Women at the table on climate change - panel discussion 7 May 2025

Register today in Humanitix for "Women at the Table on Climate Change" panel event on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 5:30 - 7 p.m. The discussion will take place at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, Pipitea Campus in Wellington and registrants may also choose to attend online. This event is a collaboration between NCWNZ International Action Hub, the Council for International Development, and UN Women of Aotearoa NZ.

In this event we have a general theme of business and economics. Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023, has agreed to serve as Master of Ceremonies. We have a great line-up of speakers confirmed, including from the OECD, the first female leader of an Indonesian trade union, from philanthropy and Fonterra. Our speakers include:

Katie Beith - Forsyth Barr
Katie has been in the Responsible Investment industry for over 20 years, with the first part of her career spent overseas, predominantly in the UK. After returning to New Zealand in 2015, she spent 6 years with the New Zealand Super Fund and then moved to become the Head of ESG (environment, social and governance) at Forsyth Barr in 2021. In her role she is responsible for incorporating ESG principles into Forsyth Barr’s firm-wide operations and investment process, including assisting financial advisers with specific client needs. Amongst other things, Katie is currently a member of New Zealand’s inaugural Stewardship Code Governing Committee, a member of the External Reporting Board’s Stakeholder Advisory Panel and is also on the Investment Committee for NZ impact investor, Purpose Capital.
Elly Rosita Silaban - KSBSI Indonesia
Elly Rosita Silaban is the President of KSBSI Indonesia, the only female president to have led a trade union Confederation in Indonesia, she currently serving her second term (2019–2023, 2023–2027). She is a Titular Member of the General Council of ITUC Global and Asia Pacific and formerly led the Federation of Garment and Textile Workers (2007–2015). She served as Chair of L20 during Indonesia’s G20 Presidency and is a member of the Global Coalition for Social Justice and the IEA Clean Energy Labour Council. She is a prominent figure in the Indonesian labor movement and has also played a key role in advancing gender equality within unions and advocating for decent work and climate justice. Under her leadership, KSBSI has been actively involved in regional and international labor forums, including collaboration with ITUC and other global union federations. She also successfully initiated the establishment of the Forum of Major Trade Union Confederations in Indonesia for a Just Energy Transition: ForJET, which was declared on December 12, 2024.
Cheryl Spain - The Gift Trust
Cheryl Spain manages and oversees The Gift Trust. She has over 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, in New Zealand and the UK. She was inspired to work in the sector from an early age by her twin passions for social justice and environmental issues. She loves helping donors and charities to make more good happen in the world.
Ella Tunnicliffe-Glass - Fonterra
Ella Tunnicliffe-Glass holds the role of Senior Manager Sustainability Strategy at Fonterra. She is responsible for leading the integration of climate-related risks and opportunities into business processes and for preparing Fonterra’s climate-related disclosures. Ella previously worked in Fonterra’s Group Strategy team, focussing on the Co-op’s strategic choice to be a leader in sustainability, and before that worked as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. She holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music (Honours) degrees from the University of Auckland.
Jo Tyndall - Environment Directorate, OECD
Jo Tyndall is Director, Environment Directorate at the OECD where she oversees the implementation of the Directorate’s programme of work, covering a broad range of environmental issues, including: green growth; climate change; biodiversity; quality of ecosystems; eco-innovation; circular economy; and, resource productivity. She was, most recently, New Zealand High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Singapore from February 2019 to September 2022. Prior to that, Jo served as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador, commencing this role in June 2010. From 2016 to December 2018, she also co-chaired the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA). As Climate Change Ambassador, she was head of delegation to the United Nations climate negotiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to her role as Climate Change Ambassador, Ms Tyndall was Director of the Broadcasting Unit in the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. From 1999 to 2006, she was Chief Executive of the public broadcasting funding body, NZ On Air. She has also served as Chief Executive of two screen industry organisations - the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA) and Project Blue Sky (1994 to 1999). Ms Tyndall began her career as a multilateral trade policy specialist with the then Department of Trade and Industry and subsequently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.