OUR PEOPLE LAURA HARDING

Senior Manager

PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW

Laura is an experienced strategic and operational policy advisor and business case practitioner with a knack for synthesizing and communicating complex information.

She has worked across both the private and public sectors, enabling her to develop a broad range of skills. In previous roles she has led the development of business cases, worked on a number of legislative and regulatory development and reform programmes, and has helped establish new operational business functions. She has also developed long-term strategies, sought and successfully acquired investment funding, managed significant work programmes, and provided advisory support across a number of agencies, governance groups and business leaders.

Laura really enjoys working with organisations to help define and set their strategic direction and putting in place the plan for realising objectives aligned to this direction.

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Laura grew up on the shores of Lake Okāreka, Rotorua, where she fostered her interest in the natural world and how to care for it. She now lives in Wellington with her husband (Jeff) and two dogs, KT and Obi.

In her spare time, Laura enjoys getting outdoors and keeping fit. She is a keen cross-country runner, mountain biker, and skier in the winter. Over the years she has participated in a number of running events, and has explored a number of New Zealand’s mountain bike parks and trails, taking the opportunity to see and explore new parts of the country from a different perspective.

When she’s not occupied with her other more physically strenuous interests, she is generally out and about with her adopted ‘furry family’, getting enjoyment from introducing them to new places and experiences.

Laura is generally keen to give anything a go, living by the philosophy of treating every new experience as an adventure.