Dame Jenny's career has also included a six-year stint on the board of China Construction Bank and while she has retired from the parent company, she now chairs its New Zealand subsidiary. She was candid about the gold and red of China woven throughout her corporate cloak - one she wore throughout her speech.
Influence
The Chinese would be the new "sphere of influence" in New Zealand over the next 25 years, she said. Their dollars would overshadow the European, American and British investment which had allowed New Zealand "to be wealthy" over the last 25 years.
However, the generational "fear" of foreign investors could hold the region back. "Are we open for business or have we grandma on our shoulder?"
Earlier this month, China's Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming agreed to buy Pinny Farms - 10 Far North properties totalling 3600ha - for about $42.7 million.
The application was being processed by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO), which also approved the sale of the 2.5ha Whatuwhiwhi Holiday Park for $3.8 million to the Chinese company Carrington Holiday Park Jade in March.
The sale was part of the expansion of the adjoining Peppers Carrington Resort, a 1000ha five-star resort on the Karikari Peninsula bought by Chinese real-estate giant Shanghai CRED from US businessman Paul Kelly for $28.7 million in 2013.
NZ First's Northland MP Winston Peters was last week leading the charge against the sale of New Zealand land to Asian investors. He said New Zealand faced losing "control of dairying to foreign businesses which are buying farms and milk plants, or building them".
"It was the back-breaking work of Kiwis who broke in the land and built up our premium product so why are we now letting foreigners walk in and take over?" he said.
But Dame Jenny suggested that Northlanders could lease land to foreign investors, instead of selling it. "There are many business models that can provide a win/win for everyone."
Leadership
Dame Jenny chairs Genesis Energy and Senior Money International. She is the retiring chairwoman of Global Women New Zealand, a member of the World Women's Leaders Council and the vice-president of the Club of Madrid, a group of 100 former presidents and prime ministers.
"If you wonder what presidents talk about when they get together ... yes, we talk about politics ... but just a few weeks ago at a dinner in Dubai, Bill Clinton and I were admiring photos of each other's grandchildren on our cellphones," she said.
Dame Jenny was New Zealand's first female Prime Minister, leading the country from the end of 1997 to the end of 1999. She joined Parliament at 35, was a minister at 38, Prime Minister at 46 and retired from politics at 50.
She is currently facing a civil claim from the liquidators of collapsed Mainzeal Group, of which she was a director.
She recently said she would "vigorously defend" the action after liquidators filed a court claim involving allegations of a breach of directors' duties.
Defendants in the claim include former directors of the property group which collapsed in 2013 - Dame Jenny, Sir Paul Collins, Richard Yan, Siew May Kwan, Peter Gomm and Clive Tilby.
Neighbours
The daughter of a liberal and jolly Presbyterian preacher, Dame Jenny and her three sisters were raised by her mother after her father died when they were young. "People think I came from a privileged background. To be widowed in the 1970s was not easy territory for my mother."
Much of what Dame Jenny has done in life, she said, was about shaping the future - a future she nearly waved goodbye to when she suffered a heart attack in 2000. The former Health Minister said she had been told by a doctor that the pain down her arm was probably "tennis elbow".
She is now patron of Go Red for Women and called on the audience to take steps to combat heart disease.
Dame Jenny recently celebrated her 42nd wedding anniversary to Burton, who she describes as a "great guy" and a partner that told her to always "be who you are".
These days the doting wife, mother, grandmother and sister relaxes with family in Russell, between engagements overseas. After Dame Jenny's talk, a swarm of fans queued to shake her hand - many from the seaside town. She handed out business cards and told them where she went for coffee in Russell every morning.
The Bay of Islands Women's Nexus was the brainchild of Far North Deputy Mayor Tania McInnes and Annika Dickey, of chartered accountants Whitelaw Weber. They hosted the event to provide inspiration for women, particularly those in business. Dame Jenny's mission to inspire women was successful. Whether or not the 200 or so businesswomen will open up their business to Chinese investment remains to be seen.
