The fourth Speaker and Networking event with Executive Director at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Fiona Cassidy (Ngāto Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa), took place on Wednesday, 10th of August.

With over 25 years in communications and public relations, Fiona is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading communications professionals. In the last fifteen years, she has held a number of senior executive leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. She is the first Chairperson of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and a Life member. She also holds a number of Director and Board appointments in business, government and not-for-profit organisations nationally and internationally. 

The fireside chat was moderated by Multiethnic Young Leaders Member Jacinta Gulasekharam. Jacinta is a Senior Analyst at PwC and the co-founder and director of Dignity NZ, a social enterprise that advocates for period equity in Aotearoa. Jacinta is also an Edmund Hillary Fellow, winner of the 2021 Impact Award for Wellbeing, YWCA Y25 wāhine toa of 2020, Women of Influence Young Leader Finalist, and Sustainable Business Network Change Maker Finalist 2020.

At the fireside chat, Fiona spoke passionately about her career and leadership journey, her experience and time serving as a former NZ Army Major, how she became involved with governance and public relations, and her aspirations for our rangatahi and tamariki in her role as the Executive Director at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. For a recording of the fireside chat, please visit our Videos or Resources page.

The 2022 Speaker and Networking series is brought to you by Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ and made possible through the generous support of KPMG New Zealand. The Series aims to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of ethnically diverse leaders in Aotearoa, normalise the presence of underrepresented peoples in positions of influence, and further the discourse on diversity, equity and leadership in the workplace.