Young director series: Stories from next-gen governance leaders

Panel Discussion

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Speaker(s): Hilary Poole, Franky Wang, Amy Cavanaugh, Jonathan Chambers
Date: 4:00pm — 5:00pm, 27 February 2025
Venue: Online
Location: Online
Price: $30.00 incl GST

Overview

Our inaugural Young Directors’ Network event featuring stories from next-gen governance leaders, will bring together an amazing line-up of panellists including Hilary Poole CFInstD, Franky Wang CMInstD, and Amy Cavanaugh CMInstD, moderated by Jonathan Chambers CMInstD.

They will share their experiences in gaining their roles, what they have learned along the way, and their hopes and aspirations for their future governance careers.

Whilst the event is created by and for young directors, members of all ages are welcome.

Our Young Directors’ Steering Group, made up of young IoD members from across the country, will be putting together more events over the course of the year including in-person events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The aim is to break down the barriers for young directors to pursue a governance role through a series of engaging workshops, focusing on topics that:

promote the value and diversity of thought that young directors bring to the boardroom
challenge the perception or assumptions that might be holding young directors back from taking their first step, or for boards to consider applications from young directors
create networking opportunities for like-minded individuals
shine a light on talented young directors who are already on a governance journey or are ready for the next opportunity

Hilary Poole

CFInstD

Hilary has been an IoD member since 2002. She recently completed the IoD’s Mentoring for Diversity programme and highly values the IoD’s professional development and focus on all aspects of diversity.

She has held governance roles in the finance, food, sport, education, and not-for-profit sectors. This includes her current roles as a director of Creative New Zealand, director of Hockey New Zealand, and as a trustee of the Play It Strange Charitable Trust. Previous appointments include deputy chair of High Performance Sport New Zealand, director of Sport New Zealand , independent director of Prolife Foods and Martin Jenkins and as chair of Just Life Group, Diocesan School for Girls, and the First Foundation.

Her executive roles include CEO of Hockey New Zealand, CEO of Netball New Zealand, and as a senior executive in strategy, marketing and operations at the Bank of New Zealand.

Franky Wang

CMInstD

Franky is the Head of Asia Business Activation for the Bank of New Zealand. He contributes to the development and execution of the BNZ Asia Strategy, an enterprise-wide national role, from the Consumer & Partners to SME divisions as well as Corporate and Institutional Banking.

Other than banking, Franky volunteers with Cure Kids as the first and only Asian Special Advocate tasked with promoting the Cure Kids brand in the Asian community in New Zealand. Cure Kids and has put on a number of charity events, with his influence.

Franky sits on the Board of Kāhui Tū Kaha (part of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), to support the diversity and inclusion from culture and ethnical aspects to ensure best practice governance. Franky is also an ICE Angel Investor growing start-up business in New Zealand.

Franky has strong business networks, domestically and overseas. He is bilingual and understands ethnic and geographical challenges and opportunities in business and governance spaces.

Amy Cavanaugh

CMInstD

Amy Cavanaugh started her governance career four years ago when she was appointed Independent Director at a boutique investment fund. Having worked in financial services for over ten years, and holding an executive position at insurance and finance companies, taking on a governance role was the next step up. She is now on the board for two Not-for-profit organisations.

With a career aspiration to lead New Zealand organisations to challenge the status quo to make a business better, Amy continues to work studiously to create opportunities for herself and others to be successful.

Jonathan Chambers (moderator)

CMInstD

Jonathan is a board member of the Te Whangai Trust, an enterprise founded on a SEEC quadruple-bottom line model. Over the last 15 years the Trust has given chronically unemployed and at-risk youth and adults the tools and support to achieve sustainable employment.

Jonathan is passionate about building sustainable communities and investing to achieve broader outcomes. He is a chartered environmental engineer with a focus in flood risk and stormwater management and is a chartered member (CMinstD) of the IoD.