Joan Withers

Joan has been a professional director for more than 20 years and spent over 25 years working in the media industry, previously, holding CEO positions at The Radio Network and Fairfax Media. Her current governance roles are Chair of Mercury NZ Limited and The Warehouse Group Limited, and director of ANZ NZ Limited. Joan has previously held Chair positions at TVNZ and Auckland International Airport Ltd.

Joan is a Trustee of the Louise Perkins Foundation and is Chair of a steering committee working to increase the percentage of South Auckland Maori and Pacific Island students taking up roles in the health sector.

She holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from The University of Auckland. She is also a University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni (2015). Joan is the author of "A Girl's Guide to Business" which was published by Penguin Books in 1998 and “A Woman’s Place” which was published by PenguinRandom House in 2017. She was awarded the New Zealand Shareholders Beacon Award in 2014.

In 2015 she was named Supreme Winner in the Women of Influence Awards and was named Chairperson of the Year at the Deloitte Top 200 Management Awards.