Astute mind rises to the challenge

Deryck Shaw: An unusual career path led to his own company and varied projects both in his region and nationally. Photo / Stephan Parker

Deryck Shaw's career path is a little unusual in that he has run his own consulting business since graduating more than three decades ago.

Mr Shaw - who was last year's Rotorua Business Person of the Year - was born and brought up in Whakatane, where his parents were dairy farmers in Awakeri.

He embarked on an ambitious university programme that saw him complete a double major bachelor of science at University of Waikato, then a diploma of natural resources and master of applied science in resource management through a programme run by the universities of Canterbury and Lincoln, and the Centre for Resource Management.

But when he graduated in the early 1980s, his first job turned out to be a consulting project back in his home town.

"I did my masters thesis on a local authority project, which the Whakatane District Council was interested in," he said. "I did some work for them and finished up starting my own consulting business. After that, other people heard about me and it just went on from there."

His next major project was an analysis of the economics of Lake Taupo's fisheries and its importance to the region. At that point, he realised it made sense to be more centrally located and moved to Rotorua.

Since setting up his company APR Consultants 33 years ago, he has been involved in more than 1000 projects, both in the region and nationally. They cover a wide range of clients, from companies, individuals, local and central government and other agencies. Mr Shaw's areas of expertise include organisational and economic development, tourism, applied research, market research, land use studies, policy advice, economic impact assessments, business development and feasibility studies, resource management plans, recreational studies, environmental assessments, statutory planning, development planning and strategies for local economic development.

One key project in Rotorua was Mr Shaw's role in helping develop the Business Hub a decade ago. That involved creating a high quality 1200 square metre building with 100 per cent earthquake compliance, and more than a dozen tenants sharing a common reception.

The hub has multiple fibre access, four shared meeting rooms, linked telephone systems, Wi-Fi access, internet access from every meeting room, shared recycling services, a computer suite learning-telecommunications and numerous other facilities.

"The concept began from discussions with the chamber and economic development people about the need to create a central co-location model for businesses," he said.

There were originally half a dozen people involved in the project, but Mr Shaw is now the sole owner of the building. He is proud to note that three businesses in the Hub - Talent ID, Index Engineering and his own company APR Consultants - have won Rotorua business awards over recent years.

Mr Shaw was named Rotorua Business Person of the Year in 2014, a member of the NZ Order of Merit in 2014, and is a distinguished alumnae of the University of Waikato. He is also a chartered director of the NZ Institute of Directors, member of the New Zealand Association of Economists and an associate fellow of the NZ Institute of Management. He currently chairs the Lakes District Health Board and is deputy chairman of Te Puia (New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute), a director of CTAS, the national shared services health organisation and of NZ Health Benefits, and a member of the national executive of District Health Boards of NZ.

"When I got involved in projects, I became interested in how decisions were made when you had competing interests," he said. "Over the years I've become increasingly focused on governance issues, particularly in the health area."

Darrin Walsh, chief executive of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, said Mr Shaw was highly regarded and very active in the local community.

"I think he's got a very astute business head on him," he said.

"He has a very clear focus on business goals, and the community, and what he thinks business and other organisations should be delivering."