VANISA DHIRU

Unconscious Bias Training · Guest Speaker · Corporate Events · Media Commentary

Vanisa Dhiru’s passion for social justice has led to her becoming one of Aotearoa’s most inspiring advocates for equity, inclusion and belonging. She grew up in Palmerston North and now lives in Wellington.

She is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Wellington Interfaith Council and an advisory group member of Victoria University’s Business School. Her previous role as National President for the National Council of Women (NCWNZ), led to Vanisa being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to gender rights.

Vanisa is passionate about using her own experiences with bias (especially gender and race) to help others recognise and overcome their own biases. She is accredited to deliver unconscious bias awareness training with an organisation called Diversitas: through the course, participants cultivate an insight into how social identity is formed, how the brain works in the decision-making process and how to develop the tools to overcome their own unconscious bias.

She is currently the commissioner of the Library Information Advisory Commission and a Trustee of the Spark Foundation. She began her role as General Manager, Corporate for the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, in 2025.

GET TO KNOW VANISA

  • Community, Kiwi-Indian, authentic, real, people person, down to earth, sensible

  • Serving my community, helping others and living a life that is better than the generations before me. I am very aware of the privilege that comes with life in New Zealand, and I feel immensely proud that I can make a difference, no matter how small.

  • Because of my former role with the National Council of Women, some people think I’m only interested in gender rights, but I’m actually interested in looking at the broader rights-based work, and particularly in the intersectional nature of human rights.

    I look younger than 40, so I often have people misunderstand how much experience I have, or they think that I don’t understand business or academic contexts.

    I will always live with the burden that when people see my face or read my name, that they think that I do not live, or was not born in New Zealand.

  • I don’t drive – I don’t have a driver’s licence. I never learnt when I was young and have lived in central Wellington for years, where it’s more convenient to walk, bus, train or Uber.

  • “It was such a pleasure to work with Vanisa Dhiru MNZM on our New Zealand Women’s Leadership Symposium. This was the second time we have worked on an event with Vanisa, and hopefully not the last. Vanisa’s presentation was insightful and educational and was really well received by all of our participants who loved the practical tips and advice shared. Vanisa went above and beyond to join us at our event and was so understanding and accommodating regarding the last-minute format and time changes to accommodate the move to online delivery. Vanisa was a fantastic addition to our line-up, and I hope we can work together again.”

    Melissa Rutherford - Head of Events, Women & Leadership New Zealand

  • “We had the pleasure of having Vanisa speak to our Beca Women She Leads affinity group. I can totally recommend Vanisa for her inspiration, authenticity and courageous conversation with our team. Vanisa is an experienced and dynamic leader who articulates beautifully her special story of growing up and succeeding in New Zealand, overcoming bias, challenges, creating an amazing career which empowers others to succeed and grow. Ka rawe! Thank you Vanisa for giving us your time and answering all of our questions, we were so happy and proud to have you there!”

    Priyani de Silva-Currie BECA (Client Relationship Manager)