Meet the recruitment team powering precinct employment

At Ara, our recruitment team is focused on one simple goal: helping employers find great people while creating meaningful pathways into work for local talent.

Based right here in the Auckland Airport precinct, the team works alongside employers every day, building strong relationships, understanding workforce challenges, and connecting businesses with job-ready candidates. Collectively, they bring decades of experience across recruitment, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, education, hospitality, aviation, and business leadership.

Neil – Regional Leader, Work Services
Leading the team is Neil, whose career spans workforce development, recruitment, hospitality, aviation, and government partnerships. Before joining Ara, Neil held leadership roles with MSD, Competenz, Air New Zealand, and the apprenticeship sector, building extensive experience in connecting people, businesses, and opportunities.

Today, Neil works closely with employers across the precinct to understand workforce needs and develop practical recruitment and training solutions that deliver lasting results.

“The thing I’m most proud of is the relationships we’ve built with precinct employers over the last quarter. We’ve established a strong foundation and I’m looking forward to deepening those connections with the more than 250 employers based here.”

 

Newman – Recruitment Lead
Newman is passionate about matching people with opportunities where they can thrive. Working closely with employers and job seekers, he takes the time to understand both business needs and candidate aspirations to create successful long-term placements.

One of the highlights of Newman’s role has been participating in workplace tours with employer partners across the airport precinct.

“Being able to see businesses in action, learn about their culture, and understand their workforce needs firsthand helps me support both employers and candidates more effectively.”

Whether he’s coaching candidates for interviews, helping them refine their CVs, or working with employers to identify the right fit, Newman is committed to creating positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Allwyn – Recruitment Lead
Allwyn has played a key role in building many of the trusted employer relationships that underpin Ara’s recruitment service today. Bringing more than 20 years of experience across project management, stakeholder engagement, business development, operations, and tertiary education, he has combined commercial expertise with a genuine passion for helping people succeed.

Prior to joining Ara, Allwyn worked with leading education providers including Whitecliffe and NZMA, experience that strengthened his commitment to supporting rangatahi into sustainable careers.

As Allwyn prepares to take up a new opportunity within MSD later this month, we want to acknowledge the significant contribution he has made to both our team and the employers we support. His legacy will be the strong partnerships and pathways he has helped create across the precinct.

Ruxshin – Recruitment Lead
Joining the team as Allwyn transitions to his new role is Ruxshin, who brings extensive leadership experience in people management, workforce performance, and service delivery.

Previously a Senior Team Leader with TTEC, Ruxshin led teams of up to 80 people and developed a reputation for empowering individuals to perform at their best while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes.

Passionate about supporting both employers and job seekers, Ruxshin is looking forward to building relationships across the precinct and continuing the work of connecting local talent with local opportunities.

 

Right Next Door, Ready for Work
Together, the team’s local knowledge, industry experience, and strong employer relationships enable Ara to deliver recruitment solutions that go beyond filling vacancies. By working closely with businesses, government partners, and the community, they’re helping create a stronger workforce and better employment outcomes across the Auckland Airport precinct.

If you’d like to learn more about how Ara can support your workforce needs, we’d love to have a conversation.