Introducing our new members for December 2025 – a dynamic group of remarkable women who are breaking barriers and creating impact across sectors and communities. We’re proud to welcome these women into the Global Women whānau, where leadership, influence, and collective advancement thrive. Each brings a powerful story as a thought leader, changemaker, or pioneer, united by a commitment to transforming Aotearoa into a more inclusive and prosperous place for all.
Nichola Hiatt
Nichola is a senior executive and General Counsel with over 20 years’ experience, comprising 12+ years in the financial services industry and prior to that as a senior lawyer in private practice. She champions inclusive leadership, wellbeing, and the advancement of women in financial services, fostering cultures of belonging and creating pathways for emerging talent. Nichola leads initiatives that strengthen teams, support professional growth, and enhance organisational impact. She serves on boards and advocates for women’s empowerment, medical research, and a more equitable financial sector. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, mentorship, and a commitment to creating lasting, inclusive impact. Nichola’s reason for coming to work is to ensure people, teams, and organisations thrive through equitable, supportive, and high-performing environments.
Jessie Chan
Jessie Chan is a Director and Equity Partner in New Zealand’s agricultural sector, known for driving innovation, sustainability, and strong governance across primary industries. A trailblazer for women in agribusiness, she mentors emerging talent and advocates for equitable opportunities, helping under-represented voices thrive. Jessie is committed to strengthening regional communities and championing kaitiakitanga, with leadership grounded in resilience, inclusion, and creating lasting impact.
Professor Moana Theodore
Professor Moana Theodore is one of Aotearoa’s leading Māori academics and the Director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a world-renowned longitudinal research project on health, development, and wellbeing. Her work bridges science, policy, and indigenous knowledge, shaping national health strategies, educational frameworks, and wellbeing initiatives. Moana is a respected voice nationally and internationally, mentoring emerging leaders and driving research that delivers lasting, equitable impact for communities across Aotearoa.
Jayne Pritchard
Jayne Pritchard is Head of Commercial at City Rail Link Limited, leading commercial, procurement, and business partnership activities on New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project. With over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles across complex projects, Jayne champions inclusive leadership, diversity, and social impact in traditionally male-dominated sectors. She mentors emerging women leaders, fosters collaboration across teams, and integrates equity into procurement and project delivery. Jayne’s leadership is grounded in authenticity, fairness, and high-impact results, and she is passionate about creating opportunities for women to thrive in infrastructure and beyond.
Mary Haddock-Stanniland
Mary Haddock-Staniland is a respected DEIB leader and current Chief Organisation Enablement Officer at Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, known for her pioneering executive roles—including New Zealand’s first Chief People & Inclusion Officer at Timely and Global SVP of DEIB at EverCommerce. With a career spanning corporate leadership, governance, community advocacy and advisory roles, she has shaped national and global conversations on inclusion, belonging and organisational culture. A proud Māori trans wahine, Mary’s influence extends across boardrooms, conferences and media, where she champions under-represented voices and drives meaningful workplace change. Her leadership continues to set new standards for equity, authenticity and representation across Aotearoa and beyond.
Melodie Robinson
Melodie Robinson is the Head of Sport, Events and Partnerships at TVNZ and Executive Director of World Rugby and World Rugby Events Co, shaping global strategy, governance, and commercial direction for the sport. A former New Zealand Black Fern, she brings authentic athlete experience to leadership, driving increased visibility, opportunity, and equity for women in sport. Melodie champions inclusive leadership, mentorship, and innovation across international sports, media, and commercial arenas. Her work ensures athletes, teams, and communities thrive, and she is passionate about creating pathways for the next generation of women leaders in sport.
Hafsa Ahmed
Hafsa Ahmed is a Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University, co-founder of the Lady Khadija Charitable Trust, and Director of Unquiet®, leading initiatives that empower migrant and ethnic women to thrive in leadership. She is also Programme Director of Aotearoa New Zealand’s only Ethnic Women’s Leadership Programme and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023 for services to ethnic communities. Hafsa combines academic expertise, social innovation, and community leadership to create inclusive, purpose-driven opportunities that strengthen women, communities, and organisations. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, equity, and a commitment to shaping a more connected and resilient Aotearoa.
Paula Seymour
Paula Seymour is Director of Operations at Mercy Hospice, bringing extensive public sector leadership to the charity and NGO sectors. With a background in health management, she has led large teams, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and delivered equity-focused service redesigns across child, women, and family health services. Paula champions culturally responsive, whānau-centred care and creates pathways for women and clinicians to step into senior leadership roles. Her leadership is marked by clarity, dignity, and a commitment to sustainable, inclusive outcomes that strengthen communities and health systems across Aotearoa.
Andrea Brunner
Andrea Brunner is Chief Operating Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, New Zealand’s largest health insurer, leading a team of around 400 and overseeing $1.7 billion in annual claims. With over 20 years of leadership experience across financial services, operations, people and culture, and customer engagement, Andrea has championed initiatives that improve wellbeing, inclusivity, and safety, particularly for women and girls in sport and rural communities. She has held executive roles at NZ Rugby and FMG Insurance, and has contributed to national governance as a Commissioner on the Natural Hazards Commission and a Board Director at Southern Cross Life. Andrea is passionate about mentoring and developing talent, advocating for equity, and creating lasting impact through people-focused leadership.
Deborah Lind
Dr Deborah Lind is a respected leader in New Zealand’s water industry, with over 30 years’ experience spanning Australasia, the Pacific, and the UK. As Water Industry Lead at Aurecon, she drives innovative and sustainable water solutions while championing governance, diversity, and inclusion across the sector. Formerly a Board member and Chair of key committees at Water New Zealand, Deborah is a passionate advocate for women in STEM, mentoring and speaking widely to advance gender equity. Her leadership bridges technical expertise, strategic insight, and cultural awareness, with impact felt across communities, organisations, and national water policy. Outside work, Deborah pursues her love of theatre, directing and producing productions in Auckland and Queenstown.
Kate Lane
Kate Lane is a Senior Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts, leading the banking and financial services team at one of New Zealand’s top commercial law firms. Widely recognised as a leading banking lawyer, she is a passionate advocate for gender equity in law, finance, and business, mentoring women and promoting future leaders. Kate sits on influential industry and advisory boards, contributes to professional associations, and is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, investment, and women’s leadership. Through her leadership, advocacy, and mentoring, she continues to drive cultural change, supporting diverse talent and creating opportunities for women to thrive in business and finance.
Nina Russell
Nina Russell is Director Organisation Development at the New Zealand Defence Force, where she has transformed inclusion in a traditionally male-dominated organisation. She led NZDF to become the first military worldwide to adopt the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, embedding gender equality, Rainbow inclusion, and intersectional equity into organisational strategy. With a career spanning social research, consultancy, and policy leadership, Nina has consistently turned evidence into action to improve outcomes for women, underrepresented communities, and families across Aotearoa. She serves on national advisory boards, co-chairs the Government Women’s Network, and is a sought-after speaker on gender equity, leadership, and inclusion.
Izzy Fenwick
Izzy Fenwick is Chief Executive of Climate Foundation New Zealand, leading nationwide efforts to drive measurable emissions reduction and environmental systems transformation. Drawing on her background in psychology, business communications, and human-centred design, Izzy mobilises cross-sector collaboration across business, government, and philanthropy. She serves on the Board of The Aotearoa Circle, shaping governance frameworks for natural capital and sustainability reporting, and is recognised for her influence in climate strategy, governance, and leadership innovation. A queer, neurodiverse woman, Izzy champions inclusive leadership and the advancement of women, rangatahi, and Māori and Pasifika voices in sustainability. Her work bridges evidence, storytelling, and action, accelerating systemic change and inspiring the next generation of climate leaders.
Niamh Given
Niamh Given is a leader in Aotearoa New Zealand’s innovation and investment ecosystem, bringing a global perspective and entrepreneurial expertise to early-stage ventures. As Investment Manager at WNT Ventures, she leads initiatives in hardware and deep tech, including founder programmes such as the Hardware Series, equipping innovators with practical tools and global context to scale successfully. Based in Coromandel, Niamh demonstrates that regional leadership can have national and international impact, mentoring founders, running workshops, and fostering inclusive entrepreneurship. Her work has guided portfolio companies from concept to commercialisation and strengthened the country’s tech ecosystem. Niamh is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, connecting New Zealand innovators with global networks and shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Evie O’Brien
Evie O’Brien is the first female CEO of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and a leader in higher education and Indigenous leadership. Formerly Executive Director of Oxford’s Atlantic Institute, she has driven programmes for social justice and equity, held senior tertiary leadership roles, and mentored women leaders for over 20 years. Evie serves on the Pitt Rivers Museum Board and Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust, has created pathways for Māori students including the first kura kaupapa Rhodes Scholar, and champions culturally anchored, inclusive leadership that empowers the next generation across Aotearoa.
Caroline Plowman
Caroline Plowman is an experienced executive and governance leader with a strong background in commercial operations, property, finance, and professional services and is currently Executive Director – Projects, at Kennards Self Storage. Formerly CEO of National Mini Storage, she led major growth, development projects, and a successful business sale, and is recognised for her strategic clarity, steady crisis leadership, and people-centred approach. Caroline’s governance portfolio includes roles with CAANZ, Investore Property, and community organisations, where she champions strong governance, emerging leaders, and greater gender representation in under-represented sectors. Known for her commercial acumen, integrity, and commitment to developing others, she brings a balanced and forward-looking perspective to leadership across Aotearoa.