We think 2025 will still be a tough year for business and our members. Even with lower interest rates and the economy recovering, it will take time to rebuild balance sheets before there is any meaningful investment in growth. Our biggest challenge, and opportunity, will be to support our membership through a gradual recovery and continue to invest in deeper value for them.
What opportunities do you see in 2025?
We recently surveyed 1000 businesses – 58% said developing their people was a key priority for the next 12 months, and as this is one of our core offerings, it presents a great opportunity.
We have refreshed our training courses, which support people transitioning from being a “doer” through to being an excellent manager, and on to becoming an outstanding leader. So, we are excited about the opportunity this presents for us and our members. More broadly, as the raft of policy changes comes into effect, we will be able to support these changes within the business community – particularly in the broad area of workplace relations, which is our core focus.
What will it take to kick-start New Zealand’s economy?
I think it will need multiple influences, what I call “the power of the and”. Interest rate decreases are helpful but not dissimilar to medicine being taken by a sick patient. On top of these, we need changes in policy settings that make it easier to do business and provide greater confidence to employers.
We also need some large-scale infrastructure projects to kick off, which will deliver tangible productivity benefits. This will have the additional benefit of inspiring our national ambition and imagination, and stop our best and brightest from leaving to deliver these in other countries.
How will a Trump presidency affect the geopolitical dynamics?
I think Trump 2.0 will be less interventionist militarily, as he focuses on putting America first. His comments as the Syrian rebels surged through the country were telling – “This is not our flight, let it play out.” That said, he will clearly use trade with the United States as geopolitical leverage. In short, he will ratchet up trade conflicts and seek to resolve or avoid military ones, with the purpose of benefiting American business.
What are the concrete actions your organisation has taken to reduce climate change?
We are not a large organisation ourselves, but with over 7000 members and significantly more through the BusinessNZ network, we are well-placed to drive an impact on climate change by amplifying initiatives through our membership base. We have an exciting programme bringing the excellent work done by the Sustainable Business Council to our members and working in conjunction with partners to deliver it.
How are you increasing diversity in your business?
I think the EMA board started by recruiting a Zimbabwean as chief executive! Internally, we are already a diverse organisation with multiple ethnicities; our ages range from those in their early 20s to 71 and we are over 70% female.
Again, though, our biggest impact is what we can achieve collaborating with the broader community of business. We are progressing a strategy to deliver some of the benefits of our membership through community-specific business associations and collaborating with other outstanding initiatives like Best Places to Work.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
In addition to the typical health resolutions I seem to carry over every year (exercise more regularly, eat more leafy green vegetables, drink more water, etc), I have added “eat more seaweed”, as it is full of dense micronutrients. I would like to get back into the habit of reading books, as this has gradually been overtaken by the allure and accessibility of digital media.
Where and how are you holidaying this summer?
We will have Christmas in Mount Maunganui with the extended family, which is always great. Then, we will ring in the new year with friends at a bach in the Marlborough Sounds, which we are looking forward to very much.
What would you recommend as a good podcast to listen to over summer?
Listening to Desert Island Discs in the car is a family tradition, so there will be a lot of that on the road and ferry trip to the Sounds (no pun intended). The combination of inspirational and interesting stories, plus some nostalgic music, feels like the R&R my brain needs right now!
