Harry Pottinger-Coombes | Biggar Family Kupe Leadership Scholar

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting & Finance

Large organisations in New Zealand have a critical role to play in our economy, but equally have responsibility to operate under a social license.

I'm interested in how businesses in New Zealand can be more effective in incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability measures into their strategic and commercial goals.   

In particular, I’m interested in how our laws can be reformed in order to help promote ESG, without polarising New Zealand’s business community and creating excessive and ineffective compliance costs that inevitably encourage greenwashing. 

I believe that profitability and effective corporate governance don’t need to be at odds with ESG and sustainability. New Zealand needs leadership that brings together business leaders, government and other stakeholders in order to create a more sustainable and equitable economy.

Sponsor: Biggar Family Trust

Mentor: Lyn Provost, CNZM, a New Zealand chartered accountant, who served as Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand from 2009 until 2017.  In 2001, Provost became the first woman civilian to be appointed to the role of Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police. She held this position for eight years. As deputy commissioner, she was responsible for six police districts, as well as for leading finance, planning, information technology, and strategy within New Zealand Police. In the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, Provost was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the State. In 2020, Provost was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Victoria University of Wellington.