Michelle MacWilliam is respected in the area that she works in and has been given the Chinese name the colourful networker.

Michelle has a proven ability to build relationships across cultures and combines this with her strong skills in the area of business strategy, and ability to operate and execute events at a cross-cultural and inter-government level and to be able to project manage critical relationships in a manner appropriate and respectful to all parties.

Michelle also works in the areas of business process re-engineering and crisis management and can assist a business going through change ensuring that the appropriate focus is retained on sales and marketing at a time when these goals can too easily slip.

Michelle is the China Engagement Strategist for the Hurunui District and in this capacity has nurtured and developed the sister district relationships with Changping District (Beijing) and Honghu City (Hubei) for the benefit of the community and business stakeholders. These have been put up as model China-New Zealand local government relationships and serve as examples to other districts throughout New Zealand.

Michelle has a wide circle of influence and connections as shown by her diverse networks.

Some examples of her executive committee and board contributions include:

• The only South Island Executive committee member for the New Zealand China Trade Association (9 years)
• Vice Chair of the Christchurch China Sister Cities Committee (8 years)
• Vice Chair of the New Zealand China Friendship Society Canterbury Branch (5 years)
• Board of Governance for one of the women’s refuges in Christchurch (5 years)
• Executive Committee member and Club Secretary of the Christchurch Business Club (3 years)

Professional Recognition

2017 New Zealand Business Awards hosted by Oceania News (a subsidiary of AI Global Media) Recognition in these awards is based on offshore due diligence.

Winner: Best Asian Business Consultancy 2017 and Recognised Leader in Overseas Communications 2017.

In 2014 Michelle was a category finalist in the Westpac and Fairfax Media New Zealand Woman of Influence Award in the category of Local or Regional influencer. Also during that year, she received the accolade of being an acknowledged finalist for professional service in the North Canterbury Business Awards.