This year’s Women in Governance Awards, held on the 131st anniversary of women’s suffrage in Aotearoa New Zealand, saw the recognition of New Zealand women who are demonstrating exceptional leadership and governance across the country.
We are proud to congratulate our members Traci Houpapa, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ranjna Patel, winner of the Ethnic Communities Governance Leader award, for their recognition on the night. We are also delighted to congratulate major partnering organisation MinterEllisonRuddWatts, this year’s winner of the Gender Diverse Organisation Leader with more than 50 employees award.
Among the exceptional nominees for this year’s awards also were our members Tracey Kai (nominated for Rising Governance Star), Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh (nominated for Not for Profit Governance Leader) and our supporting partner Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council (nominated for Gender Diverse Organisation Leader with more than 50 employees).
The New Zealand Women in Governance Awards recognise exceptional leadership and commitment to gender equity in governance. The awards are an initiative of the Chartered Governance Institute New Zealand and Women on Boards, an organisation focused on increasing gender diversity in boards across Aotearoa New Zealand.
While the number of women on publicly listed company boards is increasing, only 36.5% of NZX 50 Boards have female representation. In the public sector, Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s recent stocktake of gender and ethnic diversity shows that 53.9% of members are women. However, ethnic diversity representation is still low. Women in Governance Awards celebrates the work that is being done by incredible women and organisations to shift the dial for gender equity in governance.
The 2024 Awards dinner was hosted by Global Women member Ziena Jalil and officiated by Minister for Women Hon Nicola Grigg, Minister for Ethnic Communities Hon Melissa Lee, and Minister for Māori Development Hon Tama Potaka. The evening was a beautiful celebration of 131 years of suffrage, honouring the amazing nominees and winners who continue to lead the charge for women’s equity in Aotearoa New Zealand.