Come along to our lunch event as we unpack a critical topic: rebalancing caregiving responsibilities, and the role of partners and dads in driving equity at home and work.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, caregiving remains deeply gendered. Women are still far more likely to take extended parental leave, reduce their hours, or step back from leadership opportunities to care for children and whānau. Meanwhile, most men miss out on the chance to play an equal caregiving role from the start. New Zealand is one of just three OECD countries without any paid parental leave for partners—who are currently entitled to only two weeks of unpaid leave.
The result is a persistent imbalance—with far-reaching consequences for women’s careers and long-term financial security, men’s wellbeing and connection to family, and overall workplace equity. In 2024, over 50,000 women took the full 26 weeks of paid parental leave. Only 400 men did the same. And while 57% of Kiwi dads say they take less leave than they would like to, 71% of fathers (compared to 56% of mothers) consider the current division of caregiving responsibilities to be fair.
Research shows that when fathers take an active role in caregiving early, they’re more likely to remain involved throughout their child’s life. This supports better child development outcomes, strengthens family bonds, improves men’s mental and physical health, and creates more space for women to engage fully and equally in paid work.
At this lunch, we’ll explore the practical ways employers can support dads and partners to step into caregiving. From normalising parental leave for all genders, to championing flexible work and sharing real stories, workplaces have a vital role to play in shifting outdated norms and enabling shared care.
Hear from our passionate panellists who will share insights and strategies for creating workplaces where parenting is supported, shared, and celebrated.
Facilitator: Stephanie Pow (she/her), Crayon
Stephanie Pow created Crayon after discovering firsthand how overwhelming the financial side of parental leave can be—even with a background in finance and business. She’s the founder of Capital W (Australia’s first women in business club), a University Medal recipient, and a General Sir John Monash Scholar. After earning degrees from Wharton and Harvard, Stephanie held roles in tech and banking—but nothing prepared her for the financial reality of becoming a parent. Crayon is the system she wished existed: smart, practical, and built to support people in real life.
Emma McLean (she/her), Works for Everyone
Emma Mclean is the mother of three teenagers who founded her business in 2019 following a 20-year career in corporate strategy where she experienced first-hand how hard it was to have a career and a family. Inspired by this, her business has a suite of services that are all about putting a care wrap around parents during the hardest parts of their career.
Hussein El-Kotob (he/him), Aurecon
Hussein is a proud father to the delightful 14 month old Sama, who expertly fills his heart with joy—and, let’s be honest, a healthy dose of chaos. As the new Buildings Electrical Practice Leader at Aurecon since December 2024, he’s been balancing the demands of both home and work life like a circus performer on a tightrope. Currently navigating this beautiful and challenging journey, Hussein is dedicated to embracing every moment of the adventure, armed with a smile, a sense of humour, and perhaps a strong cup of coffee or two!
Paul Taylor (he/him), Fonterra
Paul and his wife Bec, have 2 young children, Arlette, 3, and Alois, 1. Bec and Paul met in London and had an amazing, carefree, fun-filled time working jobs they loved, traveling, sleeping in, and living the dream. They moved home to Auckland and suddenly life came at them fast. They bought a house, got married, lost Paul’s Dad to cancer, had a daughter, lost Bec’s Dad to a heart attack, moved in with family ‘temporarily’, had a son, changed jobs, and renovated their house, all on very little sleep. Their focus went from care-free fun to barely surviving and now they’re trying to bring back the fun.
Charlotte Evett (she/her), Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ)
Charlotte is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with experience across financial services, energy, and public practice in New Zealand, the US, and the UK. She leads CA ANZ’s member-facing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team, advancing initiatives that support members and foster a more inclusive profession. Charlotte also heads CA ANZ’s New Zealand regional teams and contributes to the organisation’s thought leadership on emerging issues such as AI ethics, the future of finance, and blockchain.
Let’s talk about what it takes to rebalance the load—and why it matters for people, business, and our collective future.
We encourage you to share this invite with a man from your team who you think would enjoy being part of this important conversation.
Please RSVP by Friday 20 June using the member or non-member form below.