Global Women’s Forum Headlines Impressive Line-up

MEDIA RELEASE

August 20, 2012

Global Women’s Forum Headlines Impressive Line-up of Thought Leaders

The Forum’s Theme Urges Resilience – Creating Business in Uncertain times

Sharing their recipe for resilience, some of the most influential women leading change in the private, public and not for profit sectors will gather together to speak at the fourth annual New Zealand Global Women’s forum in Auckland on September 4, 2012.

Global Women is New Zealand’s top network of businesswomen, and the Forum is a unique opportunity to challenge thinking about trends influencing New Zealand Inc., the social impact of diversity and the growth of innovative new business models, and the ways New Zealand Inc. can capitalise on the rise of social media and the digital world. It is also an opportunity to share insight in collaborative sessions and forge tangible connections with a diverse cross-sector of leaders.

The dynamic line-up of speakers includes U.S based serial entrepreneur and digital success story, Claudia Batten. Passionate about business, Claudia was part of the founding team of Massive Inc. which sold to Microsoft Corp. in 2006 and more recently founded and sold Victors and Spoils, an ingenious ad agency based on crowdsourcing.

“New Zealanders have an incredible ability to adapt and respond to new challenges. I want the country to realise that the digital economy is the perfect next challenge for us to conquer. If we use digital connectivity to our advantage, we can build incredible export businesses unencumbered by the reality of our geographical separation from the world. With vision, and a little bit of courage, New Zealand really could be an international leader in the digital space."
Also keynoting is Sarah Kennedy, Managing Director of Fonterra Nutrition. Reinvigorating her passion for leadership and NZ Inc., Sarah Kennedy recently returned to New Zealand after completing a business management course for the world’s most visionary leaders at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

A taste of other speakers and panellists include NZGW Chair, the RT Hon Dame Jenny Shipley, Pure Advantage Campaign Manager Duncan Stewart; Group General Manager of Air New Zealand Vanessa Stoddart; Founder of the SME Business Network Sharon Hunter; CEO of NZICT Candice Kinser; CEO of Sysdoc Katherine Corich; Managing Director of Young and Shand Duncan Shand; Founder of Flossie Jenene Crossan; clinical psychologist and National Manager of Leva Dr. Monique Faleafa; Director and Trustee of Waikato Tainui Te Kauhanganui Inc. and Tainui Group Holdings Ltd Rukumoana Schaafhausen; and Managing Director of Korn/Ferry Australasia Katie Lahey.

To register for the forum go to www.globalwomen.org.nz

About NZGW

New Zealand Global Women connects New Zealand’s top businesswomen – both here and offshore. Since being launched by Prime Minister John Key in July 2009, the invitation-only network has grown to more than 130 senior women CEOs, directors and managers from across the private and public sectors; from the sciences, arts and not-for-profit enterprises. They are based in New Zealand, the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and China.

London School of Business research identifies that creating supportive networks is critical to advancing talented women. Interviews during the development of NZGW revealed that even high-achieving women under-invest in their social capital, often due to multiple demands on their time.

The high–powered board of Global Women is chaired by former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Dame Jenny Shipley; and comprises Michele Embling, Managing Partner PwC Auckland, Mai Chen, the founding partner of public law specialists Chen Palmer Sarah Kennedy, MD, Global Food Nutrition, Fonterra; Bridget Liddell, Managing Principal, Fahrenheit Ventures, New York; Joanne McCrae, Partner, Deloitte; Erica Crawford, Director Tentpole Ltd; Sue Sheldon, Independent Director and Chair; Joan Withers, Independent Director and Chair; Jane Sweeney, MD Porter Novelli; Amanda Ellis, Deputy Secretary , Ministry Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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