon tax, port optimisation, and more sophisticated logistics planning were all factors which had emgerged in recvent years as key industry drivers… but for young graduates “the world is literally your oyster because your career can go whenever you want it to.” he said.
As an employer of young people, Mr Thompson said that the ‘old fashioned values” continued to be important because of the reliability and robustness they bought to the business. He listed punctuality, productivity, mentoring, specialisation and loyalty and ’stickability’ as key factors which employers would consider when looking to recruit new staff.
“We are the first country to open up for business every day, and with shipping and logistics being a 24/7 industry, we need people who turn up on time and contribute from the first minute of their working day. You employer is ivesting in you, so he or she deserves some loyalty and relaibility… We want payback for our investment, and your good productivity, your ability to learn and to help others, and your special knowledge and experience are critical strings to your bow.”
Mr Wilson congratulated all the graduates. He said he understood that for many, their graduation was in fact a reflection of their committment to finish the course, but they could not have done that without the support and encouragement of their families and friends…. “so for our supporters too, tonight is an important night of achievement and recognition.”
Previous Graduation Nights: 2008 Graduation
Previous Graduation Nights: 2007 Graduation