Great women walk the talk

After a sellout inaugural Women in Business Conference last year, the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce is expecting the second conference, on May 17, to be just as popular.

Chamber chief executive Ann Lockhart said there had been intensive planning to provide a strong line-up of motivational speakers for the 2013 conference, themed ''Walking the Talk''.

''Last year's speakers were outstanding and it has been our mission to cap that. I think we have assembled an excellent group of women who have extensive backgrounds in a range of businesses in New Zealand. They all have a lot to contribute on both a professional and a personal level.''

Media personality Mary Lambie will be the conference MC.

She has had significant roles in both radio and television, including as host of TVNZ's Good Morning show. Lambie also had practical business experience as owner and operator of a Subway franchise in central Auckland - after purchasing her first franchise six years ago, she has bought and sold Subway stores in following years. Speakers include entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds, the youngest person to attend university in New Zealand, in 1980, and who is the founder of Fusion, a health and safety and ACC consultancy company which became New Zealand's largest private accident compensation insurer.

Untouched World and Snowy Peak founder Peri Drysdale, who has won several business awards and was awarded the MBE for her contribution to New Zealand's manufacturing and exporting industries, and Linden Leaves founder and executive chairwoman Brigit Blair, who received the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2010 for services to business, would also be presenting at the conference.

Attendees would hear from Fisher Funds founder and managing director Carmel Fisher, Yellow Brick Road founder and chief executive Rachel Taulelei, who is also the co-founder of Wellington's City Market and chairs the On a Plate Advisory Board, and was named last year as a Sir Peter Blake emerging leader; and Radio Live and Live Sport Mediaworks Radio general manager Jane Rangooni, who has led the way for women in senior editorial and management positions in radio would share her experiences as a''glass ceiling smasher''.

Ms Lockhart said style guru and entertaining motivational speaker Lisa O'Neill was back by popular demand, speaking about the fashion industry.

While the conference would provide valuable insights into business methods and opportunities through its panel of speakers, the forum was also an excellent opportunity for networking, she said.

''We want to encourage women from all walks of business life, throughout the region, to come along and exchange ideas and information.''