Vanisa Dhiru is one of Aotearoa’s most inspiring advocates for diversity, inclusion and equality: an equity champion with a strong sense of social responsibility who has worked in a variety of advocacy roles throughout her career.

Vanisa is passionate about using her own experiences with bias (especially gender and race) to help others recognise and overcome their own biases.

Whether she’s discussing gender-diverse leadership, New Zealand’s changing cultural landscape, or the importance of sustainable development goals, her wealth of personal and professional experience makes her an engaging and inspiring presence.

She is a member of the Institute of Directors, the Wellington Interfaith Council and the Global BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network.

She currently holds commissioner roles with the NZ National Commission of UNESCO and the Library & Information Advisory Commission and is a board member of Global Women NZ.

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Awards and recognition

• Included in the 2016 Zonta District 16 ‘50 Women of Achievement’ list.

• Named a finalist for Kiwibank Young New Zealander of the Year in 2010.

• Led the NCWNZ delegation at the United Nation’s 70th session of the CEDAW Monitoring Committee in 2018, advocating for gender equality issues in New Zealand.

• Awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to community and gender rights [VD1], as part of the New Year’s Honours in 2020