The Industry Training Federation (ITF) has honoured the contribution of departed Careerforce CEO, Ray Lind.

ITF CEO Josh Williams thanked Lind for his “considerable and invaluable contribution” to the industry training sector over the past seven and a half years.

Under Lind’s leadership Careerforce has expanded its industry overage and seen significant growth, increasing trainee numbers by 133 per cent since 2011.

New Zealand Apprenticeships have also been developed and introduced in areas such as social services, youth work, mental health and addiction, brain rehabilitation, and community facilitation, with more than 1500 apprentices signed up after starting the programme less than two years ago.

Another of Lind’s accomplishments is the Kaiāwhina Workforce Action Plan.

The five-year action plan for the non-regulated health and disability sectors was jointly developed by Careerforce and Health Workforce New Zealand, and recently refreshed at the half-way stage, at which point 31 of its 53 recommendations were already complete or well-advanced.

“Ray has been passionate and tireless in his advocacy for people working in the sector, and the power of work-based education to transform lives and health outcomes in the wider community,” said Mr Williams.

“Ray has also been a strong advocate and leader as part of the Industry Training Federation. We will miss his wisdom, and his relentless focus on learner and industry outcomes. We will miss him very much, and wish him all the very best for the future.”

Careerforce announced Lind’s resignation earlier this year in May.