H.E. Mrs. Jenny Shipley

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Mrs. Jenny Shipley is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand.  As Prime Minister, she guided New Zealand through the controversial first MMP Parliament and through the demands of the Asian economic crisis, returning New Zealand to impressive economic growth of 4%+ which laid the groundwork for New Zealand’s strong subsequent economic performance.  She has also served as Minister of State Services, Minister of State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Accident Compensation, Minister of Health, Minister of Social Welfare, and Minister for Women’s Affairs. 

She chaired a highly successful APEC in New Zealand in 1999, advancing the free trade agenda, promoting economic cooperation, forging new tourism agreements and advancing positive regional relationships while also actively promoting New Zealand’s export and tourism sectors.  She retired from politics after 15 active years in senior political roles.  She has made presentations at the Boao Forum for Asia Special Conference on the Revitalization of Tourism in Hong Kong, a Tourism Symposium in Japan, and the Commonwealth Corporate Governance Forum in Fiji.  In November 2003, she was a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard.