Women in governance

Overview

Diversity within boards, business is becoming more and more relevant, How does the IoD and Tauranga Business Chamber encourage and nurture those aspirants who want to follow a path in governance.  What are the tools and necessities for this to happen? 

Join us for an insightful panel discussion as we celebrate Women in Governance. We explore the importance of gender diversity and representation in leadership roles. Our distinguished panel of speakers will share their experiences, insights and strategies on how to increase the participation of women in governance, the challenges faced by women in leadership positions, and the benefits of having more women in decision-making roles. 

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from local Bay of Plenty influential wahine and be part of the conversation on advancing gender equality in leadership.

This is a collaborative event with the Tauranga Business Chamber Business Women’s Network.

Anne Tolley

Anne Tolley has had wide experience in local and national politics over the last 30 years.

Elected to the Napier City Council in 1986, she was quickly appointed a Standing Committee Chair, and was then Deputy Mayor for six years. She was also elected to the inaugural Hawkes Bay Regional Council for one term.

In 1999, Anne was elected to Parliament as a National Party List MP based in Napier. She then moved to Gisborne and successfully contested the election for the East Coast Electorate in 2005. She held the seat until her retirement from national politics in 2020, moving to Ōhope as the growing electorate’s boundary reached the edge of Te Puke. During that time, she has been a vocal advocate for the development of both Kawerau and Ōpōtiki.

Anne served for nine years as a Government minister, holding the portfolios of Education, Police, Corrections, MSD, Children and Local Government. From 2017 to 2020, she served as Deputy Speaker and as part of that role, chaired the committee which developed a Code of Conduct that covered everybody working in New Zealand. She was also the Parliamentary representative to the International Parliamentarians Union.

Nicola O’Rourke

Nicola has over 18 years’ experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry across a range of disciplines, including marketing, sales, new product development and operations. Nicola has held senior executive and leadership roles across some of New Zealand’s favourite FMCG brands and was previously General Manager for New Zealand’s loved premium dairy brand, Lewis Road Creamery. 

In the last four years Nicola started her governance career, through chairing the New Zealand Food Basket, a food & beverage collaboration of New Zealand companies entering China, and was the first Emerging Director on the New Zealand Rugby board.  Nicola is currently Chief Digital Officer at Comvita, is a founding partner of Founders Advisory, and holds board and advisory roles across the New Zealand export and food & beverage sector.

Laurissa Cooney

Laurissa is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. 

Laurissa currently serves as the Chair of Tourism Bay of Plenty, and is an Independent Non-Executive Director for Air New Zealand, Goodman Property Ltd, Accordant Group Ltd and Aotearoa Circle and a Trustee on the Charitable Investment Trust for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. She also holds a role as Co-Chair for the Tourism Industry Transformation Plan for the Environment with MBIE and the Visitor Economy Adaptation Roadmap Aotearoa Circle workstream.

Laurissa is also a Committee Member of the Chapter Zero NZ Steering Group and was a 2017 recipient of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award. Laurissa is of Te Āti Hau Nui a Pāpā Rangi (Whanganui) descent.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our Covid-19 health and safety measures. If you are unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend this event.

Additional requirements

Should you have any particular dietary, mobility, cultural or other requirements, you can let us know on the registration form.

Branch event cancellation policy

Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event.

See our standard terms and conditions for more information.

Contact

Loryn Blaikie
Bay of Plenty Branch Manager
+64 21 101 3920
Loryn.Blaikie@iod.org.nz

Our sponsors

The Bay of Plenty branch acknowledges the generous support of