Collaborative leadership and governance in the for-purpose sector

Panellists 

Alison Taylor

MInstD 

Alison took the role of chief executive of Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi, the Auckland regional Arts Trust, in 2019. Since then, she has worked with its trustees to create and implement a new strategic direction for the trust focused on strengthening of the ecosystem that makes Tāmaki Makaurau a city alive with creativity.  

Alison’s previous roles include founding Chief Executive of the Centre for Social Impact, GM of the Ministry of Youth Development, and Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. She is Chair of Ember Innovations, and has been a trustee of Kia Puawai, Philanthropy New Zealand and the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation. Alison has partnered with Caren Rangi to create a new approach to enabling leadership and governance working with CEO’s and their chairs in social purpose entities.   

Dan Te Whenua Walker

CMInstD 

Dan is a proud dad, husband, Kiwi with Ngāti Ruanui and Pākehā whakapapa. His current role is as a Partner Development executive at Microsoft. He is dedicated to integrating Indigenous knowledge into technology, particularly in the realm of AI, and actively supports nonprofits through governance and digital transformation initiatives. 

Dan currently chairs Child Cancer Foundation, and is Deputy Chair of Te Runanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Group and New Zealand Māori Tourism Society Incorporated, and is a Board Director at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.  

Judy Whiteman

CMInstD 

Judy is an experienced governor and provides specialist advice for capability and capacity development programmes for the for-purpose sector with a particular focus on governance. A facilitator, mentor and consultant in both the commercial and for-purpose sectors, Judy is passionate about helping people achieve success for themselves, their people, and their organisations. 

In addition to many years’ experience in the global financial services industry both in New Zealand and abroad, Judy has also been involved for over 30 years in the for-purpose sector in several countries as a volunteer, board member and consultant. Her governance experiences are deep, diverse and over many years. She is currently on the board of three for-purpose organisations (including being the Chair of one). Judy is a Chartered Member of the NZ IOD and a Fellow of the AICD. 

Moderator 

Dame Jo Brosnahan

QSO DNZM CFInstD 

Jo is an experienced board chair in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with a particular passion and expertise for leadership and governance.  She is currently Chair of Maritime New Zealand (the nation’s maritime agency), Harrison Grierson (NZ urban engineering and planning consultancy), and the Ambassadors for Leadership NZ.  Past governance roles over a range of sectors have included Chair of Northpower Fibre (ultra-fast broadband), Landcare Research, the board of Housing New Zealand, Taitokerau Education Trust, and is on the board of the Auckland Museum and the Advisory Board for the Centre for Brain Research. 

Jo is the founder of Leadership New Zealand, which has over 700 alumni across the diversity of NZ, was Chair of the LNZ Trust for more than a decade. As a Harkness Fellow and Aspen Scholar, Jo spent a year researching leadership in the USA.  She researches and writes about leadership, develops and facilitates leadership and governance programmes, and undertakes board reviews.  

Jo believes that governance is leadership in action and for New Zealand to succeed, inspiring and capable leaders are required at both governance and executive levels.   

Jo was previously the CEO of the Northland Regional Council and of the Auckland Regional Council.  She was awarded a QSO in 2005 for Public Services and a DNZM in the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours in 2023 for services to governance and business.