Raakel is Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors at Zespri International Limited and has 15 years of experience in administration. Prior to joining Zespri in January 2023, she was a Personal Assistant at KPMG for 11 years.

Her purpose is to make a positive impact by sharing her passion, values, knowledge and skills to help our people, land and community.

Raakel is Deputy Chair of AdmiNZ. Her journey with AdmiNZ began in April 2015 as a member. She held the role of Administration Officer for the Tauranga Group Management Team from June 2019 until her election as a Board Member in July 2022.

Raakel is dedicated to advocating and empowering administrative professionals to achieve growth and success through her profession's Association, AdmiNZ.

With over 15 years of experience in administration, office management, project and event management, and customer service, I bring a wealth of expertise and a self-motivated approach to this role.

Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in administrative support and ensuring smooth office operations. As an administrator, I possess a diverse skill set that encompasses diary management, IT support, office maintenance, HR operations, and the enforcement of office standards to drive performance improvements and operational efficiencies.

As an experienced Executive Assistant and Office Manager, I have successfully navigated various aspects of the profession. I have honed my abilities in providing high-level executive support and adeptly managing staff and inter-office relationships. By fostering effective communication channels and streamlining administrative processes, I have consistently ensured that all aspects of office administration are carried out effectively and efficiently.

Hannah is a forward thinking and accomplished Business Support Manager with a passion for modernising business support and administration practices. In her current role as the National Manager of Business Support Services at WSP, Hannah leads a team of 34 people across Aotearoa New Zealand, and is responsible for planning, resourcing, strategic prioritisation, development and growth of the Business Support Services team and the management of office operations and facilities.

With a dynamic approach to leadership, Hannah fosters a culture of capability, innovation, and high performance within her team. Her commitment and dedication to the administrative profession earned her the prestigious AdmiNZ Administrative Professional Award in 2022.

Hannah firmly believes in embracing technology and automation to optimise efficiency while connecting with others in the industry to stay at the forefront of advancements. She is a firm advocate of working smarter, encouraging a collaborative "one team" approach across all services. Her dedication to excellence, teamwork, open communication, mentoring, and accountability make her an invaluable asset to the organizations she serves.

With a wealth of experience ranging from personal assistance and administration to training coordination and tender attribute writing, Hannah has honed her skills across various sectors, always driving positive change and optimising processes.

Hannah's educational journey includes a Graduate Diploma in Business (Communication Management) from Massey University, complemented by several other business-related qualifications. She is a full member of the Association of Administrative Professionals New Zealand (AAPNZ) and holds AAPNZ Professional Certification.

As a volunteer member on the board of AdmiNZ, Hannah aims to make a significant impact on the organization. Her innovative mindset, passion for embracing technology, and commitment to excellence will undoubtedly contribute to AdmiNZ's continued success. Beyond her professional endeavours, Hannah knows the importance of enjoying what she does and maintaining a sense of humour, creating a positive and uplifting atmosphere wherever she goes.

I'm excited to be elected to the 2023/2024 AdmiNZ Board and work as part of the Board to deliver great benefits for our members.

I'm looking forward to working with people who are passionate about Admin as a career. During my time on the Board, I hope to learn, grow and enhance my EA career.

I am a world-wide experienced Executive Assistant/Administrator who thrives on the busy workplace, juggling diverse tasks and priorities, all demonstrated through a history of working in government industries as well as private sector and NGOs.

In 2019 I was the National winner of the AAPNZ Doreen Smart scholarship and member of the Palmerston North AAPNZ and fully understand and support the cause of AdmiNZ in advocating and promoting the value of administration as a career. In 2021 I completed my Diploma in Business focusing in Leadership and Management from Eastern Institute of Technology and completed the Certificate in Tikanga Māori.

My skillset is strong in Governance and Project administration, event planning, maintaining positive relationships, email management, executive calendar management combined with a solid understanding of working within cloud-based systems.