Currently our Network is undertaking a 'customer-focused' design project to better understand our current and potential membership base. This project is being been lead by one of our lovely volunteers Carol Young who prior to moving to London was a senior strategy and operations consultant at Deloitte in Wellington.

The purpose of the project is "to ensure that the network's strategy and activities align with the needs of our members and to identify changes to improve what we do". This will also include updating the website so that it's more user friendly and resourceful.

To kick off the research we obtained initial feedbackfrom a cross-ection of the Network (a huge thank you to those who took the time to respond) and held an interactive workshop on Sunday 29th November at Ozone Coffee Roasters.

Brene Brown – Daring Greatly – How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the way we Live, Love, Parent and Lead

Brené Brown encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives. Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable, or to dare greatly.

Brené challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability. Based on twelve years of research, she argues that vulnerability is not a weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and connection.

New Zealand House was the place to be on Wednesday 4 November for Kiwi women (and some men). Lady Alexandra Smith accompanied by the current High Commissioner, Rt Hon Sir Lockwood Smith, welcomed Diane to London and to the Network.

With the stunning autumn London skyline as the backdrop, kiwi themed nibbles were eaten that had been prepared by Rhonda Scott of Escence catering, Marlborough wine from Blind River was savoured, books were signed, and we eagerly awaited to hear our guests' musings.

Lady Smith set the scene by sharing personal (often amusing) anecdotes of their long friendship which started two decades ago in Auckland. Their paths crossed due to Lady Smith's involvement as a Counsellor at Diane's adopted son's school. From there, they bonded over their passion for philanthropic causes, eventually leading to Diane's 'OE' in the UK this year.....