Featured Speakers
Joan Withers
Professional Director
Joan Withers has extensive governance and executive experience, is currently Chair of The Warehouse Group and sits on the boards of ANZ NZ and Sky TV. She is a former Chair of Auckland International Airport, TVNZ and Mercury NZ Ltd, and has held Chief Executive positions in the largest media companies in the country and in that capacity has led significant organisational transformations. Joan holds an MBA from the University of Auckland and was a recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015. In that year she was also named as the Deloitte Top 200 Chairperson of the Year and was named as the Supreme Winner in the Women of Influence Awards. Other acknowledgements include the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association Beacon Award, the CAANZ Media Excellence Award and induction into the TVNZ Marketing Awards Hall of Fame. Joan lives with her husband on a rural property in Karaka where they indulge their passion for horses, dogs and generally enjoying the country lifestyle.
View Speakers
Featured Speakers
Cathy Quinn
Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Cathy Quinn is one of New Zealand ‘s foremost corporate lawyers and holds a number of non-executive directorships of leading New Zealand entities. They include Fletcher Building, Tourism Holdings, Rangatira Limited and Fertility Associates. She is also on the advisory board of the NZ Treasury, and on the executive board of the NZ China Council. Cathy has practiced law for 34 years at MinterEllisonRuddWatts, where she has been a senior corporate partner. Cathy retires as a partner at the end of this year but will remain with the firm as a consultant. Her role has included advising local and offshore organisations on a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, capital raisings and takeovers. Cathy led her firm for 8 years as chair during a period of significant growth and transformation. In 2016 she was awarded an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to the law and women.
View Speakers
Featured Speakers
Silvana Schenone
Partner MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Silvana is a partner and Head of Corporate at MinterEllisonRuddWatts, experienced in advising clients on a range of M&A transactions. She is recognised in a number of international directories as a leading adviser in her field. Silvana has a remarkable international background, born in Chile, of Chilean mother and Italian father, and having worked in New York, Chile and New Zealand. Silvana is a Member of the NZ Takeovers Panel, appointed by the Governor General. Silvana is the author of Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Company Secretaries in New Zealand, the most up to date text, referred to by the directors’ community in New Zealand, on this very important topic. She holds a Master in Law from Harvard University. Silvana is a member of the Latin America New Zealand Business Council, Global Women and a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars in connection with M&A and corporate topics, diversity and leadership.
View Speakers
Featured Speakers
Frances Valintine
Education Futurist
Frances is an educator, innovator, technologist and a Director of Watercare. She has spent her career at the forefront of technological change and the future of work. She is the founder of The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab. Both institutes are highly awarded postgraduate facilities committed to the development of contemporary capability and knowledge for professionals and the development of human insight. Frances received her Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 New Years Honours List. In 2017 Frances became a member of the New Zealand Hi Tech Hall of Fame and in 2016 a Sir Peter Blake Leader. In 2015 Frances received the Women of Influence Award for her contribution to education and the Woman of the Year award for education awarded by Next Magazine. Frances is the Futures Advisor to BNZ and the Chair of the BNZ Open Ventures. She is a Director for Callaghan Innovation and she sits on the Board of Trustees for Dilworth. On top of all that she is also one of the founders of the On Being Bold collective.
View Speakers
Featured Speakers
Jolie Hodson
Spark CEO
Jolie Hodson is CEO of Spark New Zealand, where she’s responsible for ensuring the company has a sound strategy for adapting to the fast changing world of digital services. She’s a former “CFO of the Year”, and has held a number of executive roles for Lion Group Australia. Jolie is also an activator at SheEO, which is a global community of radically generous women transforming the way we finance, support and celebrate female entrepreneurs who are creating a better world. And she’s a founding member of On Being Bold
View Speakers
Featured Speakers
Annika Streefland
Vineyard Owner
After a big corporate career including key roles with Korn Ferry International here and in the Netherlands, Annika is pursuing a labour of love with the Kopuwai Delta vineyard in Central Otago which she founded 18 years ago. Currently a director of the New Zealand Opera, Annika has also held leadership and governance roles with Contact Energy and the NZ Film Archive.
View Speakers
