Work of young Aucklanders recognised
Two Aucklanders have been recognised for their work at a young age, as finalists in this year’s Women of Influence.
More than 60 highachieving New Zealanders are finalists in 10 categories of the prestigious awards.
They include Kate GatfieldJeffries, diversity champion for young women in business and law. She was shortlisted for
Young Leader having supported 350 women to increase intersectional diversity of entrants into Auckland Law School. She matches students with senior female students. Kate is in her final year of Law (honours) and commerce.
Fellow finalist Riley Hathaway is an educator at Young Ocean Explorer. A school presentation prompted Riley to start onlie education platform Young Ocean Explorer with her father. It has had 1 million views and become a What Now series. She presented at TedX aged 14, and has run National Young Leaders Day.
Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in February.
In this second part of our showcase, the other Auckland finalists are:
BOARD AND MANAGEMENT
REBECCA THOMAS, PricewaterhouseCoopers chief information officer: Rebecca delivered a transformation programme that resulted in women making 43 percent of the team (from 18 percent). Rebecca also drives
PwC’s Net Zero Programme and is aligning its corporate responsibility strategy to UN Sustainable Development Goals.
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
AGNES LOHENI, MENA International director: The first Pacific female MP with Pacific-focused portfolios, Agnes has managed and helped develop her family business while supporting staff involved in domestic disputes and family violence. Agnes is also a mentor through the Young POC Professionals network.
ANNA MOWBRAY, ZURU Toys chief executive: Anna has produced the first and fifth most popular toys in the world.
During the early stages of Covid19 she used her contacts in China to source and arm frontline health workers with PPE. The first plane load arrived 10 days after her initial discussions – ahead of America and Australia. DEBBIE SORENSON, Pasifika Medical Association & Pasifika Futures chief executive: Debbie secured funding and built the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group and Pasifika Futures (PFL). PMA employs 130, and has $8.5m in equity. PFL has positively impacted families traditionally managed by MSD services.
DIVERSITY
MARIA JOSE ALVAREZ, NZ Growth Capital Partners investment manager: Maria Jose is changing the deep-tech investment space with her mentorship and leadership. She coaches start-ups, with 21 percent of the companies she helped last year having a female founder or co-founder. She has been responsible for 116 start-ups and 24 capital raises.
NURAIN JANAH, Ernst & Young senior consultant and Authenticity Aotearoa founder: Authenticity Aotearoa creates culturally inclusive workplaces. A Muslim Kiwi from the Maldives, Nurain represented New Zealand on the 2017 UN Commission on the Status of Women, advocating for women of colour in the workplace. She was a Women of Influence finalist in 2017. ANGELA MEYER, Gender Justice Collective consultant and founder: Angela instigated the Collective that petitioned for a national health and wellbeing strategy, resulting in her invitation to develop a submission for the Health Select Committee. She established Trade Careers to help the 22,000 women who lost their jobs due to Covid-19. She has the dance troupe Real Hot Bitches and writes for Ace Lady Network enews.
DANA YOUNGMAN, Sky TV network executive: Dana immigrated from Samoa as a child. She lobbied to have Pasifika in mainstream TV (with Kiwi Living, featuring Pasifika presenters, and Whanau Living), produced our first primetime children’s Pasifika TV animation Legendary Polynesia. Dana is one of three New Zealanders working on the Emmy Awards.
INNOVATION, SCIENCE & HEALTH
ANGELA LIM, CEO and cofounder of Clearhead: Hospital doctor Angela wanted to address youth suicide rates. Clearhead is a free online mental health platform designed in collaboration with members of the public. The AI therapist helps self-manage mental wellbeing and can provide referrals to 230 therapists. Angela is on the board of Middlemore Foundation and the 20/20 Trust.
PUBLIC POLICY
FIONA MICHEL, Covid-19 Vaccination Immunisation Programme director of sector engagement, workforce and welfare: Fiona held leadership roles in police, ADHB and Vector and was approached by Dr Ashley Bloomfield to establish a new class of vaccinators to support the national rollout and improve equity in the health workforce.