Panel Discussion
2
CPD
Connect with Pasifika directors, grow capability and strengthen governance across Otago.
What happens when leadership is rooted in culture, driven by purpose and built for the collective good?
Join us for an evening of insight and impact as we explore the role of Pasifika leadership in shaping high-performing teams, resilient communities and inclusive governance.
This session brings together a distinguished panel of Pasifika leaders who will share their lived experience of governance, service and leadership across sectors.
Facilitated by Dr Sina Cotter Tait CMInstD, the talanoa will feature:
Together, they will explore how Pasifika values show up at the board table — influencing decision-making, shaping organisational culture and strengthening long-term outcomes.
The Otago Southland branch is proud to host its first Pasifika-focused governance event. We are calling Pasifika directors — at all stages of their governance journey — to come together, forge new connections and help build a strong and visible Pasifika director network in our region.
This event is about building awareness, capability and collective strength. It is a call to recognise the leadership within Pasifika communities — and to create space for it to flourish in governance across Otago and Southland.
Expect a discussion that is rich, real and relevant to all directors committed to clear strategic vision, inclusive leadership, high-trust cultures and adaptive boards.
This is a free event for all to attend.
CMInstD
A proud daughter of Otautahi-Christchurch, Sina has over 20 years' experience as a professional civil engineer and construction manager and currently serves on the boards of several infrastructure and engineering-related organisations, as well as running her own engineering consultancy, offering advisory services on infrastructure and projects.
Sina currently serves on the boards of Te Waihanga/the Infrastructure Commission, KiwiRail, Whitestone Contracting, the Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, and Christchurch City Holdings Ltd. She has twice been awarded the Engineering New Zealand President’s Gold Medal, and was the 2021 Governance NZ Women on Boards Emerging Leader. Sina’s governance interests focus on infrastructure and community impact where she sees great opportunities for the sector to benefit from a change in culture. She believes it is the responsibility of infrastructure leaders to lead on wider societal issues, including education, infrastructure and equity, and currently sponsors the Cotter Tait Scholarship at UC for Māori and Pasifika engineering students who aspire to make a difference in the world.
Vena Crawley is a change agent by nature with a natural inclination towards redefining the future.
A Samoan childhood and adolescence spent in Auckland, Vena speaks five languages and holds multiple governance roles, including as a non-executive director at Summerset Group, an independent board member on Te Whatu Ora sub-committee for People, Culture & Development; he is Chair and advisory board member at Auckland University of Technology, and recently completed an extended term as a Future Director at The Warehouse Group.
Vena was recently the divisional CEO and Chief Customer Officer at Contact Energy leading its customer business on a transformation to become New Zealand’s ‘customer-obsessed human energy company’. With areas of responsibility ranging from strategy, pricing and data analytics to people, digital, technology, culture and brand, his strength involves developing strategies that not only support sustainable business outcomes today, but chart future business horizons for tomorrow.
A hybrid leader in both commercial delivery and creative leadership, his diverse background has given him a toolkit to navigate evolving challenges and stakeholder issues across a multitude of executive and governance platforms - his business strategies and leadership have delivered more than NZ$4 billion in profits in his last three roles.
Vena is a disruptive accelerant known for driving proven transformational change at pace that resonates with today’s businesses - chasing market leadership with customers at the heart, using data technology and digital, as his tools. He holds an MBA and BA from Steinbeis University in Germany and has studied at the Darden School of Business via Virginia State University, and has a passion for developing and coaching others.
Dr. Edmond Fehoko has extensive governance experience across academic, community, and Pacific leadership spaces. Dr. Fehoko is currently a Senior Lecturer (Department of Human Nutrition) and Associate Dean Pacific (Division of Sciences) at the University of Otago.
Beyond the university, he serves as a board member for the Centre for Pacific Languages, Ako Mātātupu Teach First NZ and SIAOLA Vahefonua 'o Tonga Charitable Trust. Dr. Fehoko’s governance approach is grounded in Pacific values, relational leadership, and collective responsibility, ensuring that Pacific voices, aspirations, and knowledge systems meaningfully shape governance processes and long-term institutional direction.
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.
Michelle Branford
Otago Southland Branch Manager
+64 20 4183 5664
michelle.branford@iod.org.nz
The Otago Southland Branch acknowledges the generous support of
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Members — $0.00
Non-members — $0.00
