How can boards successfully tap into Asian growth markets

Panel Discussion

Speaker(s): Pamela Young, Kenneth Leong, Franky Wang
Date: 5:30pm — 7:30pm, 8 April 2025
Venue: Marsh Auckland
Location: Level 11, PwC Tower, 15 Customs Street West
Price members: $75.00 incl GST
Price non-members: $105.00 incl GST

Overview

Does your board know how to govern for change, govern for growth, and govern for greater effectiveness in Asian markets? Is your business yet to venture into Asia but you are unsure of the way forward? Are you thinking about opportunities to boost your exports?

The role of governance in cross-border partnerships is key. This event will help your board or business to look more closely at the markets in Asia, (that are growing at between 4% - 6%) and develop robust governance frameworks to drive sustainable growth and trust in Asia-focused business ventures.

How can your board:

Raise the bar on growth strategies to help improve productivity, double exports and boost profits
Work strategically to build bridges between Asia and global business communities
Adapt your style to deliver nuanced cross-cultural leadership, particularly with Asian stakeholders
Address risk mitigation in politically sensitive sectors like technology, energy, or infrastructure
Better understand how geopolitical alliances (e.g., AUKUS, BRICS, or Quad) are shaping trade policies and investment opportunities in Asia
Leverage cultural diversity for innovation and resilience in governance, particularly through the local Asian diaspora community, who make up over 900,000 population in NZ.

Pamela Young

MInstD

Pamela Young is a globally experienced executive, entrepreneur and consultant with a keen eye on the future. She has worked with industry leaders across many industries in New Zealand, Australia, SE Asia, the UK, Europe and the USA including Barclays Bank, Credit Suisse, Macquarie Bank, PwC, KPMG, Accenture, Freshfields, Mallesons, Russell McVeagh, UNSW, UQ, Fairfax Media, Beca Group, Coffey Group, CSIRO, Kainga Ora, FINSIA and more.

Pamela has advised boards, CEOs and top teams for 30 years to help identify and remove growth hurdles, implement worldclass strategies, drive transformational change and align cultures to deliver goals.

Her global career has culminated in a deep understanding of and experience in leading and managing multicultural workforce and shaping cultures to ensure all genders, races, ethnicities and abilities can be fully productive at work.

Pamela is author of Stepping Up: Lead Culture Change for Diversity and Growth in the Asian Century, a leadership book that includes 100 interviews with boards and CEOs, about how to adapt business culture to build greater ‘authentic’ diversity and be more effective in Asia.

In Pamela’s videocast thrive2030 she interviews boards and CEOs about global trends and challenges and brings thought-provoking ideas to listeners worldwide.

Kenneth Leong

CMInstD

Kenneth has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance and international business. He currently serves on the Boards of numerous private businesses involved in education, retail and technology. He advises senior business people and high net worth investors as Director of Tiaki Capital, an independent corporate finance firm.

He was Chairman of the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council from 2017-2021 and currently a member of the Ministerial Strategic Advisory Group on Trade. He was inducted by KEA as a World Class New Zealander in 2015. He has a long history of involvement with the not-for-profit sector; he has been a trustee of the Auckland Foundation since 2016.

Franky Wang 王俊生

CMInstD

Franky is the Head of Asia Business Activation for the Bank of New Zealand. He significantly contributes to the development and execution of the BNZ Asia Strategy, an enterprises-wide national role, from the consumer & partners to SME divisions as well as corporate and institutional banking. 

Other than banking, Franky volunteers with Cure Kids as the first and only Asian Special Advocate tasked with promoting the Cure Kids brand in the Asian community in New Zealand.

Franky also sits on the Board of New Zealand Asian Leaders, Basketball Development Trust and the Board of Kāhui Tū Kaha that is part of Ngāti Whātua. Franky is also an ICE Angel Investor growing start-up business in New Zealand.

Franky is currently sitting on the Institute of Directors (IoD) Auckland branch committee. He was a mentee of the IoD Mentoring for Diversity programme in 2019 and recently completed his IoD Company Director Course.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our Covid-19 health and safety measures. If you are unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend this event.