Geoff Summers DistFHRNZ
What was your first HR role, and where are you today?
I came into HR through the union movement; I became a delegate and member of the union committee as a young firefighter in Auckland in the early 1970s. Today (early 2026) I am the Chair of the Remuneration Authority, but my term will be completed shortly, and I will be beginning a new HR chapter.
Tell us about your 'career in HR' story - how did this become your career and what brought you to where are at today?
In the mid-1980s, I was one of the leaders in the amalgamation of all firefighters’ unions and became the first National Secretary of the NZPFU. From there I went back into the Fire Service as the first national manager of safety and health; that led to my appointment as the Director of Personnel for the Fire Service. During that time, I did an Executive Master of Business Administration at Massey and then a Master of Business Studies in Human Resource Management, I got both with distinction and that added huge impetus to my career. In the late 1990s I was appointed Director of HR at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2005 I joined Strategic Pay Limited and became a shareholder; I was the Executive Director responsible for the Wellington based remuneration consulting business; that led to my 2016 appointment to the Remuneration Authority.
What continues to inspire you about this profession?
I get seriously inspired by the younger generations of HR people. That is one of the real benefits of being a judge on the HRNZ Awards, I get to see the great work that so many younger HR practitioners are achieving in their workplace, and I learn a lot from what they are doing and how they are doing it. I think HR as a profession is in good heart with those people in it.
Looking back across your career, what moments or achievements come to mind?
Getting all firefighters into one union was a big moment; setting up a national safety and health system in the Fire Service from scratch; part-time teaching HRM at Victoria University both on the MBA programme (including in Hong Kong) and later an undergraduate course; serving on the HRNZ Board and being President for two years and the advances that were made in my term – many were just the first steps towards matters that came fully to fruition much later but I am proud of my contribution; taking the Strategic Pay Wellington office from one part-time person to a multi-staff branch of the business that made a major contribution to the company’s success; being a Judge and Chief Judge on the HRNZ Awards; and being awarded the HRNZ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
What wisdom would you share with early-career HR professionals?
I would give the advice that was instilled in me by the best mentor I ever had - my Mum! As a teenager she told me (many times!), “Rule No. 1 – obey the law; Rule No. 2 – do not compromise your ethics; Rule No. 3 – when you are wrong, admit it and move on, when you are in the right, stand your ground and don’t back down.” That has stood me in good stead throughout my career, albeit Rule No. 3 made me very unpopular with the rich and powerful on numerous occasions but standing by these three rules let me operate with a clear conscience.
What difference does HRNZ make for HR professionals?
For me it was very significant. I quickly got to know a lot of other HR people that I would not have otherwise met, I learnt how to network effectively; when I was on the Wellington branch committee it was not unusual for other branch members to ring me when they had an HR issue they were unsure of and I did the same. Aside from all the other great work HRNZ does, the facilitation of knowledge sharing is a very important contribution to our community and the organisations they serve.
Becoming a Distinguished Fellow is a significant achievement. What has the journey been like for you?
That was not something that I ever aspired to. I became a MHRINZ on application well before chartering. The other grades of what is now chartered membership just appeared when the Board awarded them. Every time I was surprised but always delighted – it is fantastic when your peers notice what you are doing and give you recognition. I am very proud to be a Distinguished Fellow of HRNZ - especially when I look around and see the esteemed company that puts me in.
What are you excited about working on these days?
Anything to do with HR excites me as long as it is assisting organisations to use their people fairly and effectively to bring success to the business – after all, business success is the basic purpose of HR.