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Board of Trustees

Dame Fran Wilde

DNZM, QSO, Foundation Chair

Hon Dame Fran has had a distinguished career in national and local politics, including as a Cabinet Minister, Mayor of Wellington, Chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council and New Zealand representative on the APEC Business Advisory Council.

She is currently board chair of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Light Rail Ltd and the Royal NZ Plunket Board (Whanau Awhina Plunket).

Dame Fran has many years’ experience in the New Zealand private and public sectors and has a deep knowledge of NZ foreign policy. She has been a director or chair of numerous companies and was CEO of the NZ Trade Development Board for six years.  She has also acted in other capacities including Crown negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi Claims and various governance roles in the arts, education and philanthropy.

Dame Fran was honoured as a Dame Commander of the NZ Order of Merit (DCNZ) in 2016. She has also been awarded Wellingtonian of the Year (1995), an honorary doctorate of laws from Victoria University of Wellington (2004) and a Westpac Women of Influence Award (2015). She is a Chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors.