First Break in Governance

Panel Discussion

Speaker(s): Manea Sweeney, Phillip Meyer, Suse Reynolds
Date: 5:00pm — 7:00pm, 28 May 2024
Venue: Area Events
Location: 1 O'Reily Avenue, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Price members: $50.00 incl GST
Price non-members: $100.00 incl GST

Overview

The First Break panel discussion and networking event is designed around sharing useful steps, tips and trends for those in the planning, early and emerging stages of their governance journey.

Panellists share how they transitioned into governance, developed their portfolios and engaged with opportunities through the IoD, and other professional learning, to forge their governance careers. Hear their experiences and thoughts on future trends and developments in the sectors they operate in, and how the principles of good governance are played out.

Following the panel discussion, you have the opportunity to network with senior directors over drinks and canapés.

Manea Sweeney

Manea’s career has focussed broadly across environmental, planning and engagement in the Infrustructure industry, working across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. She loves complex uncertain environments. Manea is new to governance, and won IoDs emerging director award for 2023. She has served a 3-year term as executive director on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board, is an observing Board Member of Experience Wellington, and is on the project Boards for Te Ara Tupua Alliance (delivering the shared path from Nga Uranga to Petone in Wellington) and the East Coast Recovery Alliance, delivering over $500M of rebuild in road and rail following cyclone Gabrielle.

She is a proud mum of a 20 month old, who provides more challenges (and joy) than all of her other roles combined. Manea is also undertaking her Masters in Maori and Indigenous Leadership through the University of Canterbury.

Phillip Meyer

Phillip is an experienced company director and investment banker. His governance experience extends across banking, infrastructure, health, insurance, telecommunications, broadcasting, education, peak industry bodies, investment management, arts, central and local government and Maori affairs.

Having recently retired as Chair and Trustee of Zealandia, he is the Chair of The Trustee of the Funeral Trust Limited, Australian Financial Services Group (Australia), Omnesa Group (Australia), Councillor and Deputy Chair of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and has a number of other commercial business interests in Australia. He is also currently a facilitator and speaker for a number of governance teaching programmes for clients of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand for whom he has conducted a number of board evaluations over many years.

Suse Reynolds

Suse was a founding member of the AANZ Council joining at its inception in 2008. She took up the Executive Director role in 2012, transitioning to Chair in 2020 and stepping down from this role at the end of March 2024.

In 2005 Suse helped to found AngelHQ, the Wellington region’s angel network and remains on the Board. Today AngelHQ has about 100 members and has invested over $50m into 150+ high-growth startup companies.

An active angel investor, Suse has over 30 ventures in her portfolio and currently chairs Narrative Muse, a startup bringing representation and belonging to entertainment.

Suse Chairs of the Wellington branch of the Institute of Directors and is on the National Council.

Suse recently stepped down from the board of CreativeHQ and as a trustee for Project Crimson Trust. Suse was the Deputy Chair of the Government appointed Startup Advisors Council which released the Upstart Nation Report in August 2023.

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.