Joan Withers is one of New Zealand’s most respected and influential businesswomen. Joan chairs The Warehouse Group and has recently joined the Sky Board of Directors. She is also a Director of ANZ Bank NZ and the former Chief Executive of media firms, The Radio Network and Fairfax New Zealand, as well as being a former Chair of Auckland Airport and of Mercury.
Joan is a champion for board diversity, especially for closing the gender gap through assisting more women into senior management and board positions. She is a member of Global Women and in 2017 she wrote “A Woman’s Place – Life, leadership and lessons from the boardroom. At the end of 2014, Joan became the first ever female recipient of the Shareholders’ Association’s Beacon Award. She was also honoured with the supreme award at the Women of Influence Awards and with a University of Auckland Bright Lights Distinguished Alumni Award, both in 2015.
“Having known Louise as she faced her greatest challenge, it is a privilege to be able to serve as a trustee and in a very small way assist women living with advanced breast cancer. Louise’s approach and attitude and the support and love she received from Scott was and is an inspiration,” Joan says.