Our people
Glass & Glazing Institute of New Zealand board
DARRYL MAC – GGINZ Board Chair
Darryl started his career in aluminium joinery working for Fisher Windows and Aluminium City in Auckland. He joined Metro in 1990 and in 1993 opened the North Harbour branch which he ran until Metro sold in 2006. He remained at Metro until 2015 in several roles including Upper North Island regional manager. For two years he was with Vetro Raccordi.
Darryl is now with Architectural Glass Products (AGP). Darryl has been involved with training and glass association bodies for a number of years chairing both GANZ and IGUMA along with participating in standards committees writing the New Zealand glazing in buildings standards (NZS 4223).
GARETH HAMILL – GGINZ Director
Gareth currently manages Ziggy’s Masterton Glass, a glass and glazing merchant business in the Wairarapa. Prior to this he spent 20 years working with NZ’s largest glass processing and glazing business in commercial glazing, technical and senior leadership roles.
Gareth holds a Bachelor of Building Science degree from Victoria University of Wellington.
JO CARKEEK – GGINZ Director
Jo has over 25 years of business and leadership experience working in senior positions across a variety of sectors both in corporate and manufacturing environments. Jo’s management career commenced with FMCG & Supply Chain Distribution, followed by corporate HR roles with telecommunications and insurance industries with a focus across New Zealand and Australia.
Subsequently Jo has had four years in the glass industry on the senior leadership team of Viridian Glass in a GM role with accountability for business services teams operating in Marketing, Technical, Procurement, Human Resources, Health & Safety, and Payroll.
Jo has led and supported both workforce and business strategies as well as shaping operational execution.
JOHN CHRISTIAN – GGINZ Director
Following a career in the motor industry, John joined Smith & Smith Glass as Porirua Branch Manager in the mid-1980s.
Two years on, he became Lower North Island Regional Manager until resigning to become the Guthrie Bowron franchisee on the Kapiti Coast in the late 1990s. Following the sale of Guthrie Bowron in 2004/5, John joined Metropolitan Glass, Wellington as Lower North Island Branch Manager.
After retiring in 2015 he became GM of Glass and Glazing Institute of New Zealand.
John remains on the Board of the GGINZ. John is a proactive director who assists the General Manager in all manner of practical and professional duties.
GARY WALDEN – GGINZ Director
Gary started with Smith and Smith Glass in 1984 following which he established his own business between 1989 and 2004 selling and installing glass blocks. He joined National Glass / Euroglass / Viridian Glass (mergers) in 2004 and enjoyed a long employment with them until 2019 including roles as Northern Regional Manager and National Commercial Manager.
After three years with Landson Glass / Glass Solutions New Zealand working in project sourcing from China, Gary has returned to running his own business in the glass and window industry, working in the residential sector. Passionate about training, Gary joined the GGI as Director in 2020.
VERINA JONES – GGINZ Chief Executive
As the Chief Executive of the Glass and Glazing Institute NZ (GGINZ), Verina brings a wealth of experience from the construction and education sectors, including over a decade of leadership and a strong background in small trade business ownership.
Verina previously served as a BCITO Apprentice Training Advisor in Christchurch, followed by a specialist new role to BCITO as the Advocate for the Learner Voice. In this space she developed New Zealand’s first genuine Apprentice Leader Programme, an initiative designed to authentically engage apprentices and bring their thoughts/feedback and ideas directly into the business. This program has driven positive changes, enhancing the learning journey for apprentices nationwide. Verina’s experience in both education and business equips her with a unique perspective on the value of formal apprenticeship training and the challenges faced by small business owners.
At GGINZ, Verina is dedicated to delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training to develop the next generation of skilled professionals in the glass and glazing industry.
Glass & Glazing Institute of New Zealand staff
Tutors at the GGINZ are fully qualified, holding their Trade or National Certificate in Glazing, New Zealand Certificate in Adult Teaching and Learning; US4098 – Use Standards to assess Candidate Performance; Site Safe Certificate; current First Aid Certificate; and are involved in industry groups that support current industry knowledge and skills. Our tutors take pride in providing a first-class training experience and go the extra mile to help learners succeed.
FRANK COLE
Frank began his glazing career in 1983 as an apprentice in Palmerston North for Winstone Glass. On completion he then had two years in Auckland working as a sales coordinator at the main distribution centre for Winstone Glass at Gabador Place.
Taking a gap year or three, Frank headed off overseas to travel and to play rugby. He came back to New Zealand and was appointed Branch Manager for Winstone Glass in Wellington. In 1998 he established his own successful business.
Part-time tutoring at the GGINZ began in 2006, following which Frank was appointed head tutor in 2019. Frank still enjoys watching rugby and running marathons in his spare time.
(Note from editor: Frank is a quiz guru in the specialist topic of rugby.)
JOHN MORTENSEN
John started his glazing apprenticeship in 1994 with Winstone Glass in Palmerston North. Once qualified, he worked for independent glazing companies as a foreman/leading hand and helped with training apprentices. Throughout this time he also gained experience in operating a glazing business.
John is now the director of Absolute Glass 2014 Ltd and tutors part-time at the Glass and Glazing Institute of New Zealand. John is a qualified glazier and has attained his New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching.
CHRIS RENATA
CHARMAINE FARQUHAR
Charmaine Farquhar started in the Glass Industry at Viridian Glass Palmerston North in 2018. She worked in the office where she learnt all the theory sides of glazing prior to beginning her apprenticeship in 2019.
Charmaine completed her apprenticeship at Central Glass and Aluminium in Palmerston North in 2021 where she currently works as 2IC in the glazing department. Being based in Palmerston North she has experience in glazing all things glass, from small residential jobs to large commercial jobs.
Charmaine won the Allan Sage Memorial award for apprentice excellence in 2022.
PENNY DRING
Penny’s background is in event management and she has also held various senior executive assistant and administrative roles. Her work experience has been primarily in the government sector, and she currently works with a consultancy company. Penny joined GGINZ in 2022 in a part-time capacity as Homestay Coordinator.