Our People

Tara Lorigan MNZM | Founder, CEO & Board Member

OUR BOARD & PATRONS

LOUISE BENTLEY | INTERIM BOARD CHAIR

Louise is a 40+ year award-winning veteran of the marketing communications industry. She's worked both in large organisations including TV3 and leading agencies, Mojo and FCB. She made the leap from employment to entrepreneurship and created her award winning agency Energi. Louise built up and eventually sold Energi in 2023 to Attain where she remains part of the senior leadership as Director of Integration. Louise has been an active member of Co.OfWomen since 2016 and is widely respected and highly regarded for her skill and generosity.

KENINA COURT | BOARD MEMBER

Kenina is a highly experienced entrepreneur, director and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant. She's worked in both commercial at CFO level and public practice where she built two (and sold one) accounting firms. She has extensive experience in property investment and uses this knowledge to help her clients today build long term sustainable wealth. She's on the boards Eke Panuki, the Oceania Career Academy, which works with Pasifika youth to provide them with learning pathways into careers in the construction industry, and the Banking Ombudsman Scheme. Kenina is a New Zealand-born Samoan. She has been a member of Co.OfWomen since 2015.

DR LEE MATHIAS ONZM | FOUNDING CHAIR - CHIEF PATRON

From its inception in 2009 until her untimely passing in 2026 Lee was integral to the evolution of Co.OfWomen as key mentor to its founder Tara Lorigan, the founding Chair and then Patron. Together with Tara Lee developed the first board of the organisation with members that included Sharon Hunter, Sarah Paykel MNZM and Wynnis Armour QSM and Rhonda Kite ONZM.
Lee was a serial entrepreneur, investor and highly experienced director. Her significant experience, largely dedicated to the health sector, has seen her receive many accolades including being honoured as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health and business. She was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs in 2016, the selection committee of which also Chaired until her passing in May 2026.

DAAME THERESA GATTUNG DNZM | PATRON, FORMER BOARD CHAIR

Theresa is renowned for her strong business acumen having headed up Telecom (now Spark) at the age of 37. Her most recent business ventures include co-founding the multimillion-dollar My Food Bag business and Tend. She is a prolific philanthropist and investor and experienced director.

“I’ve always been a strong advocate for women in business so Co.OfWomen is a natural fit. I see some of the biggest barriers for female entrepreneurs as getting the right support team around them and actually asking for help. Co.OfWomen does just that by surrounding them with relevant, trustworthy champions and programmes that build commercial confidence, minimise business risk and ensure momentum. I’m excited about my new role as Chair and I’m looking forward to helping strengthen our female entrepreneurs.”

DAME RANJNA PATEL DNZM | PATRON, FORMER BOARD MEMBER

Dame Ranjna is a founder and director of the The Nirvana Healthcare Group of Companies, a significant network of general medical clinics across Auckland, working with over 185,000 patients. Ranjna holds a range of leadership, advisory and governance roles and is heavily involved in community health promotions with the Ministry of Health and Counties Manukau DHB to enhance and promote health awareness among the local communities in South Auckland. In recognition of her significant success Ranjna has been awarded several accolades including being inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs. She served on Co.OfWomen's board for five years.

KAZ STAPLES MNZM | PATRON, FORMER BOARD MEMBER

Founder of Pure Delish, Kaz grew the business from a seed of an idea to a strong business before selling in May 2019. She is most recently co-owner of gut tonic business Wildly. Kaz is hugely passionate about the FMCG sector and mentoring growing businesses in this space to achieve their potential. Kaz was honoured as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018 for her contributions to business. Kaz has been a member of Co.OfWomen since 2016.

WYNNIS ARMOUR | PATRON, FORMER BOARD MEMBER

Wynnis is a highly respected business leader whose career has been defined by enterprise, leadership and a commitment to opening opportunity for others.

A co-founder of The Madison Group, Wynnis helped build one of Aotearoa’s leading staffing businesses, following a successful senior career spanning both the public and private sectors. Her contribution has also extended well beyond business, including public service and governance.

Wynnis has been an important part of the Co.OfWomen story for many years, serving on our Board and bringing her experience, wisdom and unwavering belief in women’s success to our mahi. In 2019, we had the great pleasure of inducting her. into The New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs | Te Whare Whakahōnore i ngā Rakahinonga Wāhine o Aotearoa, recognising both what she has achieved and the contribution she has made for others.

Today, as Patron of Co.OfWomen, Wynnis holds a special place in our whakapapa: a formidable wāhine toa, longstanding champion and valued custodian of what we stand for.

PERI DRYSDALE OBE | PATRON

Peri Drysdale founded Snowy Peak Ltd in 1981, designing and producing high-quality, innovative luxury fibre blend knitwear which she subsequently exported globally. After pioneering the development of possum fibre and wool, knitwear brand Merinomink™ (fine merino and possum) was launched in 1996. Concerned with the long-term sustainability of the planet, Peri decided to found the lifestyle fashion brand Untouched World™ in 1998. In 2000 the Untouched World Charitable Trust was set up, funded by profits from sales from Untouched World clothing, products and services. Under Peri’s leadership, the company has won many awards in design, business excellence, exporting, retail, sustainability and ethical governance. In 1992 Peri was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to New Zealand (Manufacturing and Export). In May 2007 Peri was invited to present alongside 11 other companies from across the world at a UNESCO workshop in Bonn, Germany, on Corporate Education for Sustainable Development. Subsequently, Untouched World became the only fashion company in the world to carry the United Nations certification (UN DESD logo) on its garments for its ground-breaking programmes offered to young adults in leadership for a sustainable future. Untouched World continues to assist UNESCO on Education for Sustainable Development Strategy; and is listed one of three global exemplars in youth ESD on the UN GAP website. In 2018 the UWCT is partnering with the Mahatma Ghandi Institute to broaden the reach of these programmes beyond New Zealand.