Interviews
Susan Milner: My role is Director - Marketing Programmes for the New Zealand Government’s Trade and Economic Development Agency; New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). I have a team of 11 who are responsible for leveraging and implementation of events and marketing campaigns both in New Zealand and offshore to support the development of the business capability and international connections of New Zealand companies across all industry sectors and to communicate NZTE’s role and involvement.
My experiences on the course to date have opened my eyes to so many issues where I was previously either uninformed or misinformed. The speakers that we have had the wonderful privilege of engaging with and the course participants who bring so many of their own insights and experiences into our conversations have helped me change my perceptions of many things. A specific example would be my improved understanding and empathy with Maori issues, of which previously I am embarrassed to say I knew little. I have already drawn often on my experiences and insights in the leadership challenges I have faced in my own life since the course started.
Nick Hadley: After quarter of a century in the software industry in the United Kingdom, I moved to New Zealand in early 2005 to experience a semi-retired lifestyle. Within a couple of months, I began to realise that retirement was still as distant as ever. Several business opportunities had come along, and using my IT and business backgrounds, I have started helping a couple of New Zealand companies develop their growth strategies. In addition, I have helped start up a recruitment company based in Australia, and am currently working on setting up a boat-building company here in New Zealand.
While still in the United Kingdom, I saw a web article about the start of the Leadership New Zealand course during 2005, and decided to apply. This seemed an ideal opportunity to develop my leadership skills, but equally importantly to get to know my new country better. From this perspective, the course has been so valuable that I feel it should be mandatory for all new immigrants! My exposure to New Zealand culture, politics, arts and business has been beyond expectations, and opportunities for friendship and development have been presented to me. One of the challenges for busy people is finding the time to develop and think, and in this regard one of the biggest benefits that I have derived from the course has been a rediscovered ability to learn through reading.
Irene Durham: I’m Irene Durham a Director of EVOKE. I am a business coach and certified financial planner. Our flagship EVOKE Essentials is an intensive five-day business coaching programme – it’s full on and it’s fun and the results are immediate. We provide tools, strategies and concepts to allow change and growth. I also work with individuals who prefer private coaching sessions or financial planning advice. www.evoke.co.nz The programme has given me the opportunity to challenge
and be challenged in an environment that encourages deep questioning, thought, creativity and understanding on topics as diverse as ethics and the economy, politics and police. What a privilege to probe issues facing New Zealand and our future with fantastic participants and superb speakers who represent the changing face of New Zealand demographics. Taking time to enjoy concentrated thinking and dialogue rather than cursory thoughts has been a great learning experience. It enables change. I have a greater confidence, deeper understanding and insights into the perspectives of both the participants and our speakers.
Phil Riley: I work for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) as an Area Manager. I have responsibility for seven business units across the top half of the South Island. It is hard to imagine another programme that will provide access to the diversity of speakers available with Leadership New Zealand. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, the speakers have provided a unique insight into society along with their
own experiences and opinions of leadership. Leadership is more than theory, it is the learnings from experiences and interactions that these speakers are able to impart, to challenge your own perspectives and to share knowledge and understanding with a wider group of participants. The forum of hearing from the speakers, question time and then group discussion provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from those in leadership roles, challenge and expand on the learning and then further explore the practicable application. Go in with an open mind, be prepared to challenge and be challenged, the learning will follow.
SPRING 2005
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