From the Right to Vote to the Power to Lead in Corporate Aotearoa

Celebrating Suffrage Day through the Women's Empowerment Principles

Friday 18th September 2026 | 12.00pm – 1.30pm NZST
Zoom

133 years ago, New Zealand changed history. What's the next chapter?

In 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote. Today, that legacy challenges us to ask a new question:

How do we ensure women not only have a voice, but the opportunity to lead, influence and shape the future of corporate Aotearoa?

As organisations navigate workforce change, leadership succession, skills shortages and increasing expectations around diversity and inclusion, creating environments where women can thrive has become more than an equity issue, it is a strategic advantage.

This special Suffrage Day event brings together business leaders, current Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Signatories, governance leaders and organisations from across Aotearoa to explore how the legacy of women's suffrage continues to shape leadership today.

As the second event in the WEPs Learning Series 2026, we'll celebrate the progress that has been made while exploring practical ways organisations are embedding the Women's Empowerment Principles to strengthen leadership, culture, governance and long-term organisational resilience.

Hear from organisations already leading this work, learn from inspiring women leaders, and take away practical ideas that can support your own organisation's journey.

Together we'll explore:

What New Zealand's suffrage legacy means for today's organisations.
From representation to leadership, how organisations create pathways for women to lead.
Practical examples from current WEPs Signatories.
Building inclusive leadership cultures that strengthen organisational performance.
The business case for advancing gender equality.
Preparing your organisation for the 2027 Women's Empowerment Principles Survey and White Camellia Awards.

Featured speakers

Hear from:

UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand
UN Women Empowerment Committee partners
Current Women's Empowerment Principles Signatories
Business and governance leaders
Inspiring women sharing their leadership journeys

Who should attend?

This event is designed for:

CEOs and Executive Leadership Teams
Board Directors
HR and People & Culture Leaders
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leaders
Sustainability and ESG Professionals
Current WEPs Signatories
Organisations considering becoming WEPs Signatories

Why attend?

This is more than a celebration of Suffrage Day.

It's an opportunity to reflect on the role organisations play in shaping the future of leadership in Aotearoa.

You'll leave with practical ideas, inspiring examples and new connections that will support your organisation to strengthen leadership, embed the Women's Empowerment Principles and prepare for the 2027 WEPs Survey.

A Suffrage Day Challenge

As part of this event, we'll invite organisations to consider one practical commitment they can make over the next 12 months to strengthen opportunities for women to lead.

With New Zealand's local government elections taking place this year, we'll also explore how organisations can celebrate Suffrage Day by encouraging civic participation, supporting employees to vote, and recognising the important role workplaces play in strengthening democracy.

Wherever your organisation is on its WEPs journey, this series is designed to support you to move from commitment to meaningful and measurable impact.

Across the three events, we’ll explore the Seven Women’s Empowerment Principles as a practical framework for organisational change—moving from understanding, through leadership and reflection, to action.

Join us to learn from evidence and organisational experience, strengthen your approach, and prepare for the 2027 WEPs Survey with greater clarity, confidence and purpose.

The UN Women Empowerment Committee NZ is lead by UN Women Aotearoa NZ in partnership with Zonta, Business & Professional Women and The Human Rights Commission.

Contact the host of Celebrating Suffrage Day - From the Right to Vote to the Power to Lead in Corporate Aotearoa

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