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Women in New Zealand were recognised at a special gala dinner held last week at Parliament in Wellington for the 2022 Women in Governance Awards. The awards celebrate governance leaders, directors, change-makers and rising stars in the community.
A rising star in the governance sector is Samoan accountant and business woman, Meleane Burgess, winner of the Pacific Governance Leader and Rising Governance Star award.
Of Samoan heritage based in Hamilton, Meleane is recognised for her tireless service to the Pacific community, not only in the Waikato region but also at a national level.
Judges of the Rising Governance Star Award were impressed by Meleane’s focus, determination and resilience to establish her governance career, in the face of challenges of youth and gender – establishing herself as a true rising governance star of the future.
Meleane is the managing director at Dynamic Advisory Limited and established the Waikato Pacific Business Network. She holds several positions including member of the Pacific reference group at the Ministry of Social Development NZ, independant Director on Public Trust board,future director at NZ Post, Deputy Chair on the Risk and Assurance committee for Public Trust and council member of the University of Waikato.
Mother of three, Meleane says she is truly humbled and honoured to be continuing the work of women who paved the way forward, and hopes to continue in their footsteps.
“Governance is important for Pacific women because it is an area where we are under-represented, but an area that we are proven to have the capability to thrive in. No longer is governance seen as a mainstream profession only but one for all including Pacific,” says Meleane.
According to statistics on membership of public sector boards and committees in 2021 52.5% of public boards are made up of women. Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says MPP works hard to encourage more Pacific women into governance, by regularly running courses and training.
“Pacific women are natural-born leaders, and it is an exciting time when we start to see more Pacific women at the table.”
Meleane says, “women are equally as hardworking and talented as our male counterparts around the board table and can contribute just as much or in some circumstances better.”
Click here for the full list of winners.
