NZ Part Time Power List 2024

The power of part time: recognising and celebrating New Zealand employers and individuals changing the system

“I am delighted to announce the inaugural NZ Part Time Power List 2024. The very first list that celebrates individuals in powerful roles who are working part time. A list that aims to smash the perceptions that part time work means “part time attitude” and being relegated to the “b team”.  We profile 25 outstanding New Zealanders at the top of their game, being the change they want to see in the world. The idea for this list has been years in the brewing for me and it was gratifying to read the nominations that came in and to know that this kind of work is possible. You can’t be what you can’t see. And now we can see it!  Onwards and upwards.”

FOUNDER, WORKS FOR EVERYONE

Emma McLean

  • Aimee Sandilands

    HEAD OF LEGAL & PROPERTY, MANAWA ENERGY

    School hours, 5 days a week

    I think that part time senior leadership roles are incredibly important. It’s never sat well with me that, to be present for my family in the way that I want to, I would need to accept a period where it would be difficult for me to advance professionally. I’m …

  • Ange Welch-Peters

    OPERATIONS GURU, MOBILE RELOCATION

    20 hours a week

    My family are my priority. As much as I love my role and the work that I do, nothing is more important than my husband and our two children. Being present for my family's needs and special moments was my key consideration when …

  • Charlotte Harris

    GROUP MANAGER SHARED SERVICES, ABLEY LTD

    32 hours a week

    A part time position means permission to manage my life commitments in a way that suits me and lets me give my best to each one. For the last 12 years I have worked in a ‘part-time’ capacity but I have never let that negatively impact on …

  • Chloe Leuschke

    MANAGING PARTNER, MANGO COMMUNICATIONS AOTEAROA

    4 days a week

    I’m proud of the joy I get both from working in the PR industry and from being a mum to two young girls . Having the ability to structure my role so I can work four days means I can have a day for quality time with my children, which is really …

  • Danielle Chew

    SENIOR PROJECT LEADER, ANZ

    24 hours a week

    Working part time has allowed me to successfully contribute to my family both financially and with time. As a wise person once said “Love is spelt T.I.M.E. to our children” and part time work for me is a key enabler for this in my family situation. As a …

  • Emma Thompson

    DIRECTOR PRIVATE BUSINESS, PWC

    4 days a week

    I love being a mum to my two little boys, and I also love my job! Being able to be a great mum and progress in my career at the same time is something I am super passionate about and working part-time is key to helping me achieve this. It is a constant juggle but there are a few things that help me

  • Erica Beagley

    HEAD OF BRAND & CONTENT, KIWIBANK

    School hours, 5 days a week

    Coming into a new job and from the start having the privilege of being able to work flexible reduced hours has been a game changer for me, and my family. With three young kids, the ability to be there for them after school (and all the …

  • Herwig Raubal

    ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EY

    4 days a week

    Working 4 days a week has been a great move for me. As a single father, weekends are dominated by my daughter (who is 11). I love spending time with her. However, having one day off week that is entirely for me allows me to exercise and relax as ..

Part time roles need a rethink

Particularly the part time roles that employees need when they become parents. The part time roles that enable them to fulfil the caregiving needs their family have alongside continuing to build their career, not sidestep or off-ramp it.

We need part time roles that are accurately scoped, that tap into our strengths, allow contribution at a senior level, and provide a meaningful challenge. I hear my clients say that it needs to “feel worth it” when they return to work after having children. And so often it does not feel worth it when they are side lined into roles that are not senior, that make them feel like they are on the “B” team, don’t play to their strengths and are not scoped for reduced hour outcomes.

  • Jeanette Paine

    GENERAL MANAGER, TANIA DALTON FOUNDATION

    20 hours per week

    I've always thought that if you want something done well then get a busy women to do it - even better give her less hours in a week to do it! I'm delighted to be able to apply my years of senior experience to the part time General Manager …

  • Jodie Bennett

    KAIWHAIHUA I CHIEF ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, CHANGING MINDS

    30 hours a week

    Being able to balance a career alongside my family responsibilities is a privilege I don't take lightly. Working part-time as a senior leader allows me to have a career while also maintaining the …

  • Katie Hogue

    Katie Hogue

    DIRECTOR & COO, LAB SUPPLY

    School hours, 5 days a week

    I work on average 25 hours in the office (onsite) each week where I perform the COO role in the business that I co-own with my husband. The hours I work onsite, flex up and down by about 20% according to our family and business ..

  • Liz Blythe

    Liz Blythe

    PARTNER AND BOARD MEMBER, RUSSELL MCVEAGH

    4 days a week

    For me, success is being able to show up and be at my best for my clients and Russell McVeagh, while still being able to show up and be my best for my daughter at her first day of kindergarten. It's helping to normalise different pathways ...

  • May Lee Starreveld

    May Lee Starreveld

    SENIOR MARKETING BUSINESS PARTNER APAC, MAERSK

    4 days week

    All working parents know the juggle and the guilt. When you spread yourself too thin, nobody wins - not your employer, not your family and certainly not you. I was on a fast-track to burnout. As a senior leader …

  • Nicola Raynes-Pene

    Nicola Raynes-Pene

    PARTNER, KPMG

    4 days a week

    When I was asked about the legacy I wanted to leave as a Partner at KPMG, I said that I wanted to show that people with strong soft skills, people who work flexibly and people who are their …

  • Olivia Winterbourne

    Olivia Winterbourne

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GENERATE ZERO

    4 days a week

    Working part time has allowed me to balance my career and personal aspirations with my family’s needs. It enables me the mental stimulation and career progression I …

  • Rochelle Wallens

    Rochelle Wallens

    GENERAL MANAGER, THE ĀKINA FOUNDATION

    4 days a week

    Working at Ākina in a part time capacity has enabled me to follow my career and parenting aspirations. I am most happy when I can be challenged in the work I do alongside quality …

We need to measure the enablers

It is not enough to measure the outcomes when it comes to gender equity at the top of our organisations. We also need to measure the enablers of getting those outcomes and quality, meaningful part time work, is one of those enablers.

There it is a narrative that says it is a “choice” for parents, particularly women, to step out of the workforce. But the reality is, they have run out of choices. If they are the lead caregiver, they have run out of options to have a full time job. They need meaningful part time roles that enable them to stay in the leadership pipeline and not off-ramp themselves.

  • Quynh Vallance

    Quynh Vallance

    PARTNER CORPORATE TAX, PwC

    JOBSHARE 4 days a week

    We job-share, which means we jointly manage a portfolio of clients and divide and conquer between ourselves as work comes in. For us, this works really well as we're motivated to ...

  • Roxy Tillie-Gibson

    Roxy Tillie-Gibson

    AI PRODUCTIVITY LEAD, ONE NZ

    4 days a week

    As I reflect on my journey with One New Zealand, I want to share the profound impact that part-time work has had on my life and the invaluable lessons I’ve learned along the way. The Difference It Has Made: Working 32 hours a week for ..

  • Sam Elder

    Sam Elder

    GM ENERGY FUTURES, THE ORION GROUP

    4 days a week

    I've worked 4 days a week for most of the last 14-years, in senior roles across several orgs. This started because I wanted to study for an MSc, and couldn't do that while working full time with a young family.

  • Sarah Attwood

    Sarah Attwood

    PARTNER CORPORATE TAX, PWC

    JOBSHARE 3 days a week

    We job-share, which means we jointly manage a portfolio of clients and divide and conquer between ourselves as work comes in. For us, this works really well as we're motivated to ...

  • Shelley Newey

    Shelley Newey

    HEAD OF PEOPLE & CULTURE, CHANNEL TERMINAL SERVICES

    4 days a week

    With three children aged 11, 13 and 15 the need to be present for them, whilst also being a supportive wife while my husband runs our business and then being a senior manager in a highly demanding role …

  • Simon MacDonald

    Simon MacDonald

    HEAD OF EVERYDAY BANKING PRODUCTS, KIWIBANK

    4 days a week

    Being able to work part time had a massive impact for our whānau. Not only did it mean I had an extra day to spend with my 12 month old son every week but it also gave my wife more space as she returned to work. The key enablers …

  • Sophie Dawson

    Sophie Dawson

    PARTNER, EY

    4 days a week

    For the past 15 years, I have embraced part-time employment, a choice initially made to strike a healthier work-life balance for my family as our children were growing. My journey through various part-time arrangements—be it working …

  • Sophie Jack

    Sophie Jack

    BUILDER / CARPENTER, LICENSED RENOVATIONS LTD

    20 hours a week

    Being a female builder over the past few years has definitely had its challenges! Now add being a pregnant builder to this list and you've got yourself a whole new set of challenges to navigate. This has been …

  • Thalia Kehoe Rowden

    Thalia Kehoe Rowden

    CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS MEASUREMENT INITIATIVE

    24 hours per week

    It's crucial for the wellbeing of our whole society that there are meaningful roles that can be done part-time. We're all missing out on the talent of millions of people, otherwise. For me …

What difference do you think this Power List will make?