Agenda

Two days of leadership in Wellington

Name: Women in Leadership Summit
Start: 2027-03-02
End: 2027-03-03
Location: Wellington

Tuesday 2 – Wednesday 3 March 2027 · Wellington, New Zealand

When the future feels uncertain, the most powerful thing a leader can create is options. Drawing on her own journey and the lessons she has learned from speaking to leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers, Frances Cook explores how we can take greater ownership of what comes next — making informed decisions, backing ourselves and turning periods of change into opportunities for growth.

What leadership advice do you think is now outdated?
What's one thing you've stopped doing that has made you a better leader?
How do you lead when you don't have all the answers?
What capability separates good leaders from great leaders today?
If you were redesigning leadership development from scratch, what would you teach first?

Leadership in Aotearoa continues to evolve, but what will it take to accelerate the next generation of leaders? Drawing on the experiences and perspectives of the Māori Women's Welfare League, this interactive workshop explores how we strengthen leadership, create opportunity and ensure progress extends beyond the individual.

Norm reflects across her leadership journey and shares what she has learned about leading through adversity. Through some of New Zealand's most significant crises — from the Kaikōura earthquake and tsunami and the Christchurch mosque attacks through to the Whakaari eruption and COVID-19 — Sarah Stuart-Black has spent her career making high-stakes decisions under pressure.

Trust starts with transparency. Discuss with a peer and commit to one thing you could be more open about with your team to strengthen trust and connection.

Join a live mentoring circle over lunch. Connect with like-minded women for a meaningful discussion on a relevant leadership challenge, and exchange real-time insights, ideas and support in a relaxed setting.

Choose one of three interactive Leadership Labs designed around New Zealand's biggest leadership challenges, where you'll work through practical scenarios and leave with strategies you can apply immediately.

Your organisation has announced another restructure. Roles are changing, uncertainty is high, and your team is looking to you for answers you don't have yet. How do you communicate with transparency while maintaining morale, trust and performance — when you're running on empty yourself?
Communicate difficult decisions with empathy and honesty
Maintain trust when information is limited
Support team wellbeing during uncertainty
Rebuild engagement when the restructure is done, knowing the next one is probably coming

You've been asked to lead a new initiative, but key stakeholders are resistant. Authority alone isn't working. How do you influence without positional power, navigate resistance and bring people with you?
Understand why people resist change
Influence without relying on authority
Build trust and credibility across teams
Turn resistance into engagement

This practical Leadership Lab explores how to take greater ownership of your progression, position yourself for senior leadership and governance opportunities, and build the visibility, influence and relationships that open doors beyond your current role.
Identify the experiences, capabilities and relationships that strengthen your pathway into executive and governance roles
Build visibility and communicate your value without simply waiting to be noticed
Strengthen your influence and network beyond your immediate team and organisation
Create a practical career roadmap for your next role, executive progression or first governance opportunity

When AI-generated CVs are flooding your recruitment pipeline, how do you actually identify talent?
Employees are using AI without disclosure. What are the implications for trust, accountability and employment law?
Where is AI genuinely helping leaders and teams right now?
What employment law risks are sitting just below the surface that most leaders haven't considered?

From building an online brand now used by 1 in 13 Kiwi women, to launching the #1 wellness drink and #1 protein snack in New Zealand supermarkets, Kate Gatfield-Jeffries shares the decisions, risks, mistakes and lessons behind Moodi's growth — and why she believes successful founders have a responsibility to leave the door open for those coming next.

New Zealand Police has been recognised nationally and internationally for its leadership in advancing gender equity and inclusion. From the grassroots success of the Mums in Blue network to award-winning leadership that has transformed culture, this session explores what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice.