The first Champions for Change summit of 2025 kicked off at Waitangi Treaty Grounds last week, bringing together more than 50 CEOs and business leaders in a call to action for Aotearoa’s future.
Drawing together powerful voices and provocative challenges around leadership and inclusion, the summit was focussed on how we can ensure a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for Aotearoa as a post-Treaty nation.
Following a pōwhiri onto Te Whare Rūnanga Marae, leaders gathered and the intention for the summit was beautifully set by Global Women member Karleen Everitt, who opened the space and laid a wairua-rich foundation that carried us through the days that followed.
The opening address was then delivered by ANZ Chief Executive and Champions for Change Co-Chair Antonia Watson, who stated that adapting to meet demographic shifts and prioritising inclusion is not a ‘nice to do’, it is mission critical for businesses to thrive.
In an exploration of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Ben Dalton, CEO of Waitangi Ltd, laid the foundation of the summit by reminding us that every Treaty conversation must acknowledge the importance of this history, and remember the unresolved trauma still carried by Ngāpuhi.
Dame Jenny Shipley went on to challenge business leaders to be active participants, not passive observers. She spoke of Hawaiki Hou – a new Aotearoa – and urged us all to ask: What are we doing to build a post-Treaty nation together?
Over the course of the summit, our Champions spoke powerfully and openly about their organisations’ progress, and what more needs to be done. Matt Prichard, Executive Chair at KPMG, shared his personal journey, and affirmed, “Our workplaces are powerful vehicles for change.”
Roger Gray, CEO of Port of Auckland and Co-Chair for Champions for Change, spoke candidly about being at the bottom of the list in the 2024 Diversity Report – and his commitment to improvement. He named Māori, Pasifika, and South Asian inclusion as priorities, and called out the hard truth: New Zealand has not been a welcoming place. Cultural awareness must deepen.
Guest speaker Dame Marilyn Waring energised the room with her sharp, lifelong advocacy for equity. She emphasised the critical importance of achieving equality and parity for women, underscoring the necessity of addressing the unique challenges faced by wāhine Māori.
In a discussion on global disruption, guest speaker Dr Paul Spoonley emphasised that Aotearoa is becoming super diverse – and we have no choice but to adapt. DEI is not optional: uniformity, inequity, and exclusion simply won’t work in the future.
Champion Andrew Holmes, CEO at PwC, deepened the conversation with an exploration of the impact of disruption and Artificial Intelligence. Looking to the future of Aotearoa, and drawing on highlights from PwC’s CEO survey, Andrew outlined the critical tipping points set to influence the social fabric and economy of Aotearoa. His address reinforced the need for responsive, human-centred leadership at all levels.
For our final session of the day, Co-Chairs of the Northern Corporate Group, Champion Andrew McLeod, Chief Executive at Northpower, and guest speaker Rosie Mercer, Chief Executive at Marsden Maritime Holdings, spoke together on fostering economic prosperity in Te Tai Tokerau. Dedicated to improving Te Tai Tokerau’s connectivity with the rest of the country, the Northern Corporate Group is a consortium of influential Northland businesses, including McKay, Northpower, Channel Infrastructure NZ, Culham Engineering, and Marsden Maritime Holdings.
The day was full of energising and insightful discussion, offering direction and stimulating action. Closing remarks were given by Roger Gray, who encouraged collective action and invited the group to consider what issues Champions for Change should prioritise, and which Champions might join the governance group for 2025.
Read more coverage at the NZ Herald here, and listen to Roger Gray speak about the summit on Radio Waatea here.