Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women

Lisa Halvorson is the Founder and Director of Work Ready NZ, a Te Tai Tokerau–based social services and education organisation supporting people into education, training, and meaningful employment. Lisa established Work Ready in 2015 after stepping away from a senior Operations Manager role in one of New Zealand’s largest manufacturing corporates, driven by a desire...

I grew up in Lake Tekapo, with entrepreneurial parents running busy hotels, which meant we were pretty much self-raising kids. You learned resilience early, or you got left behind. Being the youngest with three older brothers, nothing came easy… especially praise. Getting out of my hometown meant leaving early. Hairdressing became my path and by 33, I owned my first salon. Th...

Timmy Smith is a Māori entrepreneur, founder, and creative force behind PAUSE for Tea and Timmy Smith Ltd, based on Waiheke Island, Aotearoa. Of Whakatohea, Te Upokorehe, Te Arawa and Ngāti Porou descent, her work is grounded in kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (care for people), weaving together wellness, culture, and connect...