The Intercultural Women’s Leadership Collective
A collective for migrant- and refugee-background women, co-designed and led by wāhine. Twenty women, two facilitators, seven months, three residentials- building relationships, sharpening your voice, and shaping intercultural leadership in Aotearoa.
Is this you?
Wāhine already carrying leadership at work or in your community, ready for more. Migrant- and refugee-background women, ready to connect and learn together.
You don't need a senior title to belong here.
What's involved
7 months, three in-person residentials plus regular online engagements
20 wāhine in this cohort
1 buddy paired with you for the whole journey
A closing wānanga at Waitangi, over Waitangi Day weekend
Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a living leadership framework
Who is leading this
This collective is funded by The Clare Foundation and run by Belong Aotearoa.
This collective and the sessions have been shaped and will be led by two facilitators:
ZIENA JALIL
Co-founder, Ethnic Women Entrepreneurs Network
An internationally recognised keynote speaker, moderator and facilitator, Ziena is known for weaving connections between people, ideas and nations — and between the world we have and the world we're capable of building.
In her current role as Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy and Executive Operations at Hato Hone St John, Ziena leads strategy, legal, advocacy, fundraising and international engagement for one of New Zealand's most trusted organisations, with 12,000 people serving more than one million New Zealanders every year. She has previously had senior executive leadership roles in the public and private sectors and won the 2025 global Silver Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year.
Ziena spent a decade living and working across Asia, including as New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Singapore, and received multiple international awards for strengthening New Zealand's trade and education profile and partnerships across the region. She has also served on the boards of the Natural Hazards Commission, Education New Zealand and other public, private and not-for-profit organisations.
KAYE-MAREE DUNN
Kaiwhakahaere - Director of Making Everything Achievable
Kaye-Maree is the Director of Making Everything Achievable, Ahau NZ Limited, and Indigital Blockchain Limited. She is currently on the Interim Māori Spectrum Trust Board, North Hokianga Development Trust, Āhau Tātai Hono Trust, and is a Sir Edmond Hillary Fellow and a Senior Atlantic Fellow through the University of Melbourne.
She has worked in the realm of Māori and Community development for over 21 years and loves being involved in lifting the transformative capability of whānau, hapū, and iwi to actively contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s economic potential.
The dates
All sessions online and in-person are compulsory.
Residential 1 (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Friday 28 August - Saturday 29 August 2026
Residential 2 (Tāmaki Makaurau)
Friday 30 October - Saturday 1 November 2026
Residential 3 (Waitangi)
Friday 5 February - Sunday 7 February 2027
Online engagements in-between including reflections, panel sessions & workshops:
2026:
Wednesday 23 September;
Thursday 8 October,
Wednesday 11 November,
Friday 11 December
2027:
Wednesday 13 January
Know a wāhine who should be in this room?
Share with them and make sure they apply today.
For questions, contact Malu Malo-Fuiava, Programme Director, malu@belong.org.nz