Bold Moves. Bolder (Women) Founders

Pam leads Auckland Council’s Economic Development Office, with a focus on delivering better outcomes for Aucklanders. The Economic Development Office develops and delivers strategy to grow prosperity across the region — attracting business and international investment, supporting climate innovation, growing key industries, and leading place-based economic masterplanning. All of this supports a thriving, inclusive economy for Auckland’s diverse communities.

Since the age of 17, Charis has worked in corporate with a focus on Māori and rangatahi initiatives. In 2024, after welcoming her first pēpi, Charis embraced life as a stay-at-home mum and ventured into self-employment. Shortly after, MAAIA Boots, a Māori-owned gumboot brand, was born. As a young Māori wāhine in business, Charis is passionate about empowering others through storytelling, innovation, and kaupapa-led design, leading with vision and heart while navigating the challenges of being a wāhine entrepreneur in Aotearoa.

Shama is an executive with experience in direct-to-consumer, retail, and international franchise organisations. She is the former Chief Operating Officer of Thinx Inc, a revolutionary period and incontinence underwear company. During her time at Thinx, she played a key role launching, growing, and selling the company. She is an engaged advisor, board member and mentor to start-ups, venture funds and non-profit organisations. She is deeply committed to helping solve the climate crisis and to striving for gender equity. In 2020, the Hillary Institute named her an Edmund Hillary Fellow and in 2023, the Obama Foundation named her an Obama Leader.

Zoe is an engineer‑turned‑entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Ora Pharm. In the U.S., she served as Curaleaf’s Director of Engineering, leading the design, build and launch of 80+ facilities in two years. Back in Aotearoa, Zoe founded Ora Pharm, becoming the first cashflow‑positive medicinal cannabis company in NZ, securing a Callaghan Innovation R&D grant, and expanding offshore. She thrives on turning complexity into momentum—building teams, shipping product, and scaling regulated businesses with discipline and heart.