With mixed emotions, we announce the retirement of Ashley Chisholm, Relationship Manager Lead within our Engagement and Partnerships team. After a career that spanned over 50 years, with an impressive 38-year contribution to vocational education, Ashley has decided to transition into a well-deserved retirement from full-time work. While we will miss his invaluable presence and expertise, we are grateful for the lasting impact he has made during his time with us. Ashley is a founding team member who joined us in October 2021. He says, “I am proud to be part of what is and will continue to be an important part of the vocational training system, particularly for industry.” 

Ashley’s introduction to vocational training started in 1969 – as a trainee wool classer, learning on the job. He then moved into the Department of Labour in Timaru and then Wellington where his career took many different directions – almost always with connections to ‘industry’ and ‘training’. A key role Ashley held was in the NZ Apprenticeship Service where he was the Commissioner of Apprenticeships for New Zealand, being involved in the transition of vocational training to align with the Industry Training Act. Ash also worked with TEC and NZQA before making sure the new system was working well, by managing three ITOs and working in a number of others before joining Waihanga Ara Rau. 

As evidenced by his long and storied career, Ash’s passion for industry training has never diminished and remains even as he embarks on a new chapter filled with relaxation, personal pursuits, and cherished memories. 

Ash is renowned for his dad jokes and so to send him on his way a happy man we let him have the final say, “What do you call a boat in training?  An apprentice-ship.”