Plant & Food Research
(now BSI) > Building capability before the storm

Sky New Zealand
IAG New Zealand
Plant & Food Research
Public Trust

The challenge

In 2021, Plant & Food Research — New Zealand's largest public sector science and research body — was facing a perfect storm: siloed teams, leaders with no formal development, a looming transformation of the NZ science sector, and the arrival of Covid-19. Jes and Bex were brought in to quickly connect leaders, build capability and prepare the organisation for what was coming.

The programme

Two tranches of 120 leaders each — 240 in total — across 6 weekly virtual leadership workshops, with a full Leadership Boost Toolkit built specifically for PFR's people, values and context.

The results

  • Leaders were change-ready and role-modelled the way through BSI's emergence

  • Staff engagement improved across three consecutive years of major organisational change

  • New performance management process successfully implemented

Quarterly Boost sessions continue today.

What did they say?

Hi Jes, I’m happy to provide a reference! Working with Jes and Bex has been inspiring. They are responsive, insightful, and have a knack for offering the right solution at the right time.

I have learned much from working with them, and so have the leaders at PFR!