Women in Events New Zealand

04/06/2026

24/04/2026

Lock in Wednesday the 27th of May for our Free Networking Event hosted by New Zealand International Convention Centre!

The official event invite will be out soon. PM us your email address to receive the event invite.

24/12/2025

Meri Kirihimete from Women in Events New Zealand ❤️

Thank you to everyone that has supported us this year and we can’t want to see you all again soon!

24/12/2025

Women in Events NZ 2025 Mentor Programme - Introducing Emma Henderson and Lucy Holder

Emma
With over two decades of experience, creativity, and undeniable charm, Emma is the powerhouse behind the scenes and the brilliance out front. As our Head of Events at Ballyhoo, Emma turns bold ideas into unforgettable experiences. A multifaceted event professional, Emma is both an exceptional leader and a brilliant creative - bringing vision and precision to every event she touches.
From shaping standout concepts to navigating the trickiest logistics, Emma leads with confidence and contagious energy.

Her secret? Big-picture thinking paired with next-level attention to detail.

The Women in Events NZ mentor program is both a chance to give back to the industry I love but also to learn. I have loved spending time with Lucy, hearing about her career, giving advice where needed and also seeing our industry through new eyes and with a different perspective.

Lucy
I am the Events Manager at The Professional Builder, leading the design and delivery of in-person events across New Zealand and Australia. The Women in Events Mentor Programme has been invaluable, giving me practical mindset frameworks and guidance from someone who has navigated the same industry challenges I am facing and the goals I am working toward.

23/12/2025

Women in Events NZ 2025 Mentor Programme - Introducing Annabelle Burke and Ariana Soper Rua

Annabelle
I'm the GM of Festivals for Live Nation NZ. Mentoring Ariana has been a highlight, we've explored her role, career goals, and real-world experiences, including a Live Nation keynote. She's joining me to deliver this year's Rhythm & Vines NYE event and is already proving well-equipped for a future in events.

Ariana
This programme has been incredibly special, largely thanks to my mentor, Annabelle. I came into this with a passion for events and an Event Management degree, but little practical experience. Annabelle has been an invaluable sounding board, offering perspective and guidance on how to take the next steps in my career as I work towards moving into events, as well as helping me navigate the job and industry I'm in right now.
She has opened doors I couldn't have imagined at the start of this programme and has grown my confidence and has grown my confidence in myself and my abilities. She has encouraged me to step into new opportunities - from advocating for change in my current role to think about my future

22/12/2025

Women in Events NZ 2025 Mentor Programme - Introducing Jo Mere Pilkington and Emma Curphey

Jo has been a stalwart of the events industry for over 30 years. Her experience extends from the corporate brand sector to the political arena, events education and the TV/film sector. Her implementations have included political events, national consumer branding campaign events, the creation of the first events qualification in the country, large scale fundraising campaigns and in recent years the relocation and redesign of her own company, First Scene.

“This is my second year supporting the Mentor Programme and I’ve met some wonderful women coming up through the events sector. It’s a great opportunity to share information and experiences with people who are in their first year or two of their career. I know how valuable a supportive network can be and feel very privileged to be part of this incredible programme.”

Emma
I started my new role as Marketing Executive at Auckland Live in the beginning of the year and being mentored by Jo came at a really great time in my career. She has boosted my confidence, supported me in navigating the workplace as a young professional, and encouraged me to attend WiE networking events to build meaningful industry connections.

18/12/2025

And that’s a wrap for our Women in Events NZ 2025 Mentor Programme!

We will be introducing each mentoring pair in the coming days, firstly Nadja and Alysha

Introducing Nadja Hirzel

My journey into events has been anything but conventional. I started out in diagnostic microbiology, then moved into medical conferencing while abroad in Switzerland, where I worked on large European dermatology conferences. Back home in Aotearoa I have focussed on building my local networks and honing my skills across a venue, a PCO, and now a not-for-profit membership association within the waste industry.

I loved participating in this year’s Women in Events mentoring programme, supporting Alysha to grow in confidence and clarity. Our shared experience working with academics in a university setting made it easy to connect early on and understand the common challenges. Mentoring offers space for honest conversations, shared perspectives and practical insights, and I got just as much value in learning from Alysha as hopefully she did from me.

Introducing Alysha Bellamy

Alysha is an Event and Conference Planner at the University of Auckland with seven years of diverse experience in the education sector. Her passion for events shines through in every role, driven by a love for dynamic, impactful experiences and strong relationship management. Alysha has successfully delivered large-scale projects including awards nights, orientations, and formal dinners just to name a few. She holds a Bachelor of Hospitality Management in Events and Public Relations from AUT. Outside of work, Alysha enjoys attending events, painting, playing with her cats, watching suspenseful/thriller/horror series, exploring nature, and chasing sunsets.

I have truly enjoyed being part of the WIE mentoring program and getting to know Nadja. She is an incredibly inspiring woman, and I am grateful for the opportunity to connect and continue our relationship beyond the program. A big thank you to Donna for making such a perfect match!