Movement: The Language of Resilience
Mariele Klering
After spending 12 years navigating the fast-paced and demanding world of tech—a field riddled with its own unique challenges for women— Mariele thought she’d faced it all. But then came the grief of losing her father during one of the world’s toughest lockdowns, a loss that shook her to her core. It was during this difficult chapter that she stumbled into a world she never thought she’d belong to. What started as a hesitant “okay” to attend a self-defense seminar became something far bigger: a deep connection to Jiu- Jitsu. The martial art challenged her in ways she couldn’t have foreseen, not just physically but emotionally, forcing her to confront long-held insecurities she thought she’d buried.
Building & Maintaining Resilience
Cynthia Hunefeld
An award-winning scientist, Cynthia has expertly bridged traditional medicine and modern science to advance drug discovery. Inspired by her father’s recovery from sepsis using her first prototype, she developed patented botanical prescription drugs and multi-target pharmaceuticals currently in clinical trials. Combining ethnobotany, clinical research, and reverse-pharmacology, her groundbreaking work targets multiple disease pathways, offering innovative treatments for inflammatory diseases. Cynthia’s dedication to integrating traditional knowledge with modern research has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and transform patient outcomes.
How To Become A Better Negotiator
Dr Alia Bojilova
During her time with the UN Dr. Alia and her team were taken hostage in Syria. She negotiated the release of her team without harm. She works with Movac Ventures and assists companies in building cultures of adaptability and innovation.
Using AI To Make Yourself Irreplaceable
Danu Abeysuriya
Founded RUSH Digital in 2010 and has led its technology teams in developing world-first solutions for global companies such as Microsoft, Disney, Google, Samsung and Nokia. Local clients include: Metservice, Watercare, Foodstuffs, Te Whatu Ora, Z Energy & Public Trust. He’s overseen and been hands-on involved in the design, development and deployment of numerous software and hardware projects across a wide range of platforms, disciplines & high-level strategy of where companies are going to sit in the future.
How To Become A C-Suite Leader
Naomi Ballantyne
Naomi is one of New Zealand’s most prodigious entrepreneurs and Managing Directors having been involved in the founding and growing of three of New Zealand’s most prominent financial services businesses, and in 2022 became the first woman in New Zealand to have sold her start-up for over $1bn.
Naomi has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience across all facets of founding, growing, managing, capitalising and transforming businesses of all sizes.
Developing Leadership, Resilience, and Personal Growth
A Panel Discussion
How To Lead a Multi-Generational Workforce
Laurent Sylvestre
After 25 years’ experience, notably as a People and Culture Leader and Executive Board Director across the Northern Hemisphere and Asia Pacific, Laurent is obsessed with ensuring client satisfaction through impactful solutions.
At the core of Laurent’s curriculum, passion, and expertise lies a deep understanding of human dynamics and the art of capturing unique intelligence.
With a belief that this is the very essence from which everything unfolds, Laurent recognises the pivotal role it plays in driving success.
Laurent has spent the past 25 years learning, growing, and helping others to do the same. He’s a motivational speaker, and a thought leader, who invests his energy into helping other leaders create spaces where everyone feels they belong, because he believes that when you belong – you flourish.
How to Build Personal & Team Resilience
HANNAH MCQUEEN
Since founding enable.me in 2007, Hannah’s goal has been simple – to not only improve people’s financial position but improve their lives.
Her list of qualifications is long, not to mention she’s also a best-selling personal finance author, media commentator, the founder of enable.me and developed a mortgage optimisation formula with the University of Auckland’s Dr Jamie Sneddon.
Thousands of clients will attest to the fact she’s achieved that in spades. Their only complaint is they wish they’d met her 10 years earlier!
With her strategic nous and boundless appetite for ‘better’, Hannah McQueen is someone everyone could benefit from having in their corner.
Reskilling For An AI Future
Kristen Lunman
With over 25 years in business growth, co-founded Hatch, revolutionizing NZ’s investment landscape by offering affordable access to global investments. Under her leadership as CEO, Hatch not only experienced rapid growth but also cultivated a unique and inclusive company culture. The success of Hatch culminated in its acquisition by FNZ in 2021. Now with Powrsuit, she is helping to democratise leadership for women.
My Career Path to Becoming a Professional Director
June McCabe
With extensive experience across a broad range of industries at governance and senior management levels, June established Sustainable Prosperity (NZ) Limited a management consultancy business providing advice on governance, strategic planning and strategy development, investment banking and Maori capital markets. June’s banking and finance experience spans the last 20 years. She is a strong advocate for building New Zealand’s Leadership capability as evidenced by her role as Founding Chair of the Leadership Institute.
The Future of Leadership and Resilience
Panel Discussion
Jacinta FitzGerald
Chief Executive of Mindful Fashion
Jacinta is a sustainability activator, passionate about the power of business to create positive impact. Building on more than 20 years experience in the clothing and textiles industry, in 2015 Jacinta founded Make.Good, a consultancy that works with innovative global and local businesses to drive forward the sustainability agenda. Jacinta is currently Chief Executive of Mindful Fashion New Zealand, the peak body for sustainable fashion and textiles in Aotearoa, an organisation on a mission to create a thriving and full-circle future for New Zealand’s clothing and textiles ecosystem.
Bindi Norwell
Group Chief Executive, ProCare
Bindi is a visionary leader with more than 25 years’ experience working across a range of sectors including health, property, professional services and telecommunications. Bindi brings extensive commercial leadership and governance experience, is highly strategic, and has proven expertise in leading organisational diversification and growth strategies, leveraging technology and innovation, transformational change, and organisational redesigns, to enable successful, thriving and sustainable businesses. Bindi is currently the Group Chief Executive of ProCare, a leading healthcare provider. She is passionate about health and wellbeing, and relishes the opportunity to utilise her strategic and leadership strengths to improve equitable health outcomes for all New Zealanders. Prior to ProCare, Bindi was Chief Executive of REINZ and she has also held various executive roles across New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Bindi is currently a Director for CareHQ, Chair of the Fresh Minds Board and Deputy Chair of the Auckland Branch of the Institute of Directors. Prior to this she has held various governance roles including with Whakarongorau Aotearoa, EMA, Marketing Association and Warehouse Group.
Professor Marjo Lips-Wiersma
Professor of Sustainability and Ethics leadership at Auckland University of Technology
In her role as Professor of Sustainability and Ethics leadership at Auckland University of Technology, Marjo aims to reach people with the sustainability message in ways that create hope and agency and strengthen the will. To that end she has also co-created the Map of Meaning International charity which supports meaning makers globally. In her teaching and research she combines academic insights with practical experiences from a variety of sources, including being a qualified permaculture practitioner.
Susan Peterson
Director
Susan is an experienced business leader with a particular interest in helping companies to drive growth through technology, innovation, and organisational culture.
Susan is currently the chair of Vista Group International and a director on the boards of Mercury Energy, Xero, Arvida and Craigs Investment Partners. Susan is also a member of the Board of Global Women.
Susan’s past directorships include ASB Bank, Trustpower, Property for Industry, The NZ Merino Company Limited and Compac Sorting Solutions. Susan is also a past member of the New Zealand Financial Markets Disciplinary Tribunal, the IHC board and the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Women. Susan was a finalist in the 2014 Westpac New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.
