Heather Woods

About Me

“I live in Springston, Canterbury, with my husband, our two neurodiverse girls, and two King Charles Cavaliers. Through my close work with the Dialysis team at Christchurch Hospital — supporting passengers across Canterbury’s healthcare network — bringing compassion to daily life has become my normal. Every day reminds me how much difference empathy, patience, and genuine human connection can make. As Owner and Managing Director of The NZ Look Group, I have led a passenger transport business in Canterbury for more than eight years, balancing operational excellence with innovation in accessibility and inclusivity. At the heart of everything I do is people — their journeys, their stories, and the care they receive along the way. I bring a blend of commercial leadership, governance experience, and community focus across sectors including transport, education, communications, and wellbeing. My governance and community contributions include serving as a Board Member at Springston School and as a Committee Member at Springston Tennis Club, where I also offer private coaching. Both roles have strengthened my perspective on governance, stakeholder engagement, and youth development. Across my work — from running community-focused transport businesses to coaching the next generation of tennis players — I’m driven by empathy and inclusion. On the court, I see sport as a way to build life skills beyond tennis: resilience, teamwork, and self-belief. In business, I focus on creating environments where people feel supported, understood, and empowered to grow. I’m proudly neurodiverse (self-diagnosed ASD) and a parent to two amazing neurodiverse children with Autism and Tourette Syndrome. We live our ND life daily — learning, adapting, and celebrating difference — and that perspective shapes the way I lead, coach, and connect with others. Earlier in my career, I worked in senior commercial and client service roles with Yahoo! in the UK and Australia, building expertise in digital media, business development, and strategic partnerships. I am also a trained End-of-life Doula, reflecting my deep commitment to community care, wellbeing, and inclusive leadership. I’m motivated by opportunities where governance can bring clarity, strategic growth, and people-focused outcomes — particularly in organisations that value diversity, creativity, and resilience. Whether I’m helping a passenger reach their destination, guiding a young athlete through a challenge, or supporting someone to embrace their neurodiverse identity, my purpose is the same: to make every journey — big or small — one that matters.”