In this piece, Sky NZ’s Chief Executive - and recent Deloitte Top 200 Chief Executive of the Year - Sophie Moloney reflects on the legal skills that shaped her leadership journey - and how a foundation in law can propel lawyers into senior commercial and executive roles, with one golden rule:
Hear from three SHIFT Advisory lawyers — John Hanson, Bianca Miller, and Lisa Holt — about their journeys from firms to in-house roles, and what they’ve learned along the way.
Three of SHIFT’s clients, colleagues, and friends - Stefania Esposito (Westpac), Macayla Hughes (Kiwibank), and Larissa Vaughan (TSB) - are legal leaders at three of New Zealand’s major banks. Like those on Emma McLean’s Part-Time Power List, they show why role models matter —proving you can build big careers while raising families, and bringing to life the mantra: you need to see it to be it.
From Canada to Christchurch, Ali Khan has built her career across industries and now leads the legal team at one of New Zealand’s global tech success stories. She talks about Seequent’s impact, why flexibility matters, and what she values about working with SHIFT.
Recently promoted to Head of Risk, Remediation & Regulatory Affairs at Tower, Victoria Palfrey shares how her career has evolved and the importance of balance as a working parent.
The GC’s Guide to Good Data Governance. Following our successful and informative Shift Advisory and Shift GC Network event month, ‘A GC’s Guide to Data Governance’, we’ve captured insights from our powerhouse panel: Rachel O’Brien – Director at O’Brien Legal Tim Fletcher – Chief Legal and People Officer at Modica Group Rebecca Holdsworth – Head of Privacy and Responsible AI at One NZ Caroline Wishart – Head of Information Management at Fonterra In this article, we share some of their key perspectives on how GCs can navigate the challenges and opportunities of data governance with confidence.
Social cohesion is built by leaders who are willing to listen, learn and help others do the same. Shift Advisory client and GC of NZTA Waka Kotahi Meredith Ussher has bought a culture of inclusivity and togetherness to her team in her role as a leader:
Social Cohesion in New Zealand Report co-author and chief economist at Simplicity Shamubeel Eaqub, discusses why New Zealand’s social fabric is fraying, why its time for business leaders to step up.
Claire Adams' joined Prue Tyler and Caroline Ferguson at this year's ILANZ Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau. One session in particular on tikanga Māori and law reform left a lasting impression.
Procuring software and technology (particularly SaaS) comes with legal and commercial risks that in-house counsel must navigate carefully, so how do you make sure your agreements protect your organisation? At the Legalwise In-House Counsel Conference 2025, key insights were shared on negotiating contracts, managing vendor performance, and mitigating risks—especially when dealing with major global providers versus local vendors. Shift Advisory Consultant Julie Daniels attended to find out more.
