inspire inclusion

An engaging event for women of all backgrounds.

Sat 5 October 2024 ~ 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Butterfly Creek, Tom Pearce Drive, Auckland Airport

Event details

Join us for a transformative day hosted by Business and Professional Women New Zealand, themed "Inspiring Inclusion." The event will feature a keynote address by Saunoamaali’i Dr. Karanina Sumeo, presenting "Breaking Barriers in Human Rights: The Journey," offering profound insights from her roles as Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner and Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner.

The day will enhance personal development and build connections with like-minded professional women through a variety of workshops and panels. Highlights include the "Gals with Goals" panel, which will explore the intersection between personal relationships, values, and running a business, and the "Getting Real on Inclusivity & Diversity" panel, which will facilitate discussions among BPW members about cultural and disability-related challenges.

Plus, choose from workshops such as "Leadership Personalities: What Are They?" to delve into different leadership styles, or another exciting topic which is TBC. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with women from all around the country as we come together for the BPWNZ Leadership Forum.

Grab a ticket here

Keynote

Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo

Acting Chief Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, and Acting Race Relations Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

She is of Samoan descent and a mother to three children.

Saunoamaali'i has worked as a public advisor, consultant, and social worker, advocating for the rights and interests of children, youth, women, Rainbow, and Pacific communities.

Saunoamaali'i holds qualifications in science, social work, and social policy, including a PhD in public policy from the Auckland University of Technology.

YOUNG BPW SESSION

Gals with Goals: crossing the divide of personal life and business.

This panel will discuss the intersection between personal relationships, values, and running a business.

Let's Market

Kate martin

With over six years of experience working in marketing for both public and private sectors, and holding a Master's in Business Marketing, I now run Let's Market – a digital marketing agency dedicated to helping small businesses in New Zealand make more money by reaching their target audiences.

Clarity Cost Management

Heidi Van Eeden

Registered Quantity Surveyor with over 25 years of experience across most sectors of the construction industry be it mining, civils, vertical or horizontal, in South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand. Expert witness, Entrepreneur, mother, wife and active volunteer on NZIQS branch and DEI committees, AMINZ council, Toastmasters amongst other endeavours.

Verve Social Media Management

Julia Martino

Over the last 13 years, she's overseen social media for public libraries, non-profits and local Civil Defence along with her wonderful Verve clients. She wants to help business owners utilise the power of social media to grow their business, build relationships with customers and feel comfortable leveraging the incredible opportunities social media presents.

Branding Expert

monica visca

Passionate Brand Specialist with nearly two decades of experience in crafting compelling brand stories. With a keen eye for design and a deep understanding of consumer psychology, she transforms businesses into powerful brands that resonate with their target audience. Monica is committed to helping clients discover their unique identity, purpose, and voice, and translating these elements into captivating brand experiences. Beyond her professional life, she is a dedicated mother, wife, and woman with a big dream in her pocket.

My Tax Ca

Abhi Jagwani

Abhi is a qualified Chartered Accountant and owns a Boutique CA Practice. She has experience in accounting, finance and banking. Working in different roles in Banking and Accounting has equipped her with all the skills which she can use to help small business.

She takes time to learn about your income and tax position, legal entities, assets, liabilities and aspirations for the future. She believes your personal life has a huge impact on the numbers.

Dreamers Collective

Michelle Keating

Michelle's experience of chasing big dreams - including going to Paris to buy a pair of Louboutin shoes & leaving her 9-5 career to chase her business dreams, which led her to presenting over 500 workshops for global stationery brand kikki.K - inspired her to create online community Dreamers Collective. Designed to empower women to go after and achieve their big dreams while loving their lives in the progress, she wholeheartedly believes in the power of dreaming big and the transformation that occurs when we put our dreams front and centre in our lives.

Discussion Panel

Getting Real on Inclusivity and Diversity - Lived Experiences Panel will facilitate discussions among

BPW members about cultural and disability-related challenges.

Lisa Thomson

Lisa is of Ngati Whakamarurangi, Ngati Mahanga – Hourua and Pakeha descent, youngest of 13, she grew up on the west coast at a place called Te Makaka, just south of Raglan. Growing up in a rural, predominantly Pakeha community Lisa always felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, never being white enough to be white – so indigenising white spaces with brown paper telling different stories, is important to her.

Angela McLeod

Advocate, Champion and Supporter for

Women, Sustainable Communities and Sensible Agriculture.

Over 30 years ago Angela sustained multiple injuries in a car smash, and since then has
found her feet in advocating for women and her community, alongside dealing with
restrictions imposed on her physical abilities by her injuries and the lack of thought by
decision-makers and designers for those in her shoes.

Esther Tofilau

Ms Esther Tofilau-Tevaga, A Community Leader and Business Woman and is a single parent.

‘I stand and support Pacific women to realise equal and equitable opportunities in a growing diversified New Zealand’.

Esther solely runs her two companies, one being a Finance Service Provider and a Fashion and Beauty company.

Her community service includes: Over 20 years of leadership and management roles in the Pacific and mainstream and is the CEO of a South Auckland Charity Trust, ASA Foundation Trust (ASA is a word for “paving the way”).

She is the Director of Le Aute Samoan Dance Academy with the two branches located in Tuakau and Mangere. Also is a first pacific woman qualified International Bodybuilding Judge in the world for the IFBB Federation.

‘I stand and bring strong leadership and new ideas in closing the inequalities O le ala i le pule o le tautua”. Translates in Samoan, “The path to Leadership is through Service”.

Cathrine gumbo

At 31 years old, Cathrine is a young mother of two boys, married previously of Zimbabwe and then moved to South Africa in 2013, but now calls New Zealand her home.

"Settling in New Zealand wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The love and kindness I received was very overwhlemingly good. I never thought life would be that easy, within four months I landed myself a job balancing between work and family wasn't that easy. This was my first time as a working mom but I managed to find my rhythm. I am happy and still finding my fit, working towards my dreams and braving my fears."

Melissa Jones

Born with a genetic eye condition. Melissa learned early on that resilience and hard work can achieve almost anything. Owned a sport’s entertainment business, produced a radio show and advocated for fair pay for MIQ workers. Obstacles have been plentiful. However, taking the chance to be a part of society doesn’t need to come at a cost.

Carolyn Eyre

A progressive leader setting standards for innovative solutions to everyday challenges. Evidenced success in governance, I bring a diverse perspective to the table through lived experience with a hearing disability. I have been a company Director for business in the rural sector for over 15years. Skills in mediation and dispute resolution ensure my participation in setting strategic direction or in capacity as a hearings commissioner is done without prejudice and upholding principles of natural justice. Authentic connections with people and their communities are essential to me and intrinsically lies at the heart of good decision making.

grab your ticket

Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with a bunch of likeminded women from all over Aotearoa plus an epic morning of professional development.

Grab your ticket here

inspire inclusion

Event details

Keynote

YOUNG BPW SESSION

Discussion Panel

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