Carolyn Smith

Kia ora, I’m Carolyn Smith

I’ve seen what happens when working together goes well. Different perspectives strengthen the thinking. People make better decisions, share responsibility and turn good intentions into action.

I’ve also seen what happens when it doesn’t. Meetings go in circles. Strong voices take over. Decisions remain unclear. People pull in different directions and agreed actions don’t happen.

That’s why I created Woven Collaboration.

My role is to get to the heart of what’s happening, help put the right foundations and process in place, and create the conditions for people to find a way forward together.

Why Woven Collaboration?

The name is inspired by the whakataukī:

“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.”

With your food basket and mine, the people will thrive.

It reflects something I’ve seen throughout my career: when we bring together different strengths, knowledge and experiences, we can achieve more than any of us could achieve alone.

Like individual strands woven into a strong rope, our differences can become a source of collective strength.

Experience that helps me see the whole picture

Before establishing Woven Collaboration, I spent much of my career in central government, working in community engagement, partnerships and leadership alongside local government, tangata whenua, communities, businesses and NGOs.

I held leadership roles in major environmental and cross-agency programmes, including Predator Free 2050 and Jobs for Nature. I’ve led teams and programmes, coached leaders, worked alongside communities and contributed to not-for-profit governance.

That breadth of experience matters.

I understand the political context, competing demands and public scrutiny government agencies navigate — and how deeply many public servants care about their mahi and the difference they want to make.

I also understand the realities facing community organisations and not-for-profits: volunteer boards, lean teams, limited resources and people giving a great deal because they care about the kaupapa.

And I understand what happens when those different worlds need to work together.

It means I can listen to what’s happening, see beyond the immediate issue and help people work out what will actually help them move forward.

Why this work matters to me

I don’t believe good collaboration just happens.

People bring different experiences, interests, expectations and ways of working. There may be history, competing priorities, unequal influence or simply different ideas about what should happen next.

That can make working together messy, demanding and sometimes slow.

But many of the challenges facing our organisations, communities and environment cannot be solved by one person or organisation acting alone.

When collaboration is deliberately designed and supported, people have a fair chance to contribute. Important differences can be worked through. Decisions can be made and turned into action. Trust, commitment and shared responsibility can grow.

I’ve experienced what becomes possible when this happens.

That’s the work I love doing.

Qualifications and professional standing

My practical experience is supported by graduate and postgraduate qualifications in strategic leadership, engagement and communications.

I am an Accredited Public Relations practitioner (APR) through the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, an accredited mediator through the Resolution Institute, and hold a certificate in public participation design through IAP2. I am also a member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and Vice Chair of the Oceania Regional Committee.

Giving back

Contributing to my community is an important part of who I am.

I volunteer as an impact coach for school principals through Springboard Trust and mentor emerging community leaders through Mentoring NZ.

I also mentor women in business through OneUpOneDown, serve on the board of Whangārei Festivals Trust, and support events at OneOneSix, a community venue in Whangārei.

I am a member of Network Waitangi Whangārei, supporting education and discussion about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and what it means to be Tangata Tiriti.

Outside work

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me spending time with whānau and friends, exploring beautiful places and enjoying the outdoors.

If you’re working through something important that depends on people finding a way forward together, I’d be happy to talk.

Based in Whangārei, working across Aotearoa.

Mauri ora
Carolyn