2020 speakers

Suzi Finkelstein

Director Advocacy and Leadership, Women & Leadership New Zealand

With over twenty years of leadership development experience, Suzi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as WLNZ’s Program Director. Over an exceptional career, Suzi has built a reputation for designing and delivering quality professional development with a particular focus on transforming the performance of women leaders and their teams. As a development consultant, Suzi has worked across all levels of leadership and management in partnership with many of Australia's leading organisations.

Focusing on the challenges and opportunities for women leaders in the contemporary workforce, the New Zealand Women’s Leadership Symposium is an unparalleled gathering of New Zealand’s best and brightest female talent. During the event, women leaders from every sector and industry come together to hear from an exceptional line up of inspirational guest speakers and explore topics including gender equality, leadership, career advancement and life fulfilment.

The Symposium

About

Frances
Arns

Executive Director, RainbowYOUTH

MELODIE ROBINSON

Sports Journalist, Commentator, Presenter, Former Black Ferns Rugby Union Player

STEFF
GREEN

Bestselling and Award-Winning Author, Blogger, and Advocate

CHARLOTTE LOCKHART

CEO, The 4 Day Week; 2019 Women of Influence Global Award Finalist

LISA
KING

Founder, Eat My Lunch

DR MICHELLE DICKINSON MNZM

Senior Lecturer in Engineering, University of Auckland; Director, Nanogirl

MAVIS
MULLINS MNZM

Trustee, Rangitane Tu Mai Ra; Board Member

CATHERINE
FOX

Journalist, Author, Walkley Award Winner; Director of Diversity, WLNZ

MICHELE EMBLING

Chair, PwC New Zealand; Co-Chair, Champions for Change

CR JOSEPHINE BARTLEY

Councillor, Auckland Council; First Pasifika woman elected to serve as an Auckland Councillor

ANGELA SWANN-CRONIN

Pilot, Air New Zealand; First and only Māori woman to become a pilot in the New Zealand Air Force

The Topp
Twins MNZM

Award-winning NZ Entertainers and Activists

JULES
BENTON

CEO, Dairy Women’s Network

SUZY
CATO

Television Presenter, Radio Host & Children’s Entertainer

KAREN
WALKER CNZM

Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer

Showcasing celebrated and respected women from every field of endeavour, the Symposium is synonymous with excellence and achievement across all facets of business and community leadership.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS THROUGH SHARING SUCCESS

Attended by a veritable who’s who of New Zealand organisations, the Symposium represents an accessible platform for businesses to remain connected to the gender equality debate and compare the latest thinking and strategy.

AN OPPORTUNITY
TO STEP BACK, REFLECT AND FOCUS

LEARN

Addressing a wide range of topics including gender equality, leadership, career advancement and life fulfillment, the Symposium offers an important opportunity to stay abreast of current local and international trends. Designed to encourage interaction and collaboration, the event creates a setting for women at all levels to reflect on their experiences, envisage a future to which they are entitled and draw inspiration for the journey ahead.

Drawing participants from every corner of the nation, the Symposium offers an unrivalled opportunity to extend your networks and develop lasting friendships and alliances. Through the sharing of personal experiences, participants unlock a spirit of camaraderie which typically extends far beyond the event itself. Each year, women from highly diverse backgrounds are drawn together through the Symposium leading to powerful opportunities for collaboration on important national issues.

... AND BE INSPIRED!

Showcasing the country’s most respected and celebrated female talent, the Symposium attracts inspirational speakers from a wide range of backgrounds. Richly diverse in their achievements and fields of endeavour, Symposium speakers are universally recognised for their vision, resilience and capacity to influence change. By sharing their unique experience and knowledge, Symposium speakers encourage participants to unlock their innate strengths and talents and pursue their own vision of success.

Dr Sue WatsoN

Senior Facilitator and Executive Coach, WLNZ

Dr Sue Watson is an experienced leadership development expert who draws on her own leadership experience and her academic background in education and research to develop and deliver highly engaging and effective leadership development programmes. She is motivated by her purpose: inspiring and equipping the next generation of female leaders.

CONFERENCE FACILITATORS

Seema Kotecha,

NZ Police

[This event] has enabled me to define and articulate some of the ideas and concepts that impact women’s development. This has allowed me to consider some practical ways I can contribute and make a difference, and inspire change. Thank you!

Ashley McDougall,

Contact Energy

This conference has armed me with tools and thoughts that I can take away and utilise in both my personal and professional life. It has helped me highlight my strengths, weaknesses, and key areas such as authenticity and self-doubt that I need to work on

MINNIE BARAGWANATH MNZM

Chief Executive, Be. Lab

ANNA
CURZON

Chief Product Officer, Xero

SERGEANT WHITIAIRA TIMUTIMU QSM

Māori Responsiveness Advisor, New Zealand Police; First female officer in the New Zealand Police to have a moko kauae

Ana Soakai,

Sanitarium

This program helped me to know and understand who I am. To push things to the limit, knowing that failure is my fuel. To speak out and speak up. Being a female leader is awesome

Maria Pasene,

Pegasus Health

The Symposium has provided me with opportunities to build networks with other women. We have shared our stories and helped each other to resolve issues and challenges in our workplaces. It is great to know we are not alone in our experiences and challenges

See Agenda

Tickets Available here

See Agenda

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