Theresa Gattung is a New Zealand business leader, author, philanthropist and investor. Her best-selling autobiography Bird on a Wire was published in 2010.
Perhaps best known for her role as CEO of Telecom New Zealand, she was the first female CEO of an NZX listed company. Since leaving Telecom, she has divided her time between professional governance, entrepreneurial pursuits, and philanthropic work.
She has held multiple governance positions; Chair of AIA Australia, Chair Telco Technology Services, Chair CoOfWomen, Chair of the Wellington Board of the SPCA and then on the Royal New Zealand SPCA (RNZSPCA) National Board. She is currently Chair of AIA New Zealand, Chair Tend, Chair Telco Technology Services, Chair of Global Women and a member of the National Advisory Board on the Employment of Women.
As co-founder of My Food Bag, alongside Cecilia and James Robinson and Nadia Lim and Carlos Bagrie she helped take the start-up to a nationwide company with a turnover of over $130m.
In 2017 Theresa introduced Coralus (formerly SheEO) to New Zealand, an international community that supports, finances, and celebrates female entrepreneurs and was the New Zealand Lead for five years, successfully achieving the goal of creating a perpetual fund that will continue to support at least five ventures per year in perpetuity. Over 25 women led Ventures were supported during her time as Lead.
In 2019 she became an investor in and Chair of Tend. Launched in 2020 Tend is one of the largest primary healthcare providers in New Zealand offering GP appointments in clinic and online. Customers use the Tend app to take control of their healthcare, creating an end-end healthcare experience.
In 2021 she funded the Theresa Gattung Chair of Women in Entrepreneurship within the University of Auckland Business School and also launched the Gattung Foundation whose main charitable purposes are to support the relief of poverty, the education and advancement of women, Māori and Pasifika to reduce inequality and the care, support and protection of animals.
In 2024 she launched Compatico, a premium, personalised and private matchmaking service designed for those of us aged 40 and above.
Theresa is involved with a number of not-for-profit and philanthropic interests, including being on the Global Board of World Pulse, being co-founder of the World Women Charitable Trust and Patron of the Cambodia Charitable Trust.
She lives between Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
Recognition and awards
2024 – Appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List for services to women, governance and philanthropy
2023 – Inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame
2021 – Inaugural NZ Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her trailblazing leadership and empowerment of women by the UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand
2021 – Inducted into the CoOfWomen Hall of Fame
2019 – Zonta New Zealand Women of Achievement
2018 – Lifetime Achievement, Westpac Women of Influence Awards
2018 – RNZSPCA Hall of Fame
2017 – Inaugural winner NEXT Lifetime Achievement Award
2015 – Appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and philanthropy
2015 – Inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame at the TVNZ Marketing Awards
2007 – University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni Award
2007 – Victoria University of Wellington Distinguished Alumni Award