Justine Smyth | |
|---|---|
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| Alma mater | Papatoetoe High School , University of Auckland , Harvard Business School |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
Justine Gay Bronwyn Smyth CNZM is a New Zealand business executive, and professional director. In 2020, Smyth was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to governance and women.
Smyth grew up in South Auckland. Her father was a farmer, and she is the fourth of six children. [1] Smyth attended Papatoetoe High School, and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Auckland. [1]
Smyth had received a bursary from the Inland Revenue Department which bonded her to work for them for three years. [2] She then joined Deloitte, attaining the rank of partner at the age of 29 or 30, one of two female partners at the time. [1] [2] She also worked for Lion Nathan as Group Finance Director. [3] [4] She has been a director of New Zealand Post, Auckland International Airport, Mondiale VGL and Spark New Zealand. [2] [5] [6] In 2017 she became the first woman to chair Spark's board. [2] Smyth mentors other women to become senior leaders and directors, and was instrumental in setting gender diversity targets for boards and leadership teams. [7] [8]
Smyth has been Chair of the Breast Cancer Foundation since 2010. She was inspired to become involved due to her mother's survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer. [2] Smyth was instrumental in establishing a mobile clinic to provide breast care services to small towns, the Pink Caravan project. [7] She also helped the Foundation to set a vision of zero deaths from breast cancer, and oversaw the expansion of research funding to New Zealand breast cancer researchers. [7]
Smyth is married and has one child. Smyth and her husband have owned infrastructure and lingerie businesses. [2]
In 2019 Smyth won the Inspiring Governance Leader category at the Women in Governance Awards. [9] In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Smyth was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to governance and women. [7]
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