Craig Smythe awarded Life Membership

Last week Craig Smythe from Adbuild Constructions received HIA Life Membership in recognition of his service to the residential construction industry over the last 35 plus years. He becomes only the third Hunter member to receive this prestigious award.

The award was received in the company of family and friends, the HIA National Board and staff, Hunter Regional Executive Committee and Past HIA Presidents.

In 1999 Craig became a member of Housing Industry Association (HIA) and very quickly became involved with HIA events on the Central Coast. It was at these events that his enthusiasm for the diversity of issues the industry faces was first recognised.

When the HIA Hunter region was established in 2002, Craig was elected an inaugural member of the Hunter Regional Executive Committee.

Craig has always conscientiously been dedicated to the Hunter Regional Executive Committee, passionately expressing the circumstances that our industry operates within and a strong advocate of member’s needs.

Over the following nineteen years Craig’s commitment to the HIA and the advancement of the industry was continuously demonstrated by his extensive participation on HIA regional and national committees.

Craig was elected Hunter Regional Vice President on two separate occasions before becoming Regional President in 2009/10 and 2011/12.

In 2007 Craig became the regions National Membership Services Committee representative, a position he would hold until his departure from the Regional Executive Committee at the end of 2020.

During this time Craig has always sought to drive higher standards in the industry and has been an outspoken advocate of the home building industry.

Craig has regularly assisted the association recognise excellence, investing extensive time from 2004 to 2017 as an awards judge for the Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards. From 2005 to 2011 and in 2016, Craig was a member of the HIA Australian Housing Awards judging panel and for numerous years spent time on the Australian GreenSmart and the Solutions in Steel national judging panels as well.

While Craig’s contribution to the HIA and its members can be easily quantified in his years of service, it is his commitment to support and nurture members and the broader industry that will ultimately be his greatest legacy.

Craig is recognised by his colleagues as someone who generously gives his time to impart knowledge or the benefit of his experiences.

In all his interactions with the association, members and industry practitioners, Craig’s expertise and advice has been given with the aim of assisting people become future leaders and ensure a better industry for future generations.

With a passion for inspiring and motivating Craig has been a passionate supporter of apprentice training taking on a number of industry apprentices.

This passion for nurturing the next generation is further evident in the time Craig spent as a Certificate II to IV trainer with TAFE NSW from 2005 to 2014. A position that allowed Craig to encourage a new generation of workers to enter and remain in the construction industry.

Craig is recognised within HIA at both a state and national level as someone who has rendered outstanding service to the industry both in terms of his contribution to HIA, HIA members and the construction sector.

HIA congratulates Craig Smythe on achieving Life Membership and we thank him for his positive contribution to our association and industry.