Monique Kelly
LLB / MA Linguistics | Member of the Institute of Directors, Associate Member of AMINZ
An experienced facilitator, trained mediator and systems thinker, I work with individuals, organisations and diverse stakeholder groups to navigate complexity, build shared understanding and find practical ways forward.
My background is deliberately multidisciplinary. I hold a law degree and a Master's degree in Linguistics, am a member of the Institute of Directors, Associate Member of AMINZ, and bring experience across business, governance, international policy, sustainability and community development. I have extensive experience designing and facilitating processes that bring together people with different perspectives, interests and areas of expertise, with a particular strength in collaboration, consensus building and working through complex and interconnected issues.
My international experience includes working with the International Labour Organization, with a focus on policy development and international labour standards. This provided a strong grounding in employment and labour issues from an international perspective, including the interaction between governments, employers and workers, different legal and institutional settings, and the role of policy and standards in balancing social, economic and organisational interests.
Alongside my legal and policy background, I bring practical commercial experience from running businesses and serving in governance roles. My work has crossed a wide range of sectors and issues, including food systems, the built environment, environmental and climate issues, business and community development. I also have experience in sport as a mother of two high performance athletes who have competed internationally for New Zealand. This breadth enables me to understand disputes and challenges within their wider context, recognise interdependencies and identify underlying interests and possibilities that may not initially be apparent.
Bilingual in French and English, I have worked in New Zealand and internationally and am comfortable working across cultures, disciplines and different ways of thinking. My approach is curious, pragmatic and collaborative. I bring systems thinking and a willingness to look beyond conventional solutions, while maintaining a strong focus on helping parties find practical, durable outcomes they can own.
