It's not a brain drain, it's a foreign resource

By VICKI JAYNE

One-fifth of New Zealand's working population and maybe a third of its top talent is employed overseas - but their skills are not necessarily lost to the Kiwi economy.

Don't think brain drain, think overseas resource, says Annika Streefland, managing director of global recruiter Korn/Ferry International.

"A lot of our top talent is offshore and that's okay, that's reality. It doesn't mean those skills are lost to New Zealand.

"The question is: how to engage them at an appropriate level so they are not lost?"

It is a question she put to a gathering of expats in Britain - all top performers in business, arts and academic fields.

Korn/Ferry co-hosted a "talent, innovation and investment" reception in London this month, along with McKinsey & Co and Russell McVeagh, with support from the New Zealand High Commission.

"We didn't host the function to say, 'Come back'. What we suggested was they consider themselves as part of a New Zealand global network and look at where and how they might be able to remain involved and contribute," Annika Streefland says.

Several options were put forward - such as taking up directorships on the boards of Kiwi companies, investing in local enterprise, or acting as role models and mentors to young New Zealanders.

The reaction was positive.

Although the idea was not to directly entice anyone home, eight of those at the function have since indicated that they would return if a suitable position was available.

Others wanted to contribute to NZ companies via directorships, investment or mentoring.

"Many are enthusiastic to be proactive in sharing their knowledge and networks or to come and talk to schools," Annika Streefland says.

"That could have a positive impact on start-up businesses here and provide real inspiration to young New Zealanders.

"These are all people who are top achievers in their field so they have a lot to offer.

"These are people who punch above their weight but are quite often doing it as individuals as opposed to doing it as New Zealanders.

"Success could be made easier if there was more networking - and there was an amazing amount of that going on at the event."

Annika Streefland says the presentations that she, Professor Robert Wade (London School of Economics) and Chris Moller (Fonterra deputy chief executive) made seemed to strike the right note.

Some of that resonance came as a result of a quote used on the invitations from an earlier voluntary exile, the author Katherine Mansfield, about New Zealand "getting into your bones".

Though not the country Mansfield lived and worked in, New Zealand remained her emotional heartland - and that is still the case for many expats.

"There was a great deal of interest and a high level of patriotism - higher than I expected," Annika Streefland says.

The need to tap into this feeling and the expat skills became more than just an academic issue this year.

"A number of like-minded individuals got together and recognised we had to do something dramatically different to lift our game in the areas of talent, innovation and investment.

"Yes, we want to be a lifestyle destination but we must also be economically compelling if we are to provide New Zealanders with the prosperity and social infrastructure going forward.

"We also need to keep Kiwis who are offshore more closely networked in, so they are more likely to come back here one day, rather than be lost forever."

The idea was born of identifying top Kiwi achievers in various countries and getting them together. Annika Streefland, who has specialised in executive recruiting around the world for 15 years, volunteered her company's resources.

"It's one of those things you blithely suggest one evening and then have to execute. Search firms are well equipped to do that kind of work, but it was a huge undertaking."

Britain was picked first, with a target of 400 Kiwis representing the top 5 per cent of achievers in their field.

Korn/Ferry NZ knew of 100, its British office added 60 more and then it was a case of doing the hard yards.

Of the 400 invitations sent out, about 250 were able to attend the reception.

"That's a very high ratio. I think because it was being fronted by business rather than Government alone, it was somehow more tangible."

To keep it that way, the focus is now on maintaining the global Kiwi network in various overseas centres.

"It's not a new thought - countries such as Ireland have been busy reeling in their expat talent for a while and New Zealand has plenty of catch-up to do."

Annika Streefland says that in terms of income New Zealand can not compete but it can offer "breadth of experience".

She limited headhunting other nationalities for roles here a few years ago, as we slipped steadily down the OECD economic ratings.

"That's because it was a wasteful effort unless they had made a deliberate lifestyle decision to be here.

"Whilst in some centres of excellence it is possible to accumulate knowledge, it's generally not possible to accumulate wealth here with a mind to take it back to, say, the UK or US. You are much more likely to get New Zealanders back."

Last week's attacks by terrorists in the United States may give that tug on expat heartstrings even more resonance.

* vjayne@iconz.co.nz