Dame Jenny Shipley is a Former Prime Minister of New Zealand holding office from 1997 to 1999 - and the first woman to do so.
Current work
Dame Jenny has an intense interest in emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region and is a regular visitor to China. She is a Board member of the Boao Forum for Asia and the Beijing based International Finance Forum and was an Initiator of the Education Forum for East Asia. She is an Executive Board member of the New Zealand China Council, she chairs 3 private companies and is currently Co-Chair of New Zealand’s 250th commemoration of Maori and Cook first meeting in 1769.
Previous experience
Dame Jenny served as an independent Director on the Shanghai and Hong Kong listed China Construction Bank for 6 years and in 2019 retired as chair of the NZ subsidiary China Construction Bank NZ Ltd and as chair of the former SOE and now NZX and ASX listed company Genesis Energy. She also chaired the Advisory Board on Transitional Arrangements for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Global Women NZ and is the retired Vice President but remaining board member of the Club of Madrid, a group of 104 former Presidents and Prime Ministers involved in leadership development globally.
New Zealand Government
Dame Jenny Shipley was the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand holding office from 1997 to 1999 and the first woman to do so. In the preceding seven years she held a number of Senior Ministerial positions in the New Zealand Government where she took a leading role in New Zealand’s very significant economic and social reforms of that time. As Prime Minister she chaired APEC in NZ in 1999, again the first women to do so. In 2002 she retired from NZ politics having served 15 years in the New Zealand Parliament and returned to the business sector.
Dame Jenny is an outstanding keynote speaker tracking mega trends globally with particular expertise on the Asia Pacific region. Her passion is working with leaders who have the courage and competence to help “shape the future” of their companies and their country.
Jenny's level of professionalism, her delivery and content where impecable. She researched our industry and tailored her presentation to be spot on. Jenny's presentation was thought provokin ... keep reading Barfoot and Thompson
A warm, friendly, natural speaker who had researched our sector well and spoke form the heart. This was the last session of a four day conference and the audience was captivated. Gave them encouragement, motivated them and endorsed the work they do. A great boost for their confidence and self esteem. A perfect end to our wonderful conference.
Over and above [expectations]. They felt informed and I think that they felt they had got to know one of NZ's most powerful women. They loved her.
It exceeded [expectations]. Authoritative and absorbing. Everyone was greatly impressed by Jenny - she's a terrific person.
“I absolutely loved Jenny Shipley’s presentation. Wow, what a formidable woman! So inspirational.” “Dame Jenny Shipley: simply transformational! I’m still reeling and have so much to reflect on.” “Jenny Shipley was the strongest speaker.” “I really enjoyed Jenny Shipley’s address - very pragmatic and ‘matter of fact’ tone and content of which I relate well to.”
