Leading NZ board chair and governance expert

Overview

Dame Joan Withers is one of New Zealand's most respected company directors and a sought-after keynote speaker on governance, leadership and transformation. After nine years as Chair of The Warehouse Group, she stepped down at the November 2025 AGM. She continues to serve on the boards of ANZ New Zealand, Sky and ASX-listed Origin Energy.

Who is Dame Joan Withers? Dame Joan was born in Manchester and moved to New Zealand at the age of six. She left school at 16, completed an MBA at the University of Auckland in her thirties, and rose to lead two of the country's biggest media companies as CEO of Fairfax New Zealand and The Radio Network. Over the past two decades she has chaired or directed many of New Zealand's most recognisable organisations. She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024 and inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2025.

Career Highlights

• Chair of The Warehouse Group 2016–2025

• Current director of ANZ New Zealand, Sky and Origin Energy

• Former Chair of Mercury NZ, Auckland International Airport and TVNZ

• Former CEO of Fairfax New Zealand and The Radio Network

• DNZM in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours

• Inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, 2025

• 2015 Supreme Winner, Women of Influence Awards

• 2015 Deloitte Top 200 Chairperson of the Year

• Co-founder of On Being Bold, mentoring senior women leaders

Key Speaking Themes

• Governance and the modern board

• Leading organisations through change and disruption

• Women in leadership and board diversity

• Strategy, risk and long-term value creation

• Lessons from a career across media, retail, energy and banking

What Your Audience Will Gain Dame Joan brings hard-won wisdom from decades at the top of New Zealand business. Audiences leave with sharper thinking on governance, leadership and the courage it takes to chair through hard times.

Ideal For

• Board, chair and director events

• Leadership and CEO conferences

• Women in leadership programmes

• AGMs, gala dinners and industry awards

• Strategy days and executive offsites

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Dame Joan Withers speak about? Governance, board leadership, transformation, women in leadership, and strategy across media, retail, energy and banking.

What boards is Dame Joan Withers currently on? She serves on the boards of ANZ New Zealand, Sky and ASX-listed Origin Energy. She is set to retire from the ANZ NZ board on 1 July 2026.

When did Dame Joan Withers step down as Chair of The Warehouse Group? At The Warehouse Group AGM on 28 November 2025, after nine years as chair.

When was Joan Withers made a Dame? In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours, for services to business, governance and women.

What is On Being Bold? A New Zealand mentoring initiative co-founded by Dame Joan that supports senior women into leadership and board roles.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Fireside chat and panel formats are also available.