The BWN Committee
GEMMA HIGNETT
CHAIR
MARKETING & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
TUI PRODUCTS
Gemma and her husband, Jordan, came to Tauranga after moving back from London in 2010, and now live in the Mount with their two young daughters 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.
MICHAELA JAMES
DEPUTY CHAIR
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 20 years and have three young children. In her spare time she loves to go boating with family and friends.
NATALIE MILNE
TREASURER
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 a number of years.
TANYA DRUMMOND
SENIOR ASSOCIATE,
COONEY LEES MORGAN
Tanya is a specialist commercial / corporate lawyer who helps businesses with all things law related. She enjoys the variety and challenges associated with advising business from a wide range of industries.
Tanya has lived in Tauranga for the past 10 years, after stints in Melbourne and Wellington, and she loves the lifestyle that living in the Bay provides to her and young daughters. Tanya is passionate about women taking the lead in business and the community and is excited to be part of the BWN committee.
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 five 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 part of 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
SALES & MARKETING CONSULTANT
Kim Ancell has had an extensive 30-year career working across all facets of sales and marketing from the largest media companies and recognised advertising agencies to start-up operations in New Zealand. Kim has also spent time working with SME’s in the Bay of Plenty to improve overall business performance.
Kim is currently seeking her next opportunity and after a short break, is feeling energised and ready to take on her next challenge.
In her downtime, you can find Kim at the gym or out with friends walking and exploring the many beautiful sights Tauranga has to offer.
RACHAEL NUNN
GROUP HUMAN RESOURCES ADVISOR
PORT OF TAURANGA
After studying in Wellington for three years, Rachael moved back to the sunny Bay of Plenty to pursue a career in HR.
She’s been with Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest and most efficient cargo gateway, since 2019 and absolutely loves it. From recruitment to wellbeing to industrial relations, Rachael’s dabbled in it all.
Over the last few years, she’s been heavily involved in championing a huge organisational shift to attract a diverse workforce into the Port industry. She’s always keen to connect with local women and takes every opportunity to network with the business community.
In her spare time you’ll find her horse riding down at the beach or socialising with friends.
GILLIAN JOHNSTON
INSIGHTS SPECIALIST & OWNER
SPROUT CUSTOMER RESEARCH
She has owned Sprout Customer Research for five years and has extensive research experience internationally in both Australia and the UK for global firms. Sprout is a leading niche market research consultancy that works alongside businesses. Some of the sectors they currently work in are the environmental sector, volunteer sector, tourism, agriculture, export, retail, councils and FMCG.
Gill moved to Papamoa with her husband Brandon after living in the UK and Australia. She has two young children who are keen adventurers and love the outdoors. They often spend their downtime getting away in their caravan, exploring and mountain biking. She is always keen to listen, get involved and is always up for a challenge both in and out of work.
