HRNZ Board
Board Profiles
Helen van Orton
Chair / Independent Director
Based in Auckland, Helen was appointed as a Director in August 2020 and elected Chair in December 2021.
Helen has 15+ years executive leadership experience in digitisation, customer experience, marketing, complex operations and sales leadership gained while working for brands such Air New Zealand, Lotto, Vodafone, Westpac, BNZ and Lloyds Bank
Helen is also a director of the Co-operative Bank, Centrix Group Ltd, Co-operative Life Ltd and is a former Director of The Warehouse Financial Services Ltd, RuralCo and Zeal.
Kavita Khanna, CFHRNZ
National President / Elected Director
Kavita Khanna has over two decades experience in leadership roles, having worked in professional services, construction and technology sectors in New Zealand and in India. In her current role as Executive Leader, People + Workplace in Tonkin & Taylor, she is responsible for shaping the people strategy, looking after a range of functions including Technology, HR and HSW and leading complex, transformational projects for the business. She has a broad skill set and expertise covering governance, leadership, strategic planning, managing a consulting business and people and culture. She managed her own consulting business and has been a board intern on the Regional Facilities Auckland Board. She is a Chartered Fellow of HRNZ.
Elena Calvert, CMHRNZ
National Vice President / Elected Director
Elena brings a valuable mix of experiences across public, private and not for profit sectors, combining HR consulting, generalist and specialist HR functions. Currently she is the Recruitment Manager at the University of Otago, after time with Deloitte NZ and Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin.
Elena is a long-term member of the HRNZ Otago Branch committee and is passionate about delivering value to HRNZ members no matter what part of the country they are based in. She has also been a strong advocate of continually investing into our engagement with students.
Karli Te Aotonga, CMHRNZ
Elected Director
Karli has iwi affiliations to Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru and Ngāti Koata. She has over leadership experience in strategic OD, HR and customer service-centered design and delivery. Karli is a Chartered Member of HRNZ (CMHRNZ), holds a Bachelor’s Degree in HRM, a master’s degree in arts (Māori and indigenous leadership) and is currently a PhD candidate researching on tikanga and employment relations in the Public Service. Karli is committed to the kaupapa of transformational change and culture within all workplaces of Aotearoa that directly enhances the quality of life and wellbeing for people and place. She is māmā to three boys, Cobey, Wiremu Te Awarua and Tūterangi-Te Ramaapakura, her life’s inspiration.
Rowan Tonkin, CFHRNZ
Elected Director
In an HR career spanning nearly 30 years across New Zealand and Australia, Rowan is an experienced CHRO, HR Executive and CIO having had strategic and executive leadership responsibilities across many businesses and global organisations. His recent experience includes leadership positions within ANZ Bank, Turner & Growers, Telecom/Spark and Vodafone and is currently Senior Director HR Transformation APAC at Oracle based in Auckland.
He is a Chartered Fellow of HRNZ a Fellow Certified Practitioner of the Australian HR Institute, previously awarded HRNZ Generalist and HRNZ Person of the Year. He is a member of the Member of the NZ Institute of Directors and holds a Masters in Management Studies, a Masters of Supply Chan Management, a Bachelors of Social Studies (Psychology/Management) and Post-Graduate Certificate in Business Governance.
Rowan is passionate about how organisations transform and digitally enable their people to use technology to enable modern workplaces and redefine the role, strategic contribution and service experience of HR teams.
Claire Walker, CMHRNZ
Elected Director
Claire Walker is an experienced executive leader and currently employed by Genesis Energy in the role of Chief People Officer, responsible for leading Genesis’ people focused initiatives that drive organisational performance as well as providing direction and leadership to the people and culture function.
Claire has more than 20 years’ experience in human resource management and a strong background in sustainability. She was previously Chief People and Culture Officer for the SkyCity Entertainment Group, where she led the development and implementation of best practice human resource strategy and held executive responsibility for sustainability. Prior, Claire was Chief People Officer at Sanford Limited where she led the organisation’s people, culture, and sustainability activities. She has also held senior HR roles with Carter Holt Harvey and Downer, after several years working in the education sector.
Claire is a Chartered Member of HRNZ (CMHRNZ). She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration.
In addition to her HRNZ governance role, Claire is Deputy Chair, on the advisory board of the Sustainable Business Council.
Danni Williams, CMHRNZ
Elected Director
Danni is an experienced HR professional, with deep expertise across employment relations, large scale change and organisational design. With a 17-year career spanning leadership, governance, human resources, and business consultancy, Danni brings a wealth of HR, business and leadership experience to the table. Formerly a Director at PwC, a global consulting powerhouse, she specialised in leading and advising on large-scale organisation and system transformations, workforce change, and advising on the future of work and workforces.
Danni is now Director of Danni Ermilova Williams, Change Coaching and Consulting which brings together her deep expertise and passions for people, change and action. She works alongside individuals, business owners and leaders in a coaching and consultancy capacity to enhance how people and organisations shape, navigate and transition through change with power, clarity, and success.
Danni is a Chartered Member of HRNZ (CMHRNZ) and was HRNZ HR Professional of the Year in 2022. She is a trained member of the International Coaching Federation (IFC), and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management (HRM) and Management, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, majoring in HRM.
Melissa Crawford, CMHRNZ
Independent Director
Melissa Crawford is a highly regarded expert in the future of work, with a rare blend of skills that span both people and technology. With 20 years’ experience in senior HR strategy roles across some of New Zealand's largest organizations, Melissa brings a wealth of experience from diverse industries including tech, airline, banking, FMCG, retail, education, and energy.
With an extensive HR career and two technology degrees Melissa brings a unique perspective to the impact of technology on the future of work. Melissa's contributions to the field have earned her several accolades, including as a previous HRNZ Leadership Award and HR Person of the Year Award winner in 2022. Melissa is a Chartered Member of HRNZ and the NZ Institute of Directors.
Currently the Director of Tech with Heart, Melissa works with future focused organisations on strategic technology and people projects as well as being a sought-after conference speaker. Melissa is passionate about keeping the HR field future focused.
Emma Watson
Independent Director
Emma brings commercial, finance and strategy skills to the Board, gained from 20 years senior leadership experience in Corporates, SMEs and NFP's. She is currently a Business Consultant and Interim Executive helping organisations scale up operations or optimise commercial performance. She has previously held MD, COO, CFO and Strategy roles in global, Asia Pacific and local technology, professional services and publishing businesses.
Emma is passionate about helping organisations and their people maximise opportunities, achieve their potential and thrive.
She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and a UK qualified Chartered Accountant.