Governance: Investment guided by the sector
BRANZ uses a strong governance process to ensure Levy funding delivers real value for the sector and all New Zealanders.
Levy investment is determined by BRANZ’s sector priorities, which are guided by the Building Research Advisory Council, a cross-sector group.
Individual research proposals are then assessed by the Research Investment Advisory Group, an independent panel of sector experts representing science, industry, Iwi, Government and the Building Research Advisory Council.
What does the Research Investment Advisory Group do?
As independent sector experts, members bring deep industry knowledge to every research proposal, whether it’s BRANZ-led, a collaborator initiative, or a scholarship.
The Research Investment Advisory Group’s role is simple but critical:
- Assess proposals against investment criteria
- Advise the Branz Inc. Board on where Levy investment will deliver the greatest impact
- Ensure research priorities reflect real world challenges and opportunities
This process ensures Levy funding is targeted, relevant, and impactful to deliver more affordable, quality, resilient, and sustainable buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Research Investment Advisory Group members
- Paul Campbell (Chairperson) - Engineering NZ
- Zak Read - Toa Homes
- Jeff Fahrensohn - Auckland Council
- Matthew Duder - EBOSS
- Rick Osborne - Business NZ
- Huia Reriti - New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA)
- David Hall - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
- Jo Horrocks - Natural Hazards Commission | Toka Tū Ake
- Linda Faulkner - Earth Sciences New Zealand
- Shamubeel Eaqub - Simplicity
Updated: 6 October 2025