Diane Foreman is the speaker at the North Harbour Club’s Business Excellence Network (BEN) Breakfast at Regatta Bar & Eatery on Tuesday 14th October.
Back Yourself, Even When Others Don’t – Diane often emphasizes the power of self-belief—especially as a woman in male-dominated industries. She talks about tuning out doubters and trusting your instincts, even when you’re the only one in the room who sees the opportunity.
Buy, Build, Sell – with Precision – Known for scaling Emerald Foods into a global ice cream empire, Diane teaches the value of strategic acquisition and exit. Her tip: buy undervalued businesses, build them with clear focus and operational excellence, and only sell when the timing maximizes value.
Surround Yourself with People Smarter Than You – Diane’s leadership style centers around hiring exceptional people and letting them shine. She encourages leaders to drop the ego and create teams where expertise trumps hierarchy—because that’s how companies grow fast and smart.
Diane is one of New Zealand’s most successful entrepreneurs, having risen from leaving school at 15 and single motherhood to building a global business empire. She grew Trigon Packaging, founded the Emerald Group, and took New Zealand Natural ice cream international. Her accolades include EY Entrepreneur of the Year and induction into the NZ Business Hall of Fame. A mentor to women in business, she co-founded International Winning Women and authored In the Arena. In 2020, she married broadcaster Paul Henry.
This will be a very interesting breakfast.
Diane Foreman BEN Breakfast – Tuesday 14 October 2025, from 7am, at Regatta Bar & Eatery, Takapuna Beach. This will sell-out, for tickets email info@northharbourclub.co.nz.
Or visit: northharbourclub.co.nz
Unique opportunity for North Harbour Club membership
Are you familiar with the North Harbour Club?
You may be surprised to learn that it’s not connected to rugby, or any sport, but it has supported a lot of the greatest North Harbour based sportspeople since 1995 – Lydia Ko, Eliza McCartney, Michael Brake, Zoe Hobbs, Jacko Gill – to name a few…
The Club is made up of prominent North Harbour businesspeople who seek to give back to the community while enjoying the outstanding events and networking opportunities available through the Club.
With over 250 members currently, the Club aims to expand on this to further support the youth of the North Harbour region demonstrating excellence in the fields of Art, Innovation (Science & Technology), Music, Education, Sport, and Service to the Community and Sustainability, through the annual Youth Awards programme.
Mike Atkinson, Director at Andersen and Immediate Past President, has hugely benefitted from his involvement with the club.
“For me personally, being a member of the North Harbour Club allows me the privilege first and foremost to support the very talented youth in the North Harbour Region to achieve excellence. Its hugely rewarding, humbling and exciting to be present at the award ceremonies that the Club runs to see the quality of our future leaders, and indeed the outstanding achievements from our more experienced award winners via the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame.
“Professionally, the North Harbour Club has given me access to the who’s who of the North Harbour region and enabled me to lift my profile with likeminded people who unashamedly support and reward excellence,” says Atkinson.
The Club provides a unique offering to its membership with no other club in the country like it.
“No other Club provides great member engagement opportunities via a raft of events, with the purpose of the Club to foster networking of its members, support, and reward excellence with youth and those who have achieved outstanding things in business and the community via the Business Hall of Fame. The Club can provide as much or as little as you want, however the more you put in, the more you will get back,” he said.
Corporate membership opportunities have benefitted many businesses throughout the North Harbour region. An array of outstanding Club events are held throughout the year with members enjoying exclusive benefits.
“For Andersen, the corporate membership has enabled us to host clients and other key contacts at quality events. Our guests always leave the events awestruck by what the North Harbour Club does. Our guests get the opportunity to hear from interesting and inspirational speakers, whilst enjoying a wonderful meal and a drink or two. Our association with the North Harbour Club is seen by our clients and our staff as an extremely positive and valuable association.”
Keen to learn more about becoming a member? Visit the North Harbour Club website at northharbourclub.co.nz or email info@northharbourclub.co.nz to find out more.
