The IPANZ New Professionals team welcomes back new public sector graduates and recent new professionals to our upcoming panel event to discuss career progression, journeys and pathways.
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Come along to our follow-up event and hear from three
accomplished and inspiring leaders in their field in a panel-style discussion
on career progression, professional journeys and pathways with Nicole Ferguson
(Chief Executive of REANNZ), Laulu Mac Leauanae (Chief Executive of Ministry for
Pacific Peoples) and Sarah Irvin (Creator of Real Exchange).
We’ll be kicking off the evening with drinks and canapés. Stay and mingle afterwards with your fellow grads and new professionals.
Numbers are limited so please be in quick to avoid disappointment!
Panelists bios
Nicole Ferguson
Nicole is one of the youngest Chief Executives in the Public Sector. She is also one of the growing number of women leading technology organisations in New Zealand. Nicole completed her Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees from Victoria University in 2006. She began working with Chartered Accountancy firms as a student back in 2003, completed an internship at Russell McVeagh during the summer of 2005 and went on her OE after graduation.
As a Chartered Accountant, she worked across a range of firms, both domestically and overseas. She joined KPMG New Zealand’s Business Advisory team in 2008. REANNZ was one of Nicole’s first clients in this role, when the organisation was just 18 months old. She first joined REANNZ in a formal capacity in 2010 as their Chief Financial Officer – a role she held for nearly five years. During this time, Nicole has developed an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the organisation, and the wider technology and tertiary education sectors.
Following a stint at Inland Revenue New Zealand in early 2015, Nicole returned to REANNZ in October 2015 to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Laulu Mac Leauanae
Laulu Mac was recently appointed Chief Executive of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Previously, he was Chief Executive of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation, a role he has held since March 2014. The Foundation is focused on delivering economic sustainable initiatives in the Pacific region, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Prior to this, he was the General Manager of Pure Pacifika Limited, a company that exported horticultural products from the South Pacific primarily into Asian markets.
Mac also worked in the primary healthcare sector for ProCare Health Limited as the Pacific Health Manager, and within a year was promoted into senior management roles. Earlier in his career he worked in Pacific community and business development with a role at the Pacific Business Trust. He started his career practicing as a lawyer. Mac holds an MBA from Henley Management College in the UK, with his dissertation focusing on ‘Community Participation in Governance’. He also holds an LLB from Auckland University.
Sarah Irvin
Born and raised in Dannevirke, Sarah began her career during high school in lifesaving over the summer holidays, followed by hospitality as she worked toward a Fashion Design Degree in Wanganui. She discovered a passion for sales, people and technology when she joined the advertising and media industry working For Mediaworks in advertising sales.
Her love for fast-paced technology and interaction with businesses lead her to Yellow Pages where she worked as a Digital Specialist, matching digital products to the local business needs. This was followed by a move to GrabOne and starting a family. Sarah began working on her own project, and formed what is now Real Exchange: an online skills marketplace for the benefit of communities and those within them.