Keynote Speakers

Dr. Siouxsie Wiles 
Leading Through Communication

With her bright pink hair, microbiologist and science communicator Dr. Siouxsie Wiles is hard to miss! One of the country’s most recognised scientists, Siouxsie and her team make nasty bacteria glow in the dark to find out what’s making us sick with the aim of finding new medicines. She still can’t quite believe she gets paid to do it for a living. Outside the lab, Siouxsie regularly appears on radio and TV, working hard to smash the stereotypes people have about what scientists and leaders look like.

Siouxsie has been recognised many times for her amazing contributions to science and society in New Zealand. In 2019 she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to microbiology and science communication. Prior to this, she has been honoured as a Blake Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust as well as winning both the Royal Society Te Aparangi Callaghan Medal and the Prime Minister ’s Science Media Communication Prize. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Siouxsie became one of the primary faces, communicators and educators in NZ. This led to Siouxsie being named the supreme winner of the Stuff-Westpac Women of Influence Awards in 2020 and the 2021 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

Paula Tesoriero MNZM
Stewardship Through Change 

Paula is Chief Executive of Whaikaha — Ministry of Disabled People. Previously Paula held the position of Disability Rights Commissioner and Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission. Prior to this she was General Manager, System and Partnerships at Stats NZ, General Manager, High Courts at the Ministry of Justice, and Manager, Service Design at the Ministry of Justice. Paula has served in various governance roles including as Deputy Chair of Peke Waihanga — Artificial Limb Service and Deputy Chair of Nuku Ora (previously Sport Wellington) and she served on the Board of Paralympics NZ. She is a life trustee of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and is an honorary advisor to the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Paula is also a Paralympian, winning a gold medal and 2 bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Mary Haddock-Staniland
Leading from Where I Stand

There is something extraordinary about Mary. Mary Haddock-Staniland has garnered an impressive reputation for championing change and advocating for a more equitable world, sparking positive change, in the corporate world as a highly regarded thought leader and in social spheres as a committed advocate. 

After a varied career spanning 20 years, Mary was appointed, in 2020, Chief People &Inclusion Officer, now the role is known as the Global Senior Vice President of DEIB(Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) for EverCommerce, the parent company for business management software company, Timely Limited. Still, the first executive-level role of this nature in any New Zealand organisation. 

Mary is an accomplished and highly sought-after keynote speaker, panelist and MC who brings the right balance of energy and insight to events of all sizes. She also holds a range of advisory and governance roles, and in 2017 was appointed an ambassador for charitable trust, Lifeline New Zealand.

Dame Juliet Gerrard 
Science Advice in a Crisis

Since Juliet’s appointment in 2018 as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua ki te Pirimia, she has worked from a base of four founding principles: rigour, inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility. She has supported the science and science advisor community to provide advice to the PM, ministers, and the public on a wide range of topics, including advice on the Christchurch mosque shootings, the response to the Whakaari | White Island eruption, the Cannabis referendum, rheumatic fever and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Office has released three major reports, Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand, The future of commercial fishing in Aotearoa New Zealand, and Kotahitanga - Uniting Aotearoa against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance.

Rising Stars Panel

Leading through Influence and Allyship

Employee-Led Networks are a way for anyone in the Public Service to influence the change they’d like to see. Each of the panellists brings a different network perspective and will discuss how they’ve ‘led from where they are’ and explore what allyship looks like for their networks.

Anne Hawker - Facilitator
Principal Disability Adviser at the Ministry of Social Development 

Recently retired Principal Disability Adviser at the Ministry of Social Development. Anne has been instrumental in developing the capability and capacity of the Public service in creating an inclusive and enabling public service for Disabled People. As part of this work Anne established  We Enable Us (WEU) employee-led network. Anne has also been pivotal in establishing the All of Government - Principal Advisors Disability Network.

Noelle Dumo
Senior Policy Advisor, and Co-Founder of the Women of Colour Network at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment 

Senior Policy Advisor, and co-founder of the Women of Colour Network at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Noelle has been instrumental in supporting MBIE’s work on diversity and inclusion through her work as co-chair of the Women of Colour Network and her work with the wider MBIE Diversity and Inclusion Council. Noelle further contributes through her work with the Pan-Asian Public Sector Network, and the up-and-coming women of colour in the public sector network.

Jaimee Matthews
Content designer and web writer in the Information for Customers team, Inland Revenue Department (IR).

Co-Chair of the IR Rainbow Network and Communications Lead for the Cross-Agency Rainbow Network, Jaimee has continually supported other networks within IR as they've launched, assisting with governance and strategy. 

Lyn Meredith
Executive Business Support to Deputy Commissioner Customer & Compliance Services Business for Inland Revenue NZ (IR)

Throughout her career at IR, Lyn has demonstrated her commitment to diversity networks in roles such as Network Lead for the IR Women’s Network (Wāhine Tūhono - Women Connecting) and Co-chair of Te Haa o Kirikiriroa (Hamilton Māori Network). After four years as chair of Te Haa o Kirikiriroa, Lyn is now supporting an up-and-coming Network Lead.

Workshop Presenters

Katie Wesney
Let’s Talk About Financial Fitness

Sarah Connor
Let's Talk About Menopause

Sarah grew up on a farm between Hastings and Taihape on the Ngaruroro River not far from the Kaweka Ranges. She studied a Bachelor ofCommerce, Management and Marketing at Lincoln University, and lives in Wellington with her partner, two children and their guinea pigs.

A freelance writer who creates content and copy for good sorts doinggood things, Sarah is also a guest speaker and facilitator of conversations about menopause/ruahinetanga in workplaces, on social media and in her community.

While Sarah is not a doctor, she's been researching, writing about and talking about menopause since 2019 when perimenopause impacted every aspect of her health and wellbeing.

On World Menopause Day in 2020, she launched Menopause Over Martinis* as an invitation for people to talk about menopause over dinner(the martinis are obviously optional)! Her grassroots project has since grown into a movement.

One conversation at a time, her mission is for everyone to feel more informed, understood and supported during this normal, inevitable and important stage of life.

Penny Stonyer and Vai Kavthekar
Let’s Talk About Being Your Own Best Champion

In this fast-paced workshop Penny and Vai will join forces to work through tips and tricks about presenting the best you. 

Penny Stonyer

Penny will discuss practical tips and techniques to ensure that you do not undersell yourself and achieve the salary and conditions you want and need as a preferred candidate. Penny Stonyer has extensive experience working with Chief Executives, Ministers, Senior Management Teams, Chairs and Boards on a wide range of recruitment and governance matters, including director, chief executive and senior executive appointments.

She has recently worked with the Boards of Civil Aviation, Antarctica NZ, Maritime NZ, ESR and NZ Capital Growth Partners. Penny also currently holds the role of Head of Governance and Appointments at the three water reform programme at DIA.

Prior to this, she was the first Senior Leadership Development Broker at Te Kawa Mataaho. She was a Senior Advisor in the Appointments and Governance Team at the NZ Treasury where she was responsible for all governance and appointment matters for 14 entities within the Crowns commercial portfolio.

Prior to joining Treasury Penny spent 18 years in the executive recruitment industry, including establishing and developing a successful boutique public sector recruitment company, which after three years was acquired by multinational company listed on the ASX where she became New Zealand General Manager.

Vai Kavthekar 

Vaidehi(Vai) Kavthekar is an empathetic leader, lifelong learner, connector and an expert in leading teams through a motivational yet realistic approach that delivers transformational results. Vai is currently the Business Intelligence Manager- Insights with StatsNZ within Collections Operations. Previously, Vai was the Programme Delivery National Manager for Pacific Work Connect & Work Connect programmes which were fully funded by MBIE.Vai has vast international experience, working in New Zealand, Australia and India in various industries including education, business, legal and IT. Vai is an Associate Fellow with IML ANZ , a qualified Careers Coach, Professional Member with CDANZ, member with APCDA and has presented at CDANZ conferences. 

Session Speakers

Professor Edwina Pio
The Alchemy of Diversity Through Intersectionality

Recipient of a Royal Society medal, and Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship, Fulbright alumna, Edwina Pio is New Zealand’s first Professor of Diversity, University Director of Diversity, and elected Councillor on the governing body of the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Her research and doctoral supervisions encompass the intersections of work, ethnicity, indigenous studies, religion - spirituality, and pedagogy.  A prolific writer, her research is published in leading international journals and media outlets, and she has written over half a dozen books.  Edwina has been appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Group pertaining to the Royal society recommendations on the Christchurch Mosque shootings. A woman of peace and prayer, a scholar of colour, and a passionately engaged educator, Edwina brings grace, gratitude, courage and thoughtfulness to governance, teaching, research, doctoral supervisions, and stakeholder engagement.

Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'i
Championing Advocacy 

Tupe is an engaging speaker, skilled presenter and powerful storyteller who has spent her professional and personal life advocating for diversity and inclusion.

The Samoan /Fijian Kiwi is the creator of an award nominated web series on unconscious bias called" Misadventures of a Pacific Professional "Her chat show, "Talanoa with Tupe", showcases successful Pacific peoples in a range of different fields. She is the co-founder of the first Pasifika Youth Short Film Competition, and an independent singer/songwriter.

Tupe is a law graduate and former diplomat who has a seat on various boards and advisory groups offering her expertise in areas such as international trade, philanthropy, media, and engaging with Asia and the Pacific. She is also a leader in the philanthropic sector.

In 2020, Tupe was recognised as one of the University of Auckland’s 40 under 40 and won the diversity category in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards. This year Tupe was named as one of New Zealand’s most Influential Lawyers by NZ Lawyer Magazine in the category of Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal Justice.

Dame Marie Shroff 
Leading in the Public Service

Marie Shroff is currently Chair of the Electoral Commission, a member of the Press Council and the Consumer NZ Board, and  Patron of the Privacy Foundation. Over a long career she has extensive experience in advising Ministers, dealing with controversial policy issues, leading and managing in government agencies and responding to the media. Marie Shroff was Privacy Commissioner for ten years from  2003 to 2014. During that time technology change made privacy an issue of high public concern and challenged many boundaries. As Commissioner she responded to many controversial matters including complaints against politicians and business, and major privacy breaches by government departments. Marie will share insights of her career in this inspiring session

Meleane Burgess
Leading in Governance

Meleane Burgess is an Accountant and Independent Director.   She is a Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, a Chartered Governance Professional of Governance NZ, and a graduate of the University of Waikato Management School.Meleane is currently Managing Director of Dynamic Advisory Limited, an Independent Director on the Public Trust Board, Council Member at the University of Waikato, Member of the Pacific Reference Group for the Ministry of Social Development, Future Director on the NZ Post Board, and a Trustee on the Anglican Action Board.Meleane won the Pacific Governance Leader and Rising Governance Star awards at the 2022 Women in Governance Awards.