Introducing our new members for June 2025—a dynamic group of wāhine whose impact spans sectors, disciplines, and communities. We are proud to welcome these exceptional leaders to the Global Women whānau. Each brings a powerful story of leadership, influence and commitment to shaping a more inclusive, prosperous future for Aotearoa.
Ceinwen McNeil
Ceinwen is a respected leader in infrastructure and government relations, currently at First Follower and a Board member of Kāinga Ora. She brings strategic insight from both corporate and Crown environments, advocating for collaboration between public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to deliver public value. As a Harvard alumna and a champion of diversity, she has shaped national housing policy and continues to be a powerful voice in infrastructure reform and inclusive leadership.
Kara Smith
Kara is the Country Manager of Talent International NZ and a Director on its Global Executive Team. As one of the youngest executives to lead in the recruitment and tech sector, she has transformed Talent NZ into a profitable, people-first business. A proud Māori wāhine, Kara champions inclusive hiring, gender pay transparency, and DEI initiatives—especially through Talent RISE. She is an award-winning leader with a proven record of commercial success and social impact.
Jennah Wootten
Jennah is a seasoned executive across sport, events, and business strategy. Currently CEO at Aktive, her career includes leadership roles at Sport NZ, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, and the New Zealand Major Events Unit. She led the national bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and is passionate about the legacy of sport, participation, and equity for women and girls.
Nina Cohen Bohn
Nina Cohen Bohn brings global experience and purpose-driven leadership to her role at the University of Auckland, where she leads transformational fundraising efforts as Head of Principal Gifts. With a background in international education, philanthropy, and strategy, Nina is deeply committed to social impact, equity, and advancing the role of women in leadership. She believes in the power of networks and storytelling to create change, and is passionate about championing opportunities that uplift underrepresented communities. Nina’s work reflects a lifelong dedication to contributing meaningfully at the intersection of education, philanthropy, and inclusion.
Aroha Armstrong
Aroha Armstrong is Chief Executive of TupuToa, an organisation dedicated to growing Māori and Pacific leadership across Aotearoa’s corporate and public sectors. With a deep commitment to creating pathways for Indigenous excellence, Aroha leads with authenticity, purpose, and cultural grounding. Her leadership is shaped by years of experience working at the intersection of economic development, partnership, and equity—bringing together diverse stakeholders to deliver lasting impact. Aroha is passionate about transforming systems to ensure Māori and Pacific people can thrive, and she continues to champion kaupapa Māori and Pacific-led approaches in every aspect of her work.
Sara-Jane Evans
Sara-Jane is Head of Membership and Commercial Services at Property Council NZ, overseeing national operations including sponsorship, membership, and events. She founded the organisation’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and launched the Inclusion Alliance—bringing the industry’s largest organisations together to embed DEI. A Māori and Fijian leader, she is a powerful advocate for inclusive change in the built environment.
Kath Eastwood
Kath Eastwood is the Chief Executive of Kidney Society, a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with kidney disease across Aotearoa. With a background in health leadership and a strong commitment to equity, Kath brings compassion and strategic insight to a complex and often underrepresented area of the health sector. Her leadership is grounded in advocacy, community engagement, and a drive to improve outcomes for individuals and whānau affected by chronic illness. Kath is passionate about ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to quality care and support—particularly those navigating long-term health journeys.
Damaris Treasure
Damaris Treasure is an internationally respected strategic communications leader with over 15 years’ experience shaping brand, reputation, and community impact in the global sports industry. Her career spans major roles at Manchester City, City Football Group, and the A-Leagues, where she led critical transformation, including launching women’s teams, building global CSR strategies, and driving groundbreaking equity initiatives in sport. Now based in Aotearoa and Founder of Rufo Communications, Damaris continues to advise high-profile clients in sport and entertainment, including Auckland FC and Foley Entertainment Group. Passionate about equity, engagement and DEI, she brings global influence, deep sector knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to creating long-term change for women and communities through the power of sport and storytelling.
Kjesten Wiig
Kjesten Wiig, is the newly appointed Director (Chief Executive) of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, New Zealand’s leading independent biomedical research institute based in Wellington. With a neuroscience background and extensive experience spanning academia, industry, and government, Kjesten brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and commercial leadership to her role. She also directs New Zealand’s RNA Technology Development Platform and Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, spearheading national efforts in vaccine innovation and RNA therapeutics. Having held senior roles in the USA biotech sector and key government innovation portfolios in New Zealand, Kjesten leverages her global networks and deep understanding of research commercialization to drive biomedical advancements and foster strong collaborations between science, industry, and policymakers.
Louise Miller
Louise Miller is the Chief Executive of Napier City Council and a seasoned leader with seven years’ experience as a CEO in New Zealand local government, including a transformative tenure at Kaipara District Council. Born in the UK, she brings a strong background in community development, strategy, and change management, underpinned by her authentic and compassionate leadership style. Louise is passionate about engaging communities and partners, building strong relationships with mana whenua, and supporting organisational transformation. She is actively involved in governance and sector leadership, serving as a Trustee of the Local Government Superannuation Trust and contributing to key local government initiatives on workforce equity and innovation.
Tanya Pitchforth
Tanya is a globally experienced and future-focused executive with over 20 years leading sales, marketing, innovation, and business development across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and beyond. As Director and Chief Operating Officer of Business Apothecary in Sydney and recently appointed Chief Commercial Officer of McPhersons, she has driven transformative growth with a strong emphasis on inclusion, sustainability, and purposeful innovation—especially in nutrition and women’s health. Tanya’s leadership spans corporate and startup environments, and she actively mentors emerging leaders internationally while holding governance roles in arts and children’s initiatives. Passionate about championing diverse leadership and supporting women in traditionally male-dominated sectors, Tanya leverages her extensive network and global insight to foster inclusive progress and empower the next generation of leaders.
Claire Bourne
Claire Bourne, Head of People at Citycare Property in Christchurch, is a proud Māori leader deeply committed to creating inclusive workplaces where wāhine Māori and all women can thrive and lead. Grounded in her upbringing across Northland and South Auckland, Claire brings lived experience as a white-passing, neurodiverse Māori woman who has consistently challenged the status quo in traditionally male-dominated and unionised environments. Leading a team supporting 900 kaimahi nationwide, she has driven meaningful change including reducing the gender pay gap, increasing women’s leadership representation, and strengthening Māori inclusion. Beyond her professional role, Claire invests heavily in community leadership and mentorship, championing diverse voices and empowering wāhine to step into spaces where they have historically been sidelined. Her influence is rooted
Jen Nolan
Jen Nolan is a highly experienced and influential leader in Aotearoa, known for her extensive background in journalism, corporate affairs, and stakeholder engagement—particularly in the energy sector where she champions inclusion and diversity. As founder of her own consultancy, At Large, she supports multiple organisations across energy, healthcare, and Crown agencies. Jen has a proven track record in strengthening relationships with Māori and government and was pivotal in increasing female representation at Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter. She actively mentors women leaders, promotes gender equity through the Mana Wahine network, and frequently moderates high-profile panels that challenge the status quo on diversity. With a focus on collaborative, win-win outcomes, Jen combines strong professional expertise with a passion for lifting others, making a significant impact across multiple sectors in New Zealand.
Jane Fitzgerald
Jane Fitzgerald is a Partner in Technology and Transformation at Deloitte New Zealand, known for her leadership in digital transformation and customer-centric solutions. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, Jane has championed gender balance initiatives and mentors many female leaders while balancing a successful career and family life. She brings a global perspective combined with deep local roots from Waikato and actively drives change to create more inclusive and innovative workplaces.
Karen Vercoe
Karen Vercoe MNZM is a distinguished leader whose rich background in high performance sport and Māori governance has fueled her impactful career. As Chief Executive Officer of Central Kids Trust, she leads an organisation committed to the wellbeing and development of tamariki across the region. Karen’s sporting achievements include playing for the Black Ferns and mentoring female athletes, while her iwi leadership roles include Chairing Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa and the Data Iwi Leaders Group, where she advanced key agreements upholding Māori rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. With a Master of Management from the University of Auckland and founder of KTV Consulting Ltd, Karen has delivered transformative results across Māori and Pacific health and social services. Her tenure as CEO of Te Arawa Lakes Trust saw significant organisational growth and success. Awarded an MNZM for her services to sport and governance, Karen remains dedicated to nurturing Māori culture, leadership, and the future generation through both her executive work and ongoing community involvement.
Christina Leung
Christina Leung is Deputy Chief Executive (Auckland) at NZIER and Vice Chair of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society NZ, where she leads important economic projects and champions professional excellence. A respected economic commentator and leader, Christina actively advances women in finance through mentorship and research on gender equity issues, including the impacts of working from home and retirement gaps. Her expertise, influence, and commitment to diversity make her a valuable leader shaping New Zealand’s economic and professional landscape.
Hong-Thuy Paterson
Hong-Thuy Paterson is a globally recognized finance and operations leader, co-founder and CFO of Greenbridge Capital Management, focused on mobilizing capital for scalable climate solutions. With nearly 30 years’ experience spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, she previously led the Green Climate Fund’s financial growth and governance reforms, championing gender equity and inclusion, including building women’s leadership and diversity programs. Hong’s leadership integrates purpose-driven strategy with financial innovation, mentoring emerging women leaders across climate, finance, and tech sectors, while driving systemic change to empower vulnerable communities and create inclusive, sustainable impact worldwide.
Charlotte Ward
Charlotte Ward is Chief People Officer at Kiwibank, where she leads organisational transformation and drives a culture of belonging, equity, and inclusion. Since 2020, Charlotte has spearheaded initiatives such as supported leave, wellbeing days, and ambitious targets for women in leadership, making Kiwibank a benchmark for inclusive workplace practices in New Zealand. With extensive international HR leadership experience, she is a vocal advocate for systemic change, promoting the philosophy of “fixing the work, not the women.” Charlotte’s impact extends beyond Kiwibank through her mentoring, public speaking, and influence on national conversations around diversity, equity, and leadership.