Value Creation
About me
Lynette Murray
Lynette brings a strategic approach to value creation, integrating shareholder and societal perspectives to generate enduring outcomes across stakeholders.
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, she works nationally and internationally through her company, Gardenia LTM Ltd, and welcomes you to explore her website.
Services blend expertise in business and brand impact, partnerships, commercial growth, and sustainable business methodology that enables purpose-led results and strengthens organisational resilience.
Management | Governance
Lynette Murray is a senior manager and governance professional experienced across private, public, and social enterprise sectors.
Following senior roles with international business organisations, including partnership initiatives to promote New Zealand globally, she transitioned into a portfolio-based career encompassing for-purpose governance roles including acting CEO responsibilities. She also undertook sustainability consulting and targeted professional development.
She holds advanced executive training from the University of Oxford's Leading Sustainability Programme, alongside tertiary qualifications in communications and business (marketing major) from Auckland universities.
Commercial Performance | Multidisciplinary
Lynette has expertise in Brand Impact, working at the intersection of business strategy, brand, commercial performance, people leadership, partnerships, strategic marketing, and customer experience.
She has led multidisciplinary initiatives for organisations including Air New Zealand, Spark NZ, the America's Cup, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (covering diverse export sectors, investment, and work for the New Zealand Government), VisitBritain, and other tourism and economic development entities.
She contributes as an Advisory Board Member for a University of Auckland Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences centre, supporting a national transdisciplinary research effort that delivers innovative health solutions for communities in New Zealand.
Sustainability
She brings sustainability expertise grounded in international best practices, across:
- Purpose-driven business and brand
- Natural capital and environmental impacts
- Climate-change standards
- Social sustainability performance and metrics
- Governance, risk, and reporting
More information is available under Expertise and Experience via the navigation bar or by scrolling down.
Expertise
Brand Impact
Expertise across business and brand strategy, partnerships, commercial growth, strategic marketing, and other related areas.
Business Policy & Strategy
- Research and insights
- Strategy development and delivery
- Planning, budgeting, and monitoring
- Operational design and efficiencies
Brand, Reputation & Stakeholder Engagement
- Brand development, design, assets, and licensing
- Communications management
- Stakeholder engagement (community, government, media, diplomacy)
- Philanthropy, grants, and fundraising
Business Development & Revenue Generation
- Partnerships and alliances
- Leading and implementing multidisciplinary initiatives
- CRM, Sales strategy and implementation
- Procurement, supplier, and contract management
- Legal interface and negotiations
Strategic Marketing
- Digital transformation and technology efficiencies
- Multichannel marketing communications
- Strategic marketing and customer experience
- Sponsorship and events
- Loyalty programmes and partnerships
Credentials
Digital Leadership & Transformation Course
Institute of Directors New Zealand, 2022
Graduate Diploma, Communication & PR - Bachelor of Communication Studies & MBus modules
Auckland University of Technology, 2002
Postgraduate Diploma in Business (Marketing Major)
The University of Auckland, 1992
See next tab for Sustainability expertise
Sustainability
Sustainability expertise grounded in international best practice, supporting stewardship of the following:
Business and brand purpose
Aligning between organisational purpose and stakeholder perspectives, brand integrity, and responsible operations.
Natural capital and environmental impacts, climate-related standards
This focuses on natural resources and an organisation’s sustainability practices, particularly its impact on climate change. It includes strategies for reducing carbon emissions, managing climate-related risks and opportunities, and transition planning.
Climate-related disclosures and compliance - Regulatory frameworks, including IFRS-ISSB TCFD to assess risks and opportunities in thematic areas: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets, and assurance for disclosures.
Social sustainability performance and metrics
Assessing the impact and dependence on people and social capital, with metrics across areas such as: human rights, fair labour practices, health, safety, wellness, equity, community engagement and philanthropy.
Governance, risk, and reporting
Integrating non-financial metrics into governance, risk management, and reporting frameworks. It ensures organisations are not only measuring performance but also accountable for their sustainability efforts, embedding these into the broader organisational strategy and operations.
Credentials
Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme
University of Oxford, 2022
Sustainable Finance Course
Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc. (INFINZ), 2024
Strategy-related Climate Disclosures Topics:
- Climate science fundamentals
- Climate change and financial stability
- Climate risk management
- Greenwashing and legal risks
- Materiality
- Scenario analysis to support strategy
- Transition planning
- Accounting for climate
- Regulator expectations
Climate Governance Workshop, Institute of Directors NZ, 2024
Cultural Programme - Māori culture, Tikanga and the Treaty of Waitangi
Iwi United Engaged Ltd, NZ, 2022
Company Directors’ Course, Institute of Directors NZ, 2015
Finance Essentials Course, Institute of Directors NZ, 2015
Affiliations
- Global Chief Sustainability Officers Network
- University of Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Program Alumni Group
- Saïd Business School Elumni Network
- INFINZ (Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc.)
- Institute of Directors New Zealand
- Chapter Zero NZ - The national chapter of the Climate Governance Initiative
Context
An expert in the field says:
“Our context requires a realistic stock take of how much the erosion of natural capital underpins social and economic stability – at the firm level, at the regional and national level.”
"One issue for NZ is – what is ‘brand NZ’ worth in terms of foreign exchange earnings and what is the natural environment worth to New Zealand business and communities?
We have been drawing down natural capital for 150 years and have created a global brand that is increasingly not consistent with our reality. Sustainability is not just about ‘green’ but about vulnerability, persistence and resilience. The New Zealand context is that our economy and society is increasingly vulnerable, disrupted and fragile. Our context requires a realistic stock take of how much the erosion of natural capital underpins social and economic stability - at the firm level, at the regional and national level.
Whaling, sealing, flax milling, indigenous forest harvesting, ground water degradation, biodiversity depletion, etc have all contributed to past prosperity and current financial wealth but have been, or remain, constrained and extractive, destructive, and polluting ways of earning our livelihoods and living our lives. They are also incompatible with the clean, green, pure, natural brand New Zealand projects in order to sell products to affluent markets overseas and attract tourists to Aotearoa. Beaches we cannot swim at, rivers we can’t safely drink from, landfills eroded by sea level rise, land slips caused by inappropriate land use, pastoral farming that relies on imported animal feed… the evidence of ‘unsustainability’ and ‘incompatibility’ is plain to see.”
Roderick M Carr
BCom (Hons) LLB (Hons) MBA MA PhD
Christchurch, New Zealand
Dr. Roderick (Rod) Carr is a New Zealand leader with expertise in climate change, banking, business, and academia. He was the inaugural Chair of the Climate Change Commission, guiding its independent policy advice for five years, and is a director of ASB Group. He holds a PhD in Insurance and Risk Management and advanced degrees in economics, law, and finance. His career includes serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury and in senior roles at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, including Acting Governor and Board Chair.
More context: A report on "Our Environment 2025" can be viewed here / Source: New Zealand Government - Ministry for the Environment, Stats NZ, and data providers, and licensed by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Experience
Management|Consulting|Governance
Lynette has led expert teams in delivering strategic initiatives while managing operational challenges. Below is a snapshot of Lynette’s leadership experience.
INDEPENDENT
GARDENIA LTM LTD
Helping clients navigate the sustainability agenda, strengthen resilience, and deliver stakeholder outcomes.
Advisory BOARD MEMBER
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, FACULTY OF MEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES, Eisdell Moore Centre (EMC)
BOARD MEMBER
THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE
THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING
Led the registered NZ charity (and WHO World Hearing Forum member) through a leadership transition, strengthened stakeholder relationships, and improved financial performance by 14%. Reset government engagement through presentation of commissioned research insights. Reappointed to the board following the executive tenure.
INDEPENDENT
consulting & OTHER ROLES
Provided consulting across various short-term roles, including a SkyCity Entertainment Group fixed term project: Developed the group's first board-approved sustainability governance framework, after completing a review.
MANAGER TOURISM, SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM & STRATEGIC ADVISOR (SECONDMENT)
AUCKLAND COUNCIL, CCO START-UP, ATEED – A FOUNDING ENTITY OF TĀTAKI AUCKLAND UNLIMITED
Restructured the regional tourism operation during Ateed's launch. Contributed to securing the Guangzhou/Auckland route (valued at $97M p.a. to the NZ economy initially, Auckland Airport). Co-designed Auckland's first 10-year visitor economy strategy, driving growth from $3.3B to over $6B by 2021 (MRTE 2019: $8.55B, FreshInfo).
DIRECTOR MARKETING
NEW ZEALAND TRADE & ENTERPRISE, (NZTE), CROWN ENTITY
Oversaw ~150 global initiatives p.a. implemented by a multidisciplinary team based in NZ and worldwide mission locations. Led New Zealand's country brand and trade strategy (via NZ Way Ltd Board) - contributing to NZTE's Best Trade Promotion Organisation win at the World TPO Awards. Influenced national brand direction and policy foundations paving the way for the subsequent NZ Story platform investment. Created and delivered the inaugural New Zealand International Business Awards programme, securing cross-sector sponsorship. Restructured operations, earning NZTE's CFO award for outstanding financial management.
COUNTRY MANAGER
VISITBRITAIN, ASIA/PACIFIC (UK DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT)
Managed the consumer campaign, trade and media relations, plus public diplomacy based at a British Consulate. Led crisis communications with British High Commission NZ diplomats during the 2005 London transport attacks. Achieved a 45% increase in Kiwi travel to Britain and 34% rise in spend with regional dispersal (results included a live broadcast in national media promoting UK destinations).
BRAND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER & AMERICA’S CUP
SPARK - FORMERLY TELECOM NZ
Managed America's Cup sponsorship and supplier partnerships portfolio - including renewal and negotiation of the Team New Zealand partnership and legal agreements. Delivered international broadcast integration project, supporting media and digital innovation.
MARKETING PROGRAMMES MANAGER - (GLOBAL), PRIOR ROLE: MARKETING MANAGER COMMERCIAL (NZ)
AIR NEW ZEALAND
Positioned Airpoints™ as a strategic asset, facilitating STAR Alliance entry and operational efficiencies. Introduced new revenue partnerships - airline and non-airline. Upgraded Airpoints™, the lounge programme (Koru Club), Travelcard, and customer experience across the global network, leading the loyalty unit/team.
DIRECTOR OF SALES – COMMERCIAL & WORKING ABROAD
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP - FORMERLY SOUTHERN PACIFIC HOTEL CORPORATION
CAREER
Led a team of account managers across 17 NZ/Pacific properties, and outbound sales. Achieved revenue targets and supported onboarding of new hotels/resorts.