Executive Leaders Masterclass

Jennifer is a senior leadership development practitioner, specialising in the Neuroscience of Leadership. She has a business background, having begun her career in the City of London, as a shipbroker and member of the Baltic and Mercantile Shipping Exchange.

She has held senior roles with the global organisation P&O Nedlloyd and her career has been internationally focused, encompassing London, Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand. She set up her own consultancy in 2007 in New Zealand where she works with government and private sector organisations.

Her work is primarily in the areas of:

• Development, design and delivery of long and short term leadership programmes.
• Development and delivery of neuroscience of leadership programmes and workshops.
• Using neuroscience principles to design and support organisational change.
• Leadership development consulting solutions for organisations.
• Consulting to organisations to increase organisational buy-in to change initiatives.
• Senior executive coaching; working with individuals and senior teams to support them in becoming more effective leaders of people and results.

Jennifer has a passion for effective leadership, believing that a combination of evidence and practical application leads to learning and behaviour change.

She qualified as a Shipbroker in the UK and holds a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Victoria University in New Zealand, as well as an MSc in The Neuroscience of Leadership from Middlesex University, UK.

Sam has 18 years senior management experience in sectors as diverse as journalism, professional sport and more recently local government. He also holds a number of governance positions locally, regionally and nationally and was Chair of the National Basketball League for eight years until 2016. British by birth, but Kiwi by choice, he and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2006 so they could support the All Blacks without fear of reprisals.

He has recently taken up a new challenge as Communications Manager at Bay of Plenty Regional Council, having performed a similar role at Masterton District Council for the past six years. He was a member of the first cohort of the Taituarā LGExecutive Leaders Programme, which he describes as both invaluable and inspirational.

Sam’s leadership style is very much one of an enabler, with his pet hate being micromanagement. The well being of the teams he leads is high on his list of priorities, believing that only those comfortable in their own skin can be fully effective.

He feels blessed to have learned so much from working closely with many CEOs over the last two decades, each with their own unique style, strengths and foibles.

Kath is a highly experienced local government leader and manager, with 25 years’ experience in local and central government, including regional (Northland), city (Wellington) and district (Masterton and Far North) councils, the Environment Agency (England and Wales) and a stint at LGNZ. She is a passionate, dedicated public servant that has led teams covering the full range of local government responsibilities, including: strategic and district planning and policy; finance, risk, infrastructure and asset management; governance; communications, events and marketing; and community, social and economic development.

Kath holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts (History and Politics) from Victoria University of Wellington and a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Management from the University of Wales.

John relocated to New Zealand in 2003 following many years working in the social housing sector in the UK and joined Taupo District Council, where he has been ever since. He has held a variety of senior roles both in the UK and in New Zealand and is currently Head the Taupo District Council Economic Development and Business Transformation portfolio.

Holding an Honours Degree and Post Graduate qualifications he decided some time ago, after being faced with the choice of following the profession of a surveyor or working with people, he choose the latter.

He feels it is immensely important to be a magpie when it comes to leadership principles and practice and is never afraid to ask for coaching or challenging the norm. The Taituarā executive leadership course has helped him on his leadership journey, by making him really appreciate that knowing what makes people tick is the art of effective leadership.

Dr Karleen Edwards has significant experience in the public sector in New Zealand and Australia at strategic, operational and leadership levels. She has been the Chief Executive of the Christchurch City Council since June 2014. Previously she was Chief Executive of the Commission for Hospital Improvement in the Victoria Department of Health in Australia. The Commission’s role is to improve clinical, quality and efficiency of Victorian Hospitals.

Graduating from Dunedin Medical School with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and specialising as a psychiatrist, she also holds an MBA (with distinction) from Canterbury University.

Al Morrison commenced as Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission in September 2013. Previously, he was at the Department of Conservation starting in 2002 and was appointed as Chief Executive and Director General in November 2006. He led the department through a period of significant change to expand conservation achievement and engagement beyond the department's core work.

Al is an alumnus of the Public Service Executive Leadership Programme, and former Leadership Development Centre Board member.