Webcast
1
CPD
Explore governance opportunities for women in New Zealand’s primary industries.
Women are increasingly stepping into governance roles across Aotearoa’s primary industries — from agriculture and viticulture to forestry, aquaculture and beyond. But what are the unique challenges and rewards of governance in these sectors? And how can women bring their expertise, lived experience and values to the boardroom?
Facilitated by Kirsten (KP) Patterson MNZM CMInstD, Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors, this Women Directors’ Network webinar features a panel of women directors – Alison Barrass CFInstD, Debbie Birch CMInstD, and Jessie Waite MInstD - with governance experience across a range of rural and primary industry boards. Together, they will explore how values-based leadership, community connections and deep sector knowledge can shape better decision-making at the board table.
This conversation will cover:
l Pathways into rural and primary sector governance
l Navigating the complexity and seasonality of land-based industries
l The influence of te ao Māori and place-based leadership
l The role of women in shaping sustainable, resilient rural economies
Whether you’re based rurally, connected to the primary sector, or simply curious about a new direction for your governance career, this is your chance to gain insight, ask questions and connect with others in the IoD’s Women Directors’ Network.
About the Women Directors’ Network
The Women Directors’ Network connects members who are passionate about lifting gender diversity at the board table. Through webinars, networking, and peer-to-peer support, the network creates space for women to share experiences, build connections and support each other’s governance journeys. If you’re not already a member, we encourage you to join and be part of the conversation.
CFInstD
Alison is a professional director and former CEO. She has had direct leadership experience in large-scale consumer goods organisations and has previously worked in Sales, Marketing and Operations. Alison has operated in New Zealand, Australia and Southeast Asia, and has led significant mergers and acquisitions activity across multiple geographies and industries.
She is passionate about people, brands and technology and Alison’s focus is to provide support to New Zealand businesses to help them identify the keys to rapid growth and transformation both locally and internationally, through effective leadership, smart business design and innovation.
Alison is currently Chair of AA Insurance, Chair of Babich Wines, and a Director of Suncorp New Zealand, Zespri International, Precinct Property and Rockit Global.
CMInstD
Debbie has significant experience in global debt capital markets, funds management, commercial and strategic investment as well as risk management. She is a professional director with experience across tourism, infrastructure, funds management and the primary sector. She is the Chair of WMS Group, a director of Westpac NZ, Napier Port: Hawkes Bay Regional Investment Company, Miraka, Te Puia Tapapa and Chair of Eastland Group.
Outside of her governance roles, she was an inaugural member of the Sustainable Finance Leadership Forum which developed a 2030 roadmap for a sustainable financial system in NZ, incorporating environmental, social and economic considerations in financial decision-making. She is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. In 2023, she received the INFINZ Award “Te Tohu Kahukura” for Maori Leadership in Finance.
MInstD
Based in the beautiful region of Taranaki, Jessie Waite is the Chair of Dairy Trust Taranaki, which is a science and research organisation, running four dairy farms. She joined the Trust in 2019 as the New Zealand Young Farmers Appointed Trustee and was elected Chair in 2023.
Jessie was elected onto the New Zealand Young Farmers board in 2020 and chaired the organisation in her last year in 2023.
In 2022, Jessie was awarded the Taranaki Institute of Directors Emerging Director award and was an observer on the Venture Taranaki board for 12 months.
She is an active Taranaki IoD branch committee member and is passionate about rural governance.
In her work life, she is the North Island Regional Partner team lead for OSPRI.
CMInstD
Kirsten Patterson MNZM (known as KP) is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Member of the IoD. In 2025 she was awarded the New Zealand Royal Honour, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to governance and women. She is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Chair of the Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI), and a member of the New Zealand External Reporting Advisory Panel (XRAP). She serves on the Boards of the mental health charity, Voices of Hope, is Chair of the Brian Picot Ethical Leadership Advisory Board at Victoria University in Wellington and an Ambassador for the Wellington Women’s Homeless Trust.
A strong advocate of diversity, KP is a member of Global Women New Zealand and was one of the founding members of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace. KP was the founder and is Executive Sponsor for Chapter Zero New Zealand – the New Zealand Chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative - hosted by the IoD NZ to mobilise, connect, educate and equip directors and boards to make climate-smart governance decisions, thereby creating long term value for both shareholders and stakeholders.
Should you have any dietary, mobility, cultural or other requirements, you can let us know on the registration form.
By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our event terms and conditions.
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.
Litia Brighouse-Fuavao
Diversity Programmes Manager
+64 274 447 371
Litia.Brighouse-Fuavao@iod.org.nz
The Institute of Directors acknowledges the generous support of national partners and sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members — $0.00
Non-members — $30.00
