Tania will speak from practical experience about some of the challenges that have arisen during her governance career and use these to discuss how a director/trustee can guide an organisation through challenging times. This is particularly relevant as governors are grappling with climate change, economic pressures, geo-politics, cultural diversity, gender equity, and social cohesion. Her kōrero will canvass the experience of providing guidance within a range of organisations.

Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson (Tainui, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi) is currently a director at Tainui Group Holdings, Meridian Energy Waste Management NZ and Auckland International Airport. She is the Chair of the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and a member of the Deep South National Science Challenge Governance Group. Tania is also a member of the Waitangi Tribunal and Deputy Chair of the Waitangi National Trust.

Tania has extensive experience in corporate governance, policy development and business with a long history of governance roles. She also holds the distinction of being the first Māori director on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Board where she was the Deputy Chair.

Tania is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and Māori. The title sits alongside others Tania already holds, including the rank of Commander in the Order of the Taniwha, a tikanga-based honour system established by Kīngi Tuheitia in 2014 to celebrate the efforts of Māori; and the rank of Dame Commander in the Order of St Lazarus, a charitable order established in Europe in 1098 that has been active here since 1962.

She has served 15 years (and counting) with the Waitangi Tribunal as a panel member on a wide range of inquiries. She founded Maori Consulting company Kowhai Consulting which has operated for 30 years employing a team of staff based in the Waikato Maniapoto region.