About Us

Since 2003, Leadership New Zealand’s purpose has been to create a connected community of leaders working together for a more just, equitable and sustainable Aotearoa.

Through our programmes, we’ve built a movement of nearly 700 alumni who have polycultural capabilities, a sharpened sense of purpose, and the tools, practices and competencies to lead in an uncertain world.

We embolden, equip, inspire and connect leaders. We bring leaders from every generation and every sector of New Zealand together, and challenge them with making a difference for the better in the communities in which they live, work and play.

Leaders participate in safe and brave learning spaces, engaging in open and honest discussion about the real issues of these times, and build their own capability and capacity for leadership in times of great change. Aotearoa is a superdiverse nation and the cultural intelligence of our leaders is crucial to achieving ever higher levels of creativity, innovation, and societal engagement.

We are proud of our legacy of excellence and innovation in educating on a basis of diversity of thought and perspective. We take participants on a journey to become the best leader they can be. Our programmes also strengthen participants’ sense of belonging to Aotearoa New Zealand, to the planet, to their communities, and to themselves. These are the leaders we need for the twenty-first century, leaders who are able to navigate uncertainty, work collaboratively, lead from purpose, with focus and great heart.

Our History

Leadership New Zealand Trust was founded in 2003 by
Dame Jo Brosnahan and a collective of prominent New Zealand leaders. 

In 2002, Jo penned a paper which outlined her thinking on the state of leadership in our country. She saw a lack of leadership culture in New Zealand and a need for greater appreciation that leadership is “the essential ingredient in successful organisations and communities.” This became the catalyst for what was to become Leadership NZ.

The NZ Leadership Programme was established based on the model of Leadership Victoria — Australia’s pre-eminent leadership institute and a global frontrunner in leadership development. 

We took this cutting-edge model and made it our own, imagining a distinctly New Zealand approach and flavour to deliver the best results for our leaders, organisations and communities. 

In the years since, we have gone from strength to strength. We have guided and challenged 700+ alumni to step into their leadership within their organisations and to actively engage in their communities. 

We have broadened and stretched the mindsets of leaders across generations and sectors to enable them to lead beyond authority and across the diversity of New Zealand.