Dame Joan Withers, DNZM

Professional Director

Dame Joan Withers has extensive governance and executive experience. She is Chair of The Warehouse Group, Director Sky TV, Director ANZ NZ and Director ASX-listed Origin Energy.

She is a former Chair of Auckland International Airport, TVNZ and Mercury NZ Ltd, and has held Chief Executive positions in the largest media companies in the country and in that capacity has led significant organisational transformations.

Dame Joan holds an MBA from the University of Auckland and was a recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015. In that year she was also named as the Deloitte Top 200 Chairperson of the Year and was named as the Supreme Winner in the Women of Influence Awards. Other acknowledgements include the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association Beacon Award, the CAANZ Media Excellence Award and induction into the TVNZ Marketing Awards Hall of Fame.

Dame Joan lives with her husband on a rural property in Karaka where they indulge their passion for horses, dogs and generally enjoying the country lifestyle.

Dame Joan became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June 2024.