General Counsel & Company Secretary
AIA New Zealand
Kristy has 18 years of experience in a variety of leadership, law, executive and governance roles. Kristy has worked within the financial services, sport, insurance and energy sectors across Australasia, United Kingdom and the Middle East.
She is dual qualified to practice law both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and is a Chartered member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Kristy currently leads AIA Insurance award winning Legal and Regulatory Affairs team – AIA was the winner of the NZ Lawyer In-House Team of the Year in 2019 and a finalist in 2020 and 2021.
Kristy is currently on the Board of Hockey New Zealand as well as being an Executive Director of AIA New Zealand Limited and a Board member of the Financial Services Council for the past 5 years helping grow the financial wellbeing of New Zealander's. As a former international hockey player, Kristy is passionate about making a difference and helping kiwis live healthier, longer, better lives.
She is a collaborative challenger who champions and holds others accountable to an organisations purpose and vision, as demonstrated by her having launched the inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the FSC (of which she is Chair). Kristy is forward thinking on legal and regulatory changes and anticipate future customer needs and shapes strategy. She inspires and supports in-house lawyers to explore and embrace new experiences.
By setting clear priorities and high standards she has created a culture of challenging the status quo and focusing on the customer and good conduct. Doing the right thing in the right way is as important to Kristy as doing what is legally prescribed. As a leader in her industry Kristy fosters empowerment and collaboration across functions and beyond to own it, find solutions and get it done.
