The first ever all-wāhine (all-women) Trade Mission is arriving in Australia, made up of founders, CEOs and executives with expertise spanning manufacturing, technology, investment, beverages, sustainability, packaging and more.
New Zealand minister for economic development Barbara Edmonds will lead the trade delegation to Australia. The mission – named Wāhine, the Māori word for women – puts a spotlight on women leaders in business and brings together a diverse cohort of New Zealand female business leaders.
The trade mission aims to inspire the next generation of wāhine-women to fulfil their aspirations, promoting gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. The wāhine trade delegates will showcase how women in export can drive economic growth between the trans-Tasman countries.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there was a lot to celebrate and be proud of in Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m delighted that we have both a Wāhine panel that celebrates female leaders from both sides of the Tasman and New Zealand’s first Wāhine trade mission arriving in Melbourne.
“These 26 female business leaders represent the diversity of Aotearoa, such as the founder and CEO of Bennetto Natural Foods, Lucy Bennetto, tech entrepreneur Nu’uali’I Eteroa Lafael, from Fibre Fale, and Fiona Bycroft, the founder and CEO of electric propulsion technology company, Naut,” said Ardern.
Many of the New Zealand born organisations already operate and trade within Australia, contributing to the multi-billion-dollar trans-Tasman relationship.
The delegation’s arrival in Australia coincides with the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER) trade agreement.
The value of exports to Australia from New Zealand is $13.83 billion and total Australian-New Zealand bilateral trade is worth over $29.29 billion. Australia is the second largest trading partner for New Zealand.
In Australia over half of the workforce is made up of women, yet only 22.3 per cent of CEO positions are held by women. The Wāhine Trade Mission and the delegates envision a future where leaders in companies reflect the diversity of the workforce.
