Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/134780
Matt Greenslade Judith Hanratty Chair / Chairperson of the Commonwealth Education Trust When did you first move to the UK? I came to live permanently mid-1986. What attracted you to move? I was invited by BP to take up a position in the London head office initially as the Deputy Company Secretary. Throughout the time you have been there, how much would you estimate you have contributed to the British economy? BP is one of the largest companies in the UK (and indeed internationally) and therefore as an executive of that company I made an indirect but meaningful contribution to the UK economy. In addition, I have held a number of public offices in the UK, for example, as a member of the Competition Commission; the Take Over Panel; and the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority. What was your first residence? A flat in Chelsea in central London that I still occupy. How often do you return to New Zealand? Every year for about four to six weeks. If you could introduce one uniquely 'Kiwi' aspect to the UK, what would it be? Lifestyle and the overall quality of the living environment. Dale Murray Entrepreneur & Angel Investor British Angel Investor of the Year 2011 When did you first move to the UK? In 1995 - almost 18 years ago! What attracted you to move? Like many New Zealanders, a couple of years of "OE" sounded appealing. I thought - if I don't do it now I never will, so off I headed. What was your first job in the UK? I worked briefly at the BBC and that led to a job at the media giant Pearson - a major book and newspaper publisher, and at the time a television production company as well. Throughout the time you have been there, how much would you estimate you have contributed to the British economy? My (Kiwi) husband, my (Kiwi) brother-in-law and I started a company in 1999 that launched mobile phone top-ups and within five years we were selling £450 million of top-ups a year. I have to say, it took me a while to grasp just how big the opportunity is in Great Britain - I'd be thinking about getting 100,000 customers and the mobile networks would be saying - no, you need to build your systems for 10, 20... 40 million customers! How long before you returned to New Zealand after first moving? We returned to New Zealand to get married after a couple of years of being in London. How often do you return? It's erratic. We returned three times in three years for weddings at one point, but more recently we went five years without a visit as we have three young children. We did spend a month in NZ last Christmas and my whole family was enchanted. My (very British) little boys now take turns to enquire as to why we're not living in New Zealand. If you could introduce one uniquely 'Kiwi' aspect to the UK, what would it be? I think it's the "can do" attitude. After almost two decades spent in London, I do see that Kiwis tend not to see reasons why they can't do something - they just forge ahead assuming that they can do it. Anthropologists may put it down to our colonial heritage - I don't know about that but I do know that Kiwis tend to work hard and have great positive mental attitudes. www.h e rmagaz in e .co.n z | 19