
Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2020, location TBA
MORE. 2017: The Day of Change for Women in Leadership.
“The urgency of doing is imperative. We know enough. We know that only 16% of women are in senior corporate sector leadership roles and 47% in the public sector, and these numbers are not improving. I created MORE based on one principle only – it’s time to bring the right people together to affect real change. Rebecca Morris, Paradigm Shift and founder of the MORE Leadership Summit
MORE. 2017 was launched. What an extraordinary two days. Here’s just a snippet of what we achieved.
More stories. More change. More action.
Today we started to make the ripples in the water to create the changes at an individual, organisation and community level. More women. More leadership. Thanks for all your feedback – we love hearing your ongoing progress.
A huge thanks to our speakers (see below) and sponsors – Westpac, Perpetual Guardian, Craigs Investment Partners & thl – for their contribution and support. Thanks to our media Partner Employment Today, to MIT & to Megan Dempsey, Hothouse. AND to my internal team who gave their time to be part of my day.
I am uber grateful for the opportunity to have you part of this very special day.
#MORE 2018 here we come. More real stories. More people.
Taking action today will change tomorrow.
I think the biggest thing was it’s not too late to change my movie. My time is important.
Looking forward to MORE. 18
My soul word is confidence.
Karen F
Kiwi Experience
Thanks so much and Congratulations.
Renay T
Thomson Reuters NZ
Thanks,
Mark J
GM
Perpetual Guardian
I am so looking forward to MORE. 2018.
Lisa M
CEO Disability Connect
What a fantastic day, incredibly beneficial, confronting and empowering. We came in energised, and quickly had our preconceptions of ourselves stripped away to the very essence of what our “self” is made from. There were tears, unexpected (and at times exhausting) emotions, truths exposed that we didn’t even know we had – but which needed to be confronted before creating a basis from which we can begin to grow into our authentic selves – as women, as team members, and as future leaders.
Ainslie H
NZDF
PS Great to see lovely stationery and goodies in the delegate bag. A woman’s touch!
Sarah S
NZ Cricket INC
I got today that I am ok. I am good. I am good at what I do, in fact I am great. I am a good manager. I am enough. I want to work more with you.
Much Gratitude
Sonia D
Spectrum Print
It got me thinking about my future. It will without a doubt change my life plan. I want more and I can do more.
Jane B
Christchurch City Council
Liz W
Southland District Council
Thanks for having us part of the day.
Vanessa Sorenson – Spark
Jo Allison – thl
MORE. SUMMIT 2017 SPEAKERS
[click on images for speaker bios]

MORE SUMMIT 2017 PROGRAMME
8.00am – 8.30am
Tea / Coffee and Registration
8.30am – 9.30am
Rebecca Morris
FOUNDER, PARADIGM SHIFT
Opening address: Mind over matter
Rebecca has experienced the women in leadership challenge from every angle: as an employee, as a corporate CEO, as a leadership coach and change agent, as a business owner and as a mother. She will share her corporate journey and personal experience of the critical role that mindset plays in getting – and not getting – to where you want to be.
9.30am – 10.30am
Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM
DIGITAL STRATEGIST / PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR, FUTURE CENTRE NZ
Keynote speaker: Pushing the boundaries
Melissa is passionate about diversity and resetting paradigms to gain success for business startups to corporate and government. Find out about the challenging questions that diversity brings to an organisation and how to push the boundaries so as to get answers – and action. Be prepared for high-energy, no holds barred inspiration!
10.30am – 11.00am
Morning Tea / Networking
Vanessa Sorenson
GENERAL MANAGER ENTERPRISE, COMMERCIAL AND TRANS-TASMAN, SPARK
Striving, learning, succeeding
Vanessa’s leadership journey has given her the tools to become one of Spark New Zealand’s youngest leadership team members. Discover how she leveraged her experiences and drive to be the best in her field and how she manages that today with a young family.
Panel Discussion
Asking the Hard Questions
A real and upfront look at all of the challenges holding back aspiring and current women leaders. Come prepared for plenty of lively discussion and action planning.

Mark Jephson
General Manager Corporate Trusts, PERPETUAL GUARDIAN
Mark Jephson became the General Manager for Corporate Trusts in Oct 2016 having joined Guardian Trust in 2007 after spending five years working in financial services overseas. Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce (major in Economics) and a Graduate Diploma in Finance from the University of Otago and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. Mark is a member of INFINZ and a Committee member of the New Zealand subcommittee of the Australian Securitisation Forum.
PANELIST #2
Glenda Parata
DIRECTOR, SHARED SERVICE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
Enjoying a successful career in management, Glenda has held a number of leadership and management roles where particular focus has been on change management, relationship building, developing and leading high performing teams, providing expertise in business management, process improvement, customer and corporate service delivery. Glenda’s role as Director, Defence Shared Services Group, is responsible for developing and leading the establishment of Defence Shared Service Group strategy and vision, and defining short-term and long term strategies to align with the wider NZDF strategy.
PANELIST #3
Anne Columbus
GENERAL MANAGER CORPORATE SERVICES, CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
Anne is an executive leader at Christchurch City Council overseeing corporate services and has led this unit through significant organisational change. Her current portfolio includes IT, risk, legal, the Procurement Programme, and facilities, property and planning. She is passionate about leadership in the local government sector and actively supports transformational change in people, process and technology. Prior to working in local government, Anne consulted in HR/organisational development, and before that spent 15 years in criminal investigation roles.
PANELIST #4
Sue Foley
DIRECTOR CORPORATE AFFAIRS, WESTPAC NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
Senior roles across government, television and public relations are just some of the positions held by Sue. She was also General Manager of Corporate Affairs of Toll NZ from 2003 – 2008, and was the spokesperson for the company during this time dealing with numerous crisis management incidents. Sue joined Westpac in 2010, where she was Assistant Vice Chancellor, External Affairs, responsible for the marketing and corporate communications. Sue is now responsible for the delivery of the reputation management, including media, government relations, sustainability, community, sponsorship, social media and internal communications. She is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most well respected corporate affairs and reputation management executives.
12.40pm – 1.45pm
Lunch / Networking
1.45pm – 2.20pm
Gretchen Williamson
SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS
Succeeding in a male-dominated industry
Gretchen’s wealth of financial sector experience in the USA, UK, Asia and New Zealand has seen her become one of Australasia’s top performers and also one of the youngest female senior financial advisors in this heavily male-dominated industry. Learn about the similarities between women’s leadership mindsets, and their financial ones.
2.20pm – 3.00pm
Jo Allison
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, THL (TOURISM HOLDINGS LIMITED)
Transitioning as a leader to a new sector
Jo started her career at Telecom and stayed through all of its evolutions and changes while successfully navigating several senior executive positions, including becoming Spark Digital’s Acting CEO. After leaving Spark, she challenged herself to redefine her personal brand and successfully transitioned into an executive role in a completely new sector. Jo faced many challenges along the way, including burn-out. Discover how she overcame them.
3.00pm – 3.40pm
Simon Power
GENERAL MANAGER CONSUMER BANKING & WEALTH, WESTPAC NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
Politics, diversity and corporate transition
Simon joined Westpac in 2012 following a 12 year career as a Member of Parliament. Between 2008 and 2011, Simon served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Commerce and Minister of State Owned Enterprises, among other designations. During that period he led significant reform and change in financial market oversight and regulation in New Zealand. Simon was appointed General Manager, Consumer Banking and Wealth, in 2015. He brings strong leadership skills, business acumen, a passion for delivering a high level of customer service and an impressive network of both public and community groups.
3.40pm – 4.10pm
Afternoon Tea / Networking
Panel Discussion
It’s time to stop angsting
You’ve heard the challenges; you’ve heard the opportunities. Now it’s time to start planning what steps to take next!

Anne Columbus
GENERAL MANAGER CORPORATE SERVICES, CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
PANELIST #2
Glenda Parata
DIRECTOR, SHARED SERVICE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
PANELIST #3
Simon Power
GENERAL MANAGER CONSUMER BANKING & WEALTH, WESTPAC
4.45pm – 5.15pm
Rebecca Morris
FOUNDER, PARADIGM SHIFT
It’s time to take action!
Agree what we will do individually and collectively to make a difference – for ourselves personally and for getting more women into more leadership.
Drinks, Canapes and Networking
Kindly sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners.
