RiskNZ Team and Board

I bring extensive international risk consultancy expertise to the table, having collaborated with organisations across various sectors and regions. The breadth of this experience enables me to share globally informed perspectives and proven solutions, directly benefiting Risk NZ by equipping members with a well-rounded understanding of risk management best practices and pitfalls. My broad exposure has provided valuable perspectives on both exemplary and suboptimal risk management practices, which I am committed to sharing with Risk NZ members. My vision is to support the positioning of Risk NZ as a dynamic, relevant, and valuable community that empowers professionals to remain informed and adaptable amid rapidly evolving business and risk landscapes.

If elected, I will:
• Maintain an open-door policy to ensure members feel acknowledged and supported fostering a culture of openness and trust, ensuring that all members’ voices contribute to Risk NZ’s growth and the profession’s collective intelligence.
• Deliver emerging global best practices through webinars, toolkits, and case studies tailored for the New Zealand context. Enabling members to stay at the forefront of the profession and apply innovative solutions within their own organisations.
• Elevate the annual summit by featuring innovative speakers, and a strong focus on practical learning for senior executives and risk practitioners. Ensuring that Risk NZ events deliver actionable knowledge and skill-building, directly enhancing members’ professional capabilities and value to their organisations.
• Expand networking opportunities and peer-learning forums to foster enhanced collaboration. Building and supporting a stronger, more connected professional community, enabling knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving among Risk NZ members.

Collectively, these initiatives aim to reinforce Risk NZ’s relevance and create a more robust, resilient future for the profession. They position Risk NZ as an initiative-taking, member-focused organisation that supports ongoing professional development and industry leadership.

My peers and clients value my risk management expertise, developed through work in New Zealand and global markets. With experience in consultancy and operational roles, I have advised diverse organisations and gained insight into effective risk strategies.

• This background enables me to offer practical, evidence-based advice to Risk NZ, supporting members in avoiding common errors and adopting proven approaches. My global outlook shapes a pragmatic approach to risk governance, focused on adaptable strategies for executive decision makers balancing risk and value. I specialise in enterprise risk management and build frameworks that embed risk-awareness into organisational decisions, strengthening resilience and outcomes.

• These skills allow me to mentor Risk NZ members in developing strong risk frameworks, ensuring their organisations are ready for new challenges. I contribute to ongoing professional development by providing emerging risk practitioners with hands-on tools to tackle challenges such as cyber resilience, ESG concerns, and geopolitical risks, all within today’s dynamic business environment. My expertise in advanced risk analysis and commitment to clear communication empower organizations to make decisions that affect financial outcomes, reputation, and long-term sustainability.

• This enables Risk NZ to more effectively support its members, making sure their organizations access high-quality insights vital for executives and boards to make strategic, well-informed choices. My leadership style is characterised by openness, accessibility, and a dedication to fostering collaboration, creating an environment in which members feel valued and engaged. By integrating international best practices with locally relevant strategies, I seek to strengthen Risk NZ’s standing as the foremost centre for risk knowledge and collaboration. Beyond my operational accomplishments, I contribute to industry thought leadership through speaking engagements, published articles, and active participation in sector working groups.

• This ongoing thought leadership will help me keep Risk NZ at the forefront of industry trends, providing members with timely insights and opportunities for professional growth. My collaborative style and focus on developing New Zealand’s risk capabilities have made me a respected advisor and mentor in risk management. I lead by enabling teams, sharing knowledge, and fostering innovation and proactive risk management for organizational success.

Risk NZ is at a pivotal moment. Together, we can elevate its relevance, strengthen its voice, and create a community that truly empowers risk professionals. I invite you to support my nomination so we can build a stronger, more resilient future for our profession—one that reflects the best of global practice while staying true to New Zealand’s unique needs.

Vivian has 20 years’ experience globally in enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance and business roles. She has served in senior risk executive positions in the Americas, Hong Kong, EU, Australia and New Zealand, with Goldman Sachs, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Group AMP and Bank of New Zealand. She is a frequent speaker at conferences on risk strategy and regulatory matters.

She has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Delaware, has held numerous broker-dealer licenses with FINRA in the United States, and is a member of Global Women, FINSIA, Institute of Directors and Women on Boards, Governance NZ. With deep expertise in the analysis, application, and embedment of domestic and extraterritorial regulatory requirements, she specialises in establishing frameworks and leading risk strategies, transformations, remediations and organisational change. She is delighted to be serving on the RiskNZ board.

An experienced risk practitioner, able to work across multiple sectors and layers of stakeholders.  Currently Risk and Assurance Manager at Ravensdown Limited, responsible for the Enterprise Risk System, Internal Audit, and other assurance activities. Reporting directly to the Audit and Risk Committee.

Proven ability performing enterprise, portfolio, programme, and project risk management activities. This includes practical experience raising risk maturity levels and co-facilitating Board top-down risk and appetite workshops.

Prior roles demonstrate a diverse skill set and versatility. Roles cover advisory, audit and assurance for government entities, corporates and across industries (Construction, Agriculture, Education). Each required an emphasis on continuous improvement of processes and performance at entity, governance, and systems levels. These roles have included working for KPMG, Department of Conservation, University of Canterbury, Fonterra and CAANZ.

A CA risk specialist who holds a certificate in company direction with the IOD and other relevant qualifications.

I have recently joined Auckland Council as GM Risk and Assurance, after having successfully
transformed the internal audit function at Fletcher Building to a team that collaborates and partners with the business focusing on key risks. In this role I was tasked with rebuilding and leading the internal audit function across the Fletcher Building Group both in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific, during challenging times, while improving employee and business engagement.

Prior to this I was a Director in Risk Assurance at PwC, where I have 12 years’ managing client
relationships and delivering assurance solutions across risk, cyber security, IT, financial, operational, fraud and compliance areas. After many successful years as Director in Auckland, leading and overseeing internal audit programmes, risk engagements, business development and senior level account management with a range of clients, I moved to the Waikato PwC office. Reported to the Waikato Managing Partner with responsibility for establishing and leading the Waikato Risk Assurance team.

I am experienced in developing and delivering governance programmes and projects within fast paced and continually changing environments, including the creation of Fletcher Building’s first group-wide control self-assessment programme.

In my current role at Auckland Council I am responsible for leading risk, internal audit, integrity and insurance teams. I manage the council’s relationship with the Audit and Risk Committee providing oversight at an individual entity level and a Group level.

I am also a Trustee for the Perry Outdoor Education Trust, supporting POET to equip low decile
secondary schools to facilitate the delivery of outdoor education experiences for students.

Agnès de Calbiac is a seasoned leader in risk management and assurance, with deep expertise across healthcare, retail, banking, and consulting sectors in New Zealand and Europe. Her career reflects a commitment to elevating risk from a compliance function to a strategic enabler of resilience and performance.

Currently Head of Enterprise Risk and Assurance at Southern Cross Healthcare, Agnès oversees risk, internal audit, insurance, and business continuity. She plays a pivotal role in shaping governance and embedding a culture of resilience that supports strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability.

Previously, at Woolworths New Zealand, she led the development of enterprise-wide risk and resilience strategies, steered responses to major crises—including natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic—and fostered a proactive, opportunity-focused risk culture.

Her earlier roles at ASB Bank and Deloitte (New Zealand and Luxembourg) provided a strong foundation in business continuity, compliance, and strategic risk advisory across diverse industries.

Agnès is recognised for her empathetic, energetic leadership, her ability to build high-performing teams, and her dedication to thought leadership. As MC of the Risk and Resilience Summit 2025, she demonstrated her influence and ability to engage and inspire the risk community.

My passion for risk management began in 2003 when I developed a risk assessment process for the Auckland City Council Closed Landfill Asset Management Plan as part of my work as an environmental consultant. As I aligned the approach to the the former New Zealand/ Australian Risk Management Standard AS/NZS 4360 I discovered the joy of developing and implementing practical risk processes and I have retained my enthusiasm for it to this day.

Soon thereafter I was able to secure a role as the Risk Management Coordinator with North Shore City Council where I completely overhauled the Council-wide enterprise risk management framework and programme in accordance with 4360. In addition, I developed the project risk management guide together with Rob Verkerk from Auckland University as well as organisation wide business continuity plans. I facilitated strategic, operational and project risk workshops, inductions, was involved in pandemic planning and developed/ operated the council-wide intranet pages.

Audit New Zealand commended Council about the uplift in enterprise risk management and business continuity during that time.

I presented two papers during my time at Council on Risk at the 6th Internal Audit Forum 2005. “Are Your Audit Functions Really Risk Based?” and at the 4th Annual Enterprise Wide Risk Management Conference 2006 “Business Continuity Planning in the Face of Emerging Risks”. Both papers were very well received and available as White Papers for several years.

I left my role to start a family but attended conferences and maintained peer connections and keep abreast with changes and developments in the risk space. On my return to the workforce, I have since worked in permanent and contracting roles in Local and Central Government in enterprise, programme and project risk management, regulatory compliance and business continuity.

During that time, I have successfully developed and implemented numerous risk management frameworks as well as business continuity plans. In 2022 I had the great privilege to present a paper at the Risk & Resilience NZ Summit on Project & Programme Risk Management

The organizations I have worked for since my return include Inland Revenue, Regional Facilities Auckland, Public Trust, Vector, Auckland District Health Board, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and ACC.

My passion is to make risk come to life, uplift risk maturity and literacy across organisations and add real value.

In my experience one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through the development and implementation of fit for purpose enterprise and project risk management frameworks, associated processes, templates and well-run risk education sessions/ workshops.

I strongly believe that effective risk management not only enables organizations to achieve their strategic objectives but also safeguards stakeholders, customers, and employees.

After receiving my Masters of Strategic Studies with Distinction in 2020, I founded Jackson Calder Limited in 2021; a strategy, futures modelling, and geopolitical risk advisory firm based in Wellington that aims to empower NZ businesses to forecast, take geopolitical risks seriously, and give them the tools to design better strategies. I specialise in horizon scanning, generating foresight, trend identification and extrapolation, blind spot analysis, and designing alternative future scenarios for strategic planning.

I sit on the Committee of the NZ Institute of International Affairs Wellington Branch and I enjoy working with my colleagues there to plan diplomatic functions, public speeches and events, and ensure the branch is delivering for our members.

I am working with a large construction firm in Auckland to forecast and manage risks relating to
emerging technology, climate change, and Covid-19, in addition to advising on strategic communication and planning. I am also currently collaborating with another risk consulting firm with a heavy focus on national security, using technology and data to present risks on multiple client-facing geospatial mapping platforms. I have also applied this expertise for the Ministry of Defence, Centre for Strategic Studies, Diplosphere, Asia New Zealand Foundation, and the NZIIA.

I consider myself a multidisciplinary analyst and I strive to constantly have an informed, holistic
understanding of the strategic environment. I believe this is critical for contemporary risk management as the risks New Zealand faces are becoming more complex and interconnected, and I aim to advocate for new approaches and ideas within RiskNZ.

At 25 years old I’m attuned to the struggles of young people who may be disillusioned or uninspired with their career as a result of Covid-19 and other converging factors. Through RiskNZ I want to advocate for them, encourage them, and help them discover pathways in risk management as we cannot navigate emerging, complex risks like foreign interference, sensitive technology, and the rapidly shifting political economy without fresh, nuanced skillsets and ideas.

Finally, I share the feeling of many professionals that Wellington has become somewhat of a sterile business environment that is dominated by the public sector and the Big Four. While it is crucial to work with partners from all agencies and firms to manage risks, I believe RiskNZ can be a platform that welcomes new players and encourages small, ambitious, and agile companies to carve out their own space and have an impact that breaths some life back into the capital.

I have worked in the tertiary sector for over 20 years, most recently in the role of Risk and Insurance Manager at the University of Canterbury (UC) in Christchurch. My current line management responsibilities include risk and insurance.

In addition to managing enterprise-wide risk at UC, I have also been working extensively in the travel risk space to better understand and prepare increasingly mobile and at-risk travelling staff and students for the uncertainties faced by global unrest and a myriad of other issues, including pandemic.

Following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 in the Canterbury region, I had operational responsibility for the substantial insurance claims that were ultimately settled in late 2014 for a sum that at that time was the largest insurance claim in the southern hemisphere.

As part of the Emergency Management Planning Group, I was part of a team that implemented an emergency management strategy for the University in 2007. In addition to being a founding member of the planning group, I had a frontline role in emergency response for several years and now act as an advisor to the UC Incident Management Team. In 2021, I was also the strategic lead for business continuity planning to ensure that business recovery is not hampered by poor preparedness.

Risk NZ has played a key role in mentoring me over the last 10 years in my role as Risk and Insurance Manager. I have enjoyed watching the growth of the organization and have been excited by the proactive engagement with risk professionals in the South Island in recent years. I have also had the pleasure of being a judge in the Risk NZ annual awards 2018-2021 and was thrilled to be awarded Risk Professional of the Year in 2016.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with her family, walking/jogging, Asana yoga, and being an active
spectator of a myriad of sports.

Raj Hit is a senior risk leader with more than 25 years’ experience as a trusted advisor to Boards and executive teams across financial services and public-sector organisations. He is currently General Manager, Enterprise Risk at Lotto NZ, where he leads enterprise risk frameworks, draw integrity, and a specialist team covering risk, assurance, fraud, information security and benefits realisation. Lotto NZ generates annual revenues of approximately $1.6+ billion, through a nationwide retail network of over 1,1100 retailers and an online MyLotto digital channel, returning 100% of the profits (circa. $400M+) to local communities .

Raj is passionate about building high-performing risk teams and delivering practical, customer‑focused outcomes. He was the recipient of the RiskNZ Award of Excellence for Developing Capability in Risk Management in 2021 and has since served as a judge for the RiskNZ Awards of Excellence in 2024 and 2025. He also presented on “AI Risk or Opportunity: Preparing for the Unexpected” at the 2025 RiskNZ Summit.

His career spans Big Four consulting, global banking and financial services, and more recently the lottery sector. This experience has shaped his pragmatic approach to risk — focusing on what works in real-world commercial environments rather than purely conceptual frameworks. Raj strongly advocates embedding risk into organisational culture so it becomes part of everyday decision‑making rather than a separate process.

As a RiskNZ Board member, Raj is committed to promoting and advocating for the profession, sharing global best practice tailored to the New Zealand context, and engaging closely with members to understand their evolving needs. He brings a collaborative leadership style and aims to be a pragmatic voice on the Board—supporting strong member engagement, value‑focused initiatives, and continuous innovation. Key areas of focus include emerging risks, AI risk management, cyber security, integrated risk frameworks, and enterprise‑wide controls assurance.

Raj has worked extensively across Singapore, London, Washington D.C. and Auckland, bringing a global outlook applied locally for the benefit of RiskNZ members. He is motivated by supporting the next generation of risk leaders and strengthening the profession’s role in helping organisations balance risk and reward.

Qualifications and memberships:
MMgmt (Distinction), BCom (Hons), CA Risk Specialist, CIA, CISM, CISA, PMP, CSM, MInstD

My transition in to risk management has been a relatively recent occurrence. Triggered by a couple of significant events at Hastings District Council that highlighted the need for more effective identification and management of risk.

In my current role as the Risk & Corporate Services manager for the Council, I’m responsible for leading the Councils enterprise risk management programme, including advising the Council on key areas of risk.

Prior to becoming involved in Local Government, most of my career has been involved in aviation. Starting with operational flight experience overseas, and then in a quality and safety management systems role at Air New Zealand. After Air New Zealand I lead the development programme for an aviation quality and safety management application called AQD. The Product Manager role involved consulting with airlines across the global to develop and improve the system offering.

Now based in sunny Hawkes Bay with my wife and daughter, we enjoy the opportunity to get out on the local walking and cycling trails. And when this isn’t possible in winter, we love to get a way to National Park for some snow time on skis.