Women in Leadership Breakfast

Enjoy an informal, interactive morning of discussions and honest conversations about leadership, career progression and personal growth.

Share your experiences in an open and engaging environment, hosted by Engineering New Zealand President Kennie Tsui. Hear from an expert panel with different perspectives on leadership journeys: work-life balance, wellbeing, resilience and what diversity and inclusion looks like in practice. An interactive Q&A will follow.

The discussion will centre on women's leadership experiences, but this event is open to all genders and career levels.

Spaces are limited – register now to secure your spot.

Programme
7:30am – Networking breakfast (food stations, coffee and tea)
8:00am – Welcome and housekeeping
8:05am – Panel introduction and discussion
8:45am – Interactive audience Q&A
9:00am – Networking
9:15am – Event concludes

Your panellists

Dean Kimpton (panel facilitator) 

President of Engineering New Zealand (2018-2019) and 2025 Distinguished Fellows of Engineering New Zealand. Dean was elected a Distinguished Fellow in 2025 for his extensive work delivering and managing public-facing infrastructure in highly complex environments, most notably following the significant financial impacts on the public transport system of Auckland following the COVID pandemic. In his role as Auckland Transport Chief Executive until May this year, Dean has focused on network productivity, redesigning AT’s structure to deliver exceptional service and increase Auckland’s trust and confidence in the organisation. He is now a Partner at Tuhura Partners and also an independent Director at Harrison Grierson. 

Michelle Delves (Emerging Leader)

 Michelle Delves is a bilingual Eurasian engineer with a BEng (Hons) in Engineering Science. Her experience spans infrastructure DevOps, analytics engineering and AI engineering. At Air New Zealand, her recent work has focused on engine data foundations and external data sharing. She is the recipient of the Emerging Leader Award at Engineering New Zealand Auckland Awards earlier this year. Michelle was once told she wouldn’t be able to become an engineer. She now co-leads Air New Zealand’s Women in Digital network and advocates for women in STEM, helping more women see engineering as a path open to them. She also serves on youth and ethnic advisory boards with the University of Auckland and Asian Family Services. In her free time, Michelle is a muso. She studied piano, violin and singing through ABRSM, has taught music part-time since 2020, sung with a New Zealand national choir, and writes her own music.

Larey Mulder

 Larey is Work Group Manager – Water at WSP, where she leads the national water and wastewater treatment team. A Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng, CMEngNZ) with over 20 years' experience, she has designed and commissioned wastewater treatment processes from pilot to full scale, including a first-of-its-kind anaerobic co-digestion project in South Africa. Inspired at 16 by an environmental engineer she met through a school project, Larey completed a BEng in Chemical Engineering and a Master's in Environmental Engineering at the University of Pretoria. She found her way into wastewater almost by accident and fell in love with a field that uses engineering to harness natural biological processes. Larey moved to New Zealand with her family in 2018. A mum of two, a runner and an avid reader, she believes careers and family work best as a team effort.

Vanessa Stoddart (BCom/LLB (Hons), PGDip Professional Ethics, GAICD, CFInstD)

 Vanessa is currently Chair of Tonkin + Taylor, a Director for Waste Management, board member and trustee of Elizabeth Knox Hospital and Rest Home, a director of the family business and contributes to various other charities. She has held governance positions with other listed, private, public sector and co-operative entities here and in Australia, chairing many People and Health & Safety Committees. Prior to her governance career, Vanessa was head of engineering and human resources at Air New Zealand and Chief Executive Packaging Australia for Carter Holt Harvey – having started her career in the legal profession. Vanessa is passionate about inclusion - is a member of Global Women and a mentor on various Institute of Director programmes as well as mentoring Kupe Scholarship candidates and MYLN participants. Vanessa is a Companion of Engineering NZ and an Honorary Fellow of HRINZ.