Webinar
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CPD
Join the Women Directors’ Network for a special international webinar with Nurain Janah on leadership and governance across New Zealand and the Maldives.
Small nations can offer big lessons in governance.
Having grown up in New Zealand and the Maldives, with governance and leadership experience in both countries, Nurain Janah brings a distinctive perspective on two small nations with different cultures, institutions and ways of working.
In this Women Directors’ Network webinar, Nurain will reflect on her own journey and explore what she has observed about leadership, influence and governance across both contexts. While Aotearoa New Zealand and the Maldives are very different, both are relatively small and closely connected societies where relationships, reputation, trust and cultural context can have a significant influence on how leadership is exercised.
Drawing on her experience, Nurain will explore how these factors shape governance, how women build credibility and contribute their perspectives, and what it takes to find your voice and influence decision making.
She will also consider where the New Zealand and Maldivian governance environments differ, where there may be common ground, and what each can learn from the other. Her presentation will offer personal reflections alongside practical insights for women navigating their own governance and leadership pathways.
Following Nurain’s presentation, IoD Chief Executive Kirsten Patterson (KP) will facilitate an audience Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to explore Nurain’s experiences and the parallels and contrasts between governance in New Zealand and the Maldives.
Nurain Janah is a Chartered Accountant, professional director, consultant & executive coach. With over 10 years’ experience as a director, she has held a portfolio of roles in investment and finance, construction and project management, and philanthropy.
Nurain is currently Group Vice Chair at Hotels and Resorts Investment Pvt Ltd (HARIM), an international multi-industry business spanning hotels and resorts development, construction technology, marine products, and investment services. HARIM is a second-generation family-run business based in the Maldives with globally recognised construction projects. Since moving to the Maldives from New Zealand to join the family business in 2022, Nurain has transformed the family business to implement operational efficiencies and positioned HARIM to effectively pursue and implement international diversification and investment.
Nurain is Founder and Director of Rehendhi Consulting, a global social enterprise supporting multinational corporations to embed environmental, social and governance into their strategies. Nurain is also Founder and Trustee of Authenticity Aotearoa, an award-winning New Zealand-based charity empowering women of colour to express their authentic selves and working to create inclusive workplaces.
Nurain is a Member of the New Zealand National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women, and she is also an Advisory Board Member for The Code of Practice for Online Safety and Harms, a world first initiative. She was selected as an Explorer by AirTree Ventures, a venture capital hedge fund. Nurain has served as Trustee of Foundation North, a $1.3bn philanthropic impact investment funder. A Chartered Accountant and with a Masters in Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Science, Nurain had a career as a Manager at Ernst & Young in the restructuring, turnaround and insolvency industry.
Nurain grew up in the Maldives and in New Zealand, and remains passionate about transforming systems for equitable outcomes wherever she may be.
CMInstD
Kirsten Patterson MNZM CMInstD (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, a former 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 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
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Members — $0.00
Non-members — $60.00
