Empowering Women into Governance

Empowering Women into Governance

In support of International Women’s Day, Auckland Council is hosting a panel discussion with the theme “Empowering women into governance”.

Join us for a topical panel discussion featuring the strong female voices of those who have made a significant impact in leadership, governance and community advocacy. Get exclusive insights and reflections from women who have lived experience in governance to understand how you too could influence change.

 

Event details

Monday 3 March 2025
Limelight Room, Aotea Centre
Auckland Central

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Alison Mau

Co-Founder - Tika; Broadcaster and Author

Alison Mau is one of Aotearoa/New Zealand's most experienced communicators with more than thirty years in major television, radio, and print media roles. A long-time advocate for gender equity, Alison created the MeTooNZ journalism project at Stuff in 2018. Over five years, Me Too NZ published dozens of major investigations and changed the way sexual harassment is reported by media, using a trauma-informed kaupapa. She has won national and international awards for her leadership of the project. In 2023, Alison co-founded Tika, New Zealand's first and only legal charity dedicated to helping survivors access justice and accountability, furthering her commitment to combating sexual harm. Her memoir, No Words For This, will be released by HarperCollins on April 3.

Penny Hulse

Former Deputy Mayor of Auckland

Penny was on the Local Governance Review panel. She has had a long career in Local Government both as part of Waitakere City Council and the amalgamated Auckland Council. Her commitment has always been to push for genuine community interaction with council and to seek new ways of authentically empowering communities to take charge of their wellbeing.

Dianne Hale

Former North Shore City Council Deputy Mayor

Dianne was first elected to the last Devonport Borough Council in 1986. She successfully stood for election to the North Shore City Council in 1992. During her 18 years at the North Shore City Council, Dianne was the Deputy Mayor for 9 years.  At the amalgamation of the seven local councils in 2010 into Auckland Council, Dianne chose to stand for the Devonport Takapuna Local Board and served her local community for 6 years before retiring in 2016. At her retirement Dianne had close to 30 years of serve in Local Government.

Susan Freeman-Greene

Chief Executive, Local Government New Zealand

Susan Freeman-Greene leads Local Government New Zealand – the peak body for councils around the country. LGNZ advocates, connects and supports its members. She's a champion for the power of local communities and councils, and believes decisions should be made as close as possible to the people affected by them. Councils can be a real force in this area, and it's Susan's firm view that a strong local government is essential for the good our communities, and Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole.   

  

Susan was previously Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand, and Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.  She has practised law and mediation in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and is on the board of Vital Ltd, a provider of telecom solutions, and Tāwhiri, the creative force behind the New Zealand Festival of the Arts.   

Kritika Selach

Co-Chair, Auckland Council Youth Advisory Panel

Kritika Selach is an advocacy, community development and governance professional whose core focus is ensuring representation in decision-making and policy across Auckland and New Zealand. Kritika has acquired valuable experience across various sectors - her current appointments include being elected as co-chair of the Auckland Council Youth Advisory Panel and as an AA Auckland District Councillor. Kritika was also selected as a recipient of the NZCLW 10 for 10 Delegation to China and was awarded the Zonta South Auckland Young Women's Leadership Award 2024.

Susanne Tapsell

Co-Chair, Auckland Council Senior Advisory Panel

Susanne Tapsell’s whakapapa stems from Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Pikiao.

Susanne has had two careers, working firstly in education as a teacher and then in local government - in Auckland City, with City Planning and then in the new Auckland Council in Plans and Places.

She was an active delegate for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ( PSA).

She represented council staff as the Hinonga Māngai Māori and as the chair of the delegates committee.

 She also sat on the Ethics Committee.

Towards the end of her time at council she was employed as one of the two PSA delegates for all PSA staff.

In 2018, she was awarded the Marlene Pitman prize for her work at Auckland Council by Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina o Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

She is currently volunteering as an interviewer at the Citizens Advice Bureau. 

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