Webcast
1
CPD
Join trade expert Charles Finny for a webcast exploring the future of international trade under a second Trump administration.
As global markets prepare for the return of US President Elect, Donald Trump to the White House, the international trade landscape faces renewed uncertainty. What could this mean for New Zealand’s exporters, businesses, and trade relationships? With trade tensions, tariffs, and protectionist policies likely to escalate, New Zealand exporters and businesses could face a challenging global environment.
Charles will share his analysis of the key risks and opportunities for New Zealand, drawing from his experience in trade negotiations and diplomatic relations. Gain valuable insights into how boards and directors can prepare their organisations to navigate shifting geopolitical dynamics and safeguard market access.
In this session, Charles will explore:
With deep experience in trade negotiations and global markets, Charles will provide practical insights to help directors and leaders anticipate challenges and position their organisations for resilience. Don’t miss this essential briefing to stay ahead of the curve in an unpredictable international trade landscape.
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Charles is a Partner at the Wellington based Government Relations consultancy Saunders Unsworth where he has been for 14 years. Prior to that he was CEO of the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. The first 23 years of his career were spent working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Trade and Industry and Prime Minister’s Department. Charles has spent many years working on the GATT/WTO and in negotiating bilateral and regional FTAs. He helped negotiate two generations of the CER agreement with Australia; the Singapore New Zealand, China New Zealand and Taiwan New Zealand FTAs.
Charles advises private sector clients on matters relating to domestic and international regulation. He has advised the UK, Japanese and Taiwanese Government on trade policy.
Charles served on the Board of NZTE for 12 years and is a former Chair of Education New Zealand. He also served on the NZ Film Commission Board and VUW Council. He is currently on several Boards including Woolyarns Holdings Limited and Independent Schools of NZ. He is the Independent Chair of the NZ Port Company CEO Group.
Charles lectures regularly on trade policy in New Zealand and offshore. He is also a regular media commentator on international politics and trade.
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Kirsten Patterson MNZM (known as KP) is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Member of the IoD. In 2025 she was awarded the New Zealand Royal Honour, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to governance and women. She is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Chair of the Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI), and a member of the New Zealand External Reporting Advisory Panel (XRAP). She serves on the Boards of the mental health charity, Voices of Hope, is Chair of the Brian Picot Ethical Leadership Advisory Board at Victoria University in Wellington and an Ambassador for the Wellington Women’s Homeless Trust.
A strong advocate of diversity, KP is a member of Global Women New Zealand and was one of the founding members of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace. KP was the founder and is Executive Sponsor for Chapter Zero New Zealand – the New Zealand Chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative - hosted by the IoD NZ to mobilise, connect, educate and equip directors and boards to make climate-smart governance decisions, thereby creating long term value for both shareholders and stakeholders.
Kristyn Chandler-Yates
National Sponsorship and Events Manager
+64 27 207 2592
Kristyn.Chandler-Yates@iod.org.nz
Members — $0.00
Non-members — $60.00
