How do women create meaningful change in the communities they call home?
Across Tāhuna Queenstown and the wider Whakatipu region, women are shaping the future through leadership, business, culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, and community impact. While their journeys differ, they share a commitment to strengthening their communities and helping the region thrive.
Join Global Women for an evening of leadership, connection, and conversation. Hear from Global Women Chair Dame Theresa Gattung, followed by a panel of wāhine leaders from Queenstown and the wider Whakatipu region. Together, they will share the experiences, decisions, opportunities, and challenges that have shaped their leadership journeys. From growing businesses and driving social change to strengthening culture and building community, our speakers will explore the many ways women create impact.
Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, professional, community advocate, or emerging leader, you’ll gain valuable insights, make meaningful connections, and be part of an important conversation about the future of the region.
Register now and connect with women leading change across Tāhuna Queenstown and the Whakatipu.
Speakers and panellists:
Karmela is a wāhine Māori businesswoman, community builder, and connector based in Tāhuna Queenstown. Her whakapapa includes Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, and Raukawa. With more than 20 years’ experience across tourism, entrepreneurship, and community development, she focuses on connecting people, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Karmela is the co-founder of Check In Queenstown and Check In Global and is a passionate advocate for Māori enterprise and regional prosperity.
Alex is the founder of Women’s Shed Aotearoa, a grassroots organisation empowering wāhine through carpentry, practical skills, and community connection. A qualified builder, she also co-founded Queens Workwear and launched Tradie Lady meetups to support women working in trades. Her background spans youth work, community service, and volunteering with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Gab is a Mexican-born entrepreneur, chef, and co-founder of Casa Jaguar in Glenorchy. With a background in industrial chemistry and hospitality, she combines analytical thinking with creativity and practical business expertise. Gab has helped build one of the South Island’s leading Mexican restaurants while developing AI tools and championing migrant entrepreneurship. She brings valuable insights on building a successful business in a small community.
Ngaire is a veterinary surgeon, entrepreneur, and experienced independent director. She founded and grew CareVets’n’Pets Ltd into a network of 21 clinics before successfully selling the business. Today, she is Clinical Manager and emergency veterinarian at the After Hours Veterinary Clinic in Christchurch. Ngaire is passionate about leadership, resilience, governance, and creating long-term impact through business and not-for-profit organisations.
Theresa is a business leader, investor, philanthropist, and author. She was the first woman to lead an NZX-listed company as CEO of Telecom New Zealand. Today, she chairs Global Women, AIA New Zealand, Tend, and Telco Technology Services. Through her governance, investment, and philanthropic work, she champions women-led entrepreneurship, innovation, and positive social impact across Aotearoa.
Katie is a business leader and mother of three daughters. Her career spans financial services, technology, FMCG, aviation, and governance roles across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Of Ngāti Whakaue descent, Katie has been a longstanding member, contributor, and board member of Global Women. She is committed to advancing wāhine in leadership and creating a prosperous future for Aotearoa.
Vivienne has more than a decade of experience connecting academic research with industry innovation in food and health. As Director of Nuku Toi, she works with researchers and industry partners in New Zealand and Singapore to secure funding, drive innovation, and commercialise new solutions. Her work also includes applying AI and machine learning to improve social welfare outcomes.
We’re grateful to our event sponsors and hosts, Craigs Investment Partners Queenstown, for helping make this event possible.
