Trade Diversification in today’s dynamic world – Case studies of India and Taiwan
High level panel discussion with Charles Finney, Joanne Ou and Sunil Kaushal
Thursday, 25 June 2026 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Auckland
NZTE Office, Level 6, 139 Quay Street, Auckland CBD
About the event:
This event is organised by the NZIIA Auckland Branch, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) and Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO).
This high-level panel discussion is designed to provide New Zealand exporters and business leaders with actionable insights into navigating a rapidly evolving global trade environment. The event focuses on the imperative of trade diversification as a means to achieve stability and growth amidst significant global shifts. By examining the specific case studies of India and Taiwan alongside New Zealand’s unique economic position, the session aims to provide a comprehensive view of the trade diversification landscape and equip attendees with strategies for building resilient and long-term international partnerships through trade.
This event, moderated by the Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Catherine Grant Makokera, is structured around three central pillars essential for modern trade strategy: resilience, geoeconomic understanding and practical growth.
Moderator:
Catherine Grant Makokera is an experienced international relations and economic diplomacy expert having worked in the public, private and academic sectors. She is currently the Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. She has extensive experience as an international development consultant, heading teams of experts supporting a wide range of projects in the areas of trade and economics in Southern and Eastern Africa, the Pacific and New Zealand. Catherine was a diplomat for New Zealand for 10 years, posted in New York, Geneva and South Africa. She participated in United Nations, International Labour Organisation and World Trade Organisation negotiations.
About the speakers:
Charles Finney has worked on international trade negotiations and strategy for many years. He is a part-owner of Wellington Government Relations Company, Saunders Unsworth, and has a number of governance roles. These include chairing the NZTE Board. His views will be his own, not those of NZTE or any other entity he is associated with.
Joanne Ou is the Representative of Taiwan to New Zealand, Mission Head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New Zealand, based in Wellington. Prior to her appointment, she was the Spokesperson of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of its Public Diplomacy Council from 2019 to 2023. In her nearly 30 years with Taiwan’s foreign service, she has held various positions, including Director of the UN Task Force in TECO-New York and the Ministry’s North American Affairs Department. Joanne holds a MA in Political Science from Columbia University in New York, USA, and BA in Political Science from National Taiwan University.
Sunil Kaushal is a business leader, trade strategist, and community advocate with over 25 years of experience across international business, finance, stakeholder engagement, and public leadership. He is the CEO of the India New Zealand Business Council, New Zealand’s premier organisation focused on strengthening trade, investment, and strategic ties between New Zealand and India. Sunil has played a leading role in advancing bilateral engagement through business diplomacy, government relations, trade missions, and industry partnerships.
Image: By Augustus Binu/ www.dreamsparrow.net/ facebook - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26332543
About the event:
This event is organised by the NZIIA Auckland Branch, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) and Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO).
This high-level panel discussion is designed to provide New Zealand exporters and business leaders with actionable insights into navigating a rapidly evolving global trade environment. The event focuses on the imperative of trade diversification as a means to achieve stability and growth amidst significant global shifts. By examining the specific case studies of India and Taiwan alongside New Zealand’s unique economic position, the session aims to provide a comprehensive view of the trade diversification landscape and equip attendees with strategies for building resilient and long-term international partnerships through trade.
This event, moderated by the Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Catherine Grant Makokera, is structured around three central pillars essential for modern trade strategy: resilience, geoeconomic understanding and practical growth.
Moderator:
Catherine Grant Makokera is an experienced international relations and economic diplomacy expert having worked in the public, private and academic sectors. She is currently the Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. She has extensive experience as an international development consultant, heading teams of experts supporting a wide range of projects in the areas of trade and economics in Southern and Eastern Africa, the Pacific and New Zealand. Catherine was a diplomat for New Zealand for 10 years, posted in New York, Geneva and South Africa. She participated in United Nations, International Labour Organisation and World Trade Organisation negotiations.
About the speakers:
Charles Finney has worked on international trade negotiations and strategy for many years. He is a part-owner of Wellington Government Relations Company, Saunders Unsworth, and has a number of governance roles. These include chairing the NZTE Board. His views will be his own, not those of NZTE or any other entity he is associated with.
Joanne Ou is the Representative of Taiwan to New Zealand, Mission Head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New Zealand, based in Wellington. Prior to her appointment, she was the Spokesperson of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of its Public Diplomacy Council from 2019 to 2023. In her nearly 30 years with Taiwan’s foreign service, she has held various positions, including Director of the UN Task Force in TECO-New York and the Ministry’s North American Affairs Department. Joanne holds a MA in Political Science from Columbia University in New York, USA, and BA in Political Science from National Taiwan University.
Sunil Kaushal is a business leader, trade strategist, and community advocate with over 25 years of experience across international business, finance, stakeholder engagement, and public leadership. He is the CEO of the India New Zealand Business Council, New Zealand’s premier organisation focused on strengthening trade, investment, and strategic ties between New Zealand and India. Sunil has played a leading role in advancing bilateral engagement through business diplomacy, government relations, trade missions, and industry partnerships.
Image: By Augustus Binu/ www.dreamsparrow.net/ facebook - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26332543
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.