We are a network of women helping women grow in their businesses and careers by providing a forum to share ideas, experiences and inspiration. As a Tauranga Chamber of Commerce network, we also offer access to a wide range of training workshops available through the Chamber.
Our main focus is to encourage more women into business roles or into the next step in the development of their business. We want to help our members enhance their business capability and positively influence the environment for women in business in this region.
Mary Hill (Chair)
Partner, Cooney Lees Morgan
Mary is a litigator specialising in local government, resource management and fair trading law. Mary and husband, Matt, moved to Tauranga from Auckland thirteen years ago and live at the Mount with their two young sons.
Mary is a past Board member of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce and has sat on the Chamber’s Business Women’s Network sub-committee and Conference Organising committee for the past ten years.
Gemma Hignett (Deputy Chair)
Marketing Manager, Tui Products
Gemma is the Marketing Manager at Tui Products, a New Zealand owned and operated company based in Mount Maunganui. Gemma and her husband, Jordan, came to Tauranga after moving back from London eight years ago, and now live in the Mount with their young daughter and miniature schnauzer.
Supporting and promoting women to excel in business is important to Gemma and she is excited to have the opportunity to join a committee championing this.
Outside of work you’ll find Gemma with family and friends making the most of our beautiful environment in the Bay.
Jeanette Mindham
Engagement Coordinator, Tauranga Chamber of Commerce
Jeanette Mindham is the newest member to the committee having joined the Chamber in March 2017. As well as looking after the Business Women’s Network, Jeanette’s role includes managing the Chamber’s business training, Business After 5 events and email promotions.
Jeanette has a background working in business development, and she enjoys working with business owners to help them build their capabilities to achieve their goals. She has lived in the Bay for the past seven years with her husband and two daughters.
When she is not working or playing taxi driver to her daughters, Jeanette enjoys grabbing a moment to herself for a run, cycle or swim in order to keep fit.
Michaela James
Owner & Creative Director, Design Juice
In 2005, Michaela saw an opportunity to start an approachable agency that could offer fresh, innovative, creative and astute marketing. And so Design Juice was born.
Michaela also owns The Vinyl Room, a business producing designer wall vinyls that offer a simple and effective way to decorate interior spaces.
Michaela and husband Matt have lived in the Mount for 17 years and have three young children. In her spare time she loves to go boating with family and friends.
Natalie Milne
Partner, Young Read Woudberg
Natalie manages a diverse range of clients that span many industries in her role at YRW. She takes great pleasure in seeing her clients’ businesses develop and is also passionate about seeing women in business thrive.
Natalie has been a keen committee member of the Business Women’s Network for the past five years.
Rebecca Ryder
Senior Principal & Landscape Architect, Boffa Miskell
Rebecca leads the Landscape and Planning teams for the Tauranga office at Boffa Miskell. Having lived in the wider Bay of Plenty for most of her life, Rebecca resides in Tauranga with her husband and two children and enjoys the work/life balance Tauranga offers.
New to the Business Women’s Network committee and conference team, Rebecca brings her experience in voluntary roles for sports and health organisations and organising associated events. Celebrating and supporting women in business in all sectors is a core focus for Rebecca, and she is excited to be part of another inspirational conference.
Amanda Barker
Director, Pillar Consulting
Amanda is a Health and Safety consultant who runs her own company, Pillar Consulting – a boutique H&S/HR consulting business. Amanda and her husband Mike moved to Tauranga (Mike’s home town) with their two young children in February 2017, after spending 5 years living in Australia and Wellington prior to that.
Through starting her own business earlier in 2017 and networking via the Chamber of Commerce, Amanda is very excited to be joining the Business Women’s Network committee.
Bridget Cummins
Investment Adviser, Craigs Investment Partners
Bridget is an Investment Advisor at Craigs Investment Partners and has been with the company for 17 years. She is one of the co-ordinators of the Craigs Women’s Wealth Breakfast programme.
Outside of work, Bridget is on the committee of the Friends of the Tauranga Art Gallery. She is married to Murray and has a teenage son, Ethan. She enjoys playing tennis and you will see her up and down the Mount, and generally enjoying the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Bridget also spends time visiting family and friends (and shopping) in Melbourne.
Kim Ancell
Senior Associate, Business Success Partners
Kim Ancell has had an extensive career in sales, advertising and marketing. As well as having worked in advertising agencies Kim has held senior positions within some of the largest media organisations in New Zealand.
Kim has recently moved to the Bay of Plenty and is a Senior Associate for Business Success Partners providing business consultancy services. She relishes working with small to medium business owners in the region to improve their business performance and value.
In her spare time, Kim is an avid gym goer and is looking forward to the Tauranga summer so she can enjoy the beautiful beaches and scenery we have on offer!
