Director briefing: The value of disability

Overview

Unlock the potential of disability inclusion at the board level. In this briefing, Phil will outline how embracing disability as part of your organisation’s diversity and inclusion strategy can drive innovation, improve workplace culture, and open new market opportunities. Learn how boards can lead from the top, ensuring their organisations harness the full value of a diverse workforce.

Key takeaways include:

• The economic and cultural benefits of disability inclusion.
• Practical steps for boards to champion inclusive policies.
• Case studies showcasing how disability inclusion drives business success.
• How to future-proof your organisation by fostering a more inclusive environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how disability inclusion can create lasting value for your organisation.

Phil Turner

Phil is committed to promoting the inclusion of disabled and neurodiverse people in the workplace by supporting employers in making meaningful and sustainable changes to their organisational culture. He believes that treating employers as partners and empowering them to take ownership of their inclusion journey is crucial for success.

Having worked with employers for the past 10 years to enhance disability and neurodiversity inclusivity, Phil brings a fresh approach to solving each organisation's unique challenges. He is a strategic thinker who is adept at identifying underlying issues and developing practical plans to overcome them.

Using his unique problem-solving skills, Phil is dedicated to help pave the way for all disabled and neurodiverse individuals to achieve their full potential, which ultimately benefits everyone.

Kirsten (KP) Patterson 

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. 

 Additional information

Contact

Kristyn Chandler-Yates
National Sponsorship and Events Manager
+64 27 207 2592
Kristyn.Chandler-Yates@iod.org.nz