Employment Relations Consultants

Meet our experienced Employment Relations consultants

Clive Thomson

Collective Bargaining Specialist

Clive.thomson@businesscentral.org.nz | 027 437 2808

Clive comes highly recommended for his mastery in Collective Bargaining and HR Strategy. He is the lead negotiator for 50+ Collective Agreements, almost exclusively in the private sector. Clive has more than 25 years’ experience and has held senior HR roles in the health, metals manufacturing and forestry/lumber industries. He has been advising and supporting businesses since 2004.

Scott Doolan

Senior Consultant

scott.doolan@businesscentral.org.nz | 027 209 8611

Scott advises private, public sector and local government employers in the Manawatu/Wanganui/Wairarapa regions on all issues relating to employment. This includes establishing best practice human resource systems, and advising on current legislative requirements, general employment relations issues, as well as resolving particular disputes. Scott has extensive experience in representing employers with collective bargaining across a board range of industries. Scott has negotiated multi-employer collective agreements, multi union collective agreements and has bargained with all the large Unions. Prior to Business Central Scott had 15 years' experience in the health sector, including as an operational manager, responsible for a team of 30 - 40 employees, and subsequently as a human resources manager. Scott's thesis for the MA degree covered interpersonal conflict in the workplace. Scott is a licensed private investigator and has substantial experience in conducting external investigations.

Ben Burger

ER/HR Consultant, Wellington

ben.burger@businesscentral.org.nz  |  022 171 1274

Ben is a seasoned ER (Employee Relations) and HR (Human Resources) professional with over 30 years of senior management experience spanning across diverse countries and cultures, including New Zealand, the Pacific and Europe. Throughout his career, he has accumulated invaluable expertise in small, medium and large scale commercial enterprises as well as within governmental contexts.

With a comprehensive understanding of legal frameworks, Ben adeptly handles various workplace issues, ranging from personal grievances, investigations, disputes, mediation and terminations. Additionally, he possesses extensive proficiency in all facets of the HR function including navigating complex restructures.

Ben’s contributions extend beyond the confines of his organisations; he has represented his employer (20,000+ employees) at three international HR conferences.

Leveraging his background in both legal and HR domains, Ben approaches workplace challenges with a nuanced perspective always prioritising the most effective outcome.  His robust experience collaborating with unions, equips him to skilfully manage any industrial relation matters and he serves as a seasoned lead negotiator in collective bargaining scenarios. Having led teams of ER and HR professionals for over two decades, Ben intimately understands the intricacies, challenges, and opportunities inherent in staff management.

Supported by his academic credentials, Ben is well-equipped to deliver consulting services to members in the Wellington/Wairarapa regions.

Chris Longman

ER/HR Consultant

Chris.longman@businesscentral.org.nz | 027 403 1788

Chris has over 18 years’ experience working within human resource management in the public and private sectors. He has been consulting since 2017, helping businesses with their people requirements and is frequently acknowledged for his professionalism and delivery of pragmatic and practical solutions. Chris is regularly called on for leadership and performance coaching, complex workplace investigations, conflict resolution, updating employment documentation, assisting with restructures and workplace culture and people strategy needs.  

See the file below for an extensive list of ER consultants and their areas of expertise.