Thursday 16th November
Overview
What does good communications advice look like when you’re at the board table? How do you decide what’s worth speaking about? What are the qualities of a good working relationship with your communications advisors?
All these questions and more will be answered at “The View from the Top on Communications” – our senior leaders panel session. Hear from Chief Executives and Chairs of Boards on the role they see for communications in their organisations and sectors.
At the spectacular Wharewaka Function Centre this is the perfect event to kick off your party season, with drinks and nibbles ahead of the panel session. We’re very grateful to the Institute of Directors for co-hosting this event.
Kirsten Patterson, Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors
KP is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand. Her governance roles include:
- Chair, Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI)
- Chair, Brian Picot Ethical Leadership advisory board
- Trustee, Voices of Hope
- Board member, XRAP Advisory Panel, External Reporting Board (XRB)
- Ambassador, Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust.
With extensive governance and leadership experience, she is actively involved in community initiatives.
A strong advocate of diversity, KP was also a founding member of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace, and a founding member of WiSPA, an organisation promoting women in sport, and mentors a number of business leaders. KP was also previously Director of the NZ Rugby Foundation.
Vanessa Horne, Chief Executive of the Commerce Commission
Vanessa is acting Chief Executive until the end of January 2024. In her substantive role, Vanessa manages the Commission’s Fair Trading Branch. She is a highly experienced and capable leader in strategy, operations, policy development, service design, and law. Most recently Group Manager, Overseas Investment Office at Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), she has extensive ministerial and legislative experience. Her legal background spans radio spectrum auctions, Financial Service Provider legislation, rural broadband and energy safety. Vanessa also has a strong track record of growing and developing people and building strong, impactful teams through periods of change. Vanessa has a degree in Public Policy (Masters) from Massey University.
Janet Carson, Chief Executive Gas NZ
As Chief Executive, Janet leads advocacy and communications, and policy engagement, for GasNZ. Janet’s background is in public relations and external affairs and she’s worked for companies with a range of energy interests, including oil and gas, geothermal and solar. She served on the board of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). Janet has an LLB from the University of Waikato.
OUR MC for the evening
Lindsey Brittain, Director of Turas Consulting & Coaching Limited
With 26 years’ experience in Marketing, Comms & Business Management, including senior roles in the public sector, Lindsey has set up Turas, which means ‘journey’ in Scottish Gaelic. She says: “There aren’t many coaches for leaders in Marketing & Comms who are also a practitioner. I get it – I’ve travelled the road myself and there’s not much I haven’t seen or done.”
Turas helps Marketing & Comms leaders conquer stereotyping, hierarchy & bureaucracy, enabling them to connect strategically into the business and achieve real results for themselves and their organisation at the highest level. And in doing so, enjoy their leadership journey.
