Meet our 9,000th member

Wendy Chen smiling photograph

The Institute of Directors (IoD) recently reached another milestone – reaching 9,000 members. We decided to track down our 9,000th member and she is lawyer Wendy Chen from Auckland. We caught up with Wendy and asked her a few questions to get to know her a little better. She shares with us her reasons for joining IoD, what she looks forward to as a new member, and some of the things she is passionate about outside her work.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself

I am so fortunate to have grown up as a Kiwi, having moved here from Taiwan when I was six years old. I am fluent in Mandarin and feel connected to and proud of my heritage. In terms of career, I worked for 10 years as a commercial and financial services lawyer. More recently, I worked for a couple of years with the digital team at Air New Zealand as a business development and relationships manager. In 2019, I will be embarking on a ‘portfolio career’, with the idea to build up a mix of consulting and governance roles.

Why did you want to be part of IoD?

I think it is valuable to be part of a national institution that brings together governance professionals as a community. More than ever, we need to share our experiences and grow the profession’s capability as a whole.

What are you looking forward to as a member of IoD?

I’m looking forward to meeting more governance professionals, participating in formal and informal learning opportunities, and working out my governance path.

Why do you think continuing professional development is important?

Staying up to date on new developments, and having opportunities to reflect on your own practice, are important to developing and maintaining your skills in any profession. Having the chance to discuss and share ideas, problems and solutions with others in a similar position can often be enlightening and inspiring!

What type of organisations are you particularly interested to work in as a director?

I am on a few boards of charitable organisations, and would like to balance out my portfolio with commercial governance roles. I am interested in social impact causes and particularly the economic sustainability of these initiatives through social enterprise models.

What are you passionate about outside work?

My passion outside of work is in music and artistic expression. I think it is a wonderful outlet for the human psyche and a way to influence and affect others in profound ways. I sing in professional choirs, including with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the University of Auckland Chamber Choir. I am a passionate supporter of the arts, and I’m a trustee of the New Zealand Dance Company and of Wairua Sinfonietta. I have also been learning about education through my involvement in the board of my alma mater, Kristin School.

As someone who is relatively new in your governance journey, what are your aspirations?

I would like to develop and rotate through a diverse mix of governance roles, so I can learn from different people, contribute in a few different ways and hopefully cross-pollinate ideas.

Interested in becoming a member of the IoD. Find out more.