Governance career boost for three Canterbury directors
Three Canterbury directors have won First Steps in Governance awards from the Institute of Directors (IoD).
Corporate Strategy Manager Daryn Govender CMInstD, leadership coach Sabine Parry MInstD and health and safety consultant Shannon Wright MInstD have been recognised as emerging directors with great potential by the national directors’ Institute.
The First Steps in Governance awards were established to foster upcoming talent in governance through mentoring, formal training and access to leading speakers at events across the region. They provide opportunities for young professionals to gain governance experience in the not-for-profit sector.
As winners, the trio will receive a complimentary IoD membership, one year of mentoring with an experienced director, $850 towards professional development and a 12-month governance internship on a local board.
Daryn works at the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and is based in Christchurch where he specialises in strategy, planning and execution. His governance roles include serving as secretary for Canterbury Young Professionals, as a Christchurch committee member of the Institute of Finance Professionals in New Zealand, as a member of the Institute of Directors Canterbury Branch Committee, and as a trustee for the Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and Citymaking.
In 2021 Daryn was named a Top Diverse Emerging Board-Ready Director by the Superdiversity Institute and the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
The selection panel noted Daryn’s capacity for strategic thinking, his desire to learn and his commitment to cultural awareness as likely to be of value to the governance community. He will serve a 12-month internship with the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.
The board of Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust said: “We were very impressed with Daryn’s overall range of skills and experience. Daryn will bring a fresh perspective to the board and we will benefit from his input as much as he will learn from us.”
Sabine is managing director of XBODY New Zealand, which provides electro-muscle stimulation fitness technology. She is also a business consultant, leadership strategist, Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner and hypnotherapist.
The selection panel said she is a commercially-minded leader with experience in New Zealand and Germany who would be a strong addition to any board. Sabine will serve a 12-month internship with Comcare Charitable Trust.
Comcare Trust’s Chair, David Griffiths, said Sabines’s skills, knowledge and varied business experiences will add further diversity to the board.
Shannon Wright is the owner of Imprint Safety, and health and safety consultancy in Christchurch. For the past two years she has acted as the safety and quality manager for the Scott Base Redevelopment Project in Antarctica. Shannon is a member of the NZ Institute of Safety Management and the Health and Safety Association of NZ. She will serve a 12-month internship with the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust.
The selection panel said Shannon is an astute commercial leader with experience as a mentor to support community organisations.
The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust said she will be a great fit and her passion and skills will be very welcome on the board.