Energy stalwart recognised in King’s Birthday honours

Origin Energy director and former Mighty River Power (later Mercury Energy) chair Joan Withers has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday honours for services to business, governance and women.

Withers is one of New Zealand’s leading governance experts and a champion for women in business, with more than 20 years’ experience in the media industry and numerous governance roles in significant New Zealand businesses, says her citation.

She was Fairfax New Zealand and The Radio Network of New Zealand chief executive and has been a director and chair of numerous private and state sector companies, it says.

“These have included chairing The Warehouse Group since 2016, chair of Mighty River Power (later Mercury), Auckland International Airport and TVNZ. She is a former director of Meridian Energy and Counties Manukau District Health Board. She is currently director of Sky Network TV, ANZ New Zealand and Origin Energy.”

Withers was a foundation member of Global Women and the 25 Percent Group, which worked to achieve diversity of thought at senior management level and in New Zealand boardrooms, says her citation.

“She co-founded OnBeingBold, which convenes an annual event empowering women leaders, with a similar event provided freely to Year 13 girls. She is a trustee of the Louise Perkins Foundation and previously of Royal New Zealand Ballet and Counties Manukau Pacific Trust. She chaired the steering group of Grow Our Own Workforce from 2009 until recently. Mrs Withers is the author of ‘A Girl’s Guide to Business’ (1998) and ‘A Woman’s Place’ (2017).”