Kirsten M.

Kirsten M. has a diverse work experience that spans various industries and roles. Kirsten currently serves as the Director of Culture & Communications at Seequent since 2022. Prior to this, they worked as a Senior Adviser at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade from 2020 to 2022, where they led partnerships with multilateral agencies and managed the Private Sector Development Strategy. Kirsten also has experience in crisis response, having served as a Response Manager at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in 2020. Kirsten has held multiple leadership positions in communication and stakeholder engagement at the same ministry from 2016 to 2020. Kirsten's international experience includes being a scholarship recipient for the Global Leaders for Innovation and Knowledge (GLIK) Program at JAIMS (Japan - America Institute of Management Science) in 2019. Prior to that, they worked as a Policy, Government & Public Affairs Advisor at Chevron from 2013 to 2016. Kirsten also co-founded and served as the Director of Communications at the United Nations Association of Australia (WA) from 2014 to 2016. Other roles in their career include working as a Policy Advisor at the European Parliament in 2012, a Senior Project Manager at Blue South Translation for Business from 2009 to 2012, a Parliamentary Assistant at the New Zealand Parliament in 2011, and an Analyst at Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional in 2010.

Kirsten M. has a diverse education history. In 2020, they completed the Coordinated Incident Management System (v4) program at Land Search and Rescue NZ, focusing on Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. In 2019, they participated in the Global Leaders for Innovation & Knowledge Programme at the Japan-America Institute of Management Science, with a specialization in Business Management and People Leadership. In 2017, Kirsten obtained a Certificate in Stakeholder Engagement from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Kirsten pursued their Master's Degree in International Development at the University of Canterbury from 2012 to 2013, following an Honours degree in International Relations and Affairs from Victoria University of Wellington in 2011. Kirsten's undergraduate education includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics, Politics, and Spanish from the University of Canterbury from 2006 to 2009, accompanied by a Diploma in Spanish and Iberian Studies from the Universidad de La Rioja in 2007 and 2008.