NZ Institute of International Affairs

The Rising Relevance of DEI in a Divided World: Why Diversity Matters When It’s Most Challenged

NZIIA Wellington Branch and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is delighted to welcome members and guests to an upcoming event " The Rising Relevance of DEI in a Divided World: Why Diversity Matters When It’s Most Challenged” . Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at a pivotal moment globally. While significant progress has been made through activism, policy, and public discourse, that progress is increasingly being met with complexity, resistance, and shifting societal expectations. The evening will open with a short keynote address from HE Ard van der Vorst, Ambassador of the Netherlands , offering perspectives on the evolving global DEI landscape and the challenges and opportunities facing diverse societies today. Following the keynote the Ambassador will join a panel with HE Keith Smith, Canadian High Commissioner to New Zealand and Louisa Wall, Former MP & Chair of Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board moderated by NZIIA Wellington Chair, Angus Middleton. Drawing on perspectives from the Netherlands, Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand, the conversation will explore how DEI evolves from advocacy into enduring societal progress. Speakers will reflect on lessons learned across different national contexts, the importance of resilience in the face of backlash, and why progress must be continuously renewed rather than assumed. Grounded in lived experience, diplomacy, leadership, and public service, the discussion will also consider what makes New Zealand’s approach distinctive, what it can learn from global peers, and how increasingly diverse societies can move forward together—even amid differing perspectives and growing polarization. Following a short Q&A, there will be a networking reception kindly sponsored by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands offering an opportunity for thoughtful dialogue, international insight, and meaningful connection. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Registrations are required to attend this event as there is limited capacity. No walk ups allowed. Non members may attend by paying the registration fee. Full time students are entitled to free NZIIA Wellington student membership by first registering at https://www.nziia.org.nz/membership-form/ One ticket per person. Each ticket must contain your full first name and surname (that matches your ID), email address and phone number. If, after registering, you are unable to attend please have the courtesy to cancel your ticket via Humantitix to enable others on the waiting list to attend. In keeping with NZIIA practice, unauthorised recording of this event (either audio or video) is not permitted. Members and guests are reminded to adhere to the NZIIA Code of Conduct. For any queries please email: info@nziiawellington.org.nz BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR SPEAKERS HE Ard van der Vorst, Ambassador of the Netherlands to New Zealand Ard M.M. van der Vorst is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to New Zealand, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. In this role, he serves as the senior Dutch government representative in the South Pacific, leading a dynamic team dedicated to strengthening diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and the region. His mission focuses on strengthening the bilateral ties, promoting Dutch trade and investment, supporting Dutch nationals, advancing public diplomacy on key global issues, and fostering scientific and research cooperation. Before his current assignment in Wellington, Ard held several key diplomatic positions, including Consul General in Atlanta from 2018 to 2022, and Head of the Spokesman Office and Newsroom at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague from 2015 to 2018. He also served as the Dutch Consul in San Francisco from 2012 to 2015. In these roles, Ard was instrumental in enhancing communication, advancing foreign policy, and strengthening economic relations for the Netherlands. Ard’s career also includes significant experience in development cooperation and political affairs. As Head of Development Cooperation at the Netherlands Representative Office in Ramallah, he focused on the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, overseeing projects aimed at improving the region's development and security. He has also worked on Western Balkan Affairs in The Hague, where he coordinated policies related to security, development cooperation, trade, and European Union relations. Ard joined the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997 and has since served in several international postings, including in Nigeria and Albania, where he gained extensive experience in diplomatic relations and policy development. A native of Breda, the Netherlands, Ard holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Leiden. He is accompanied on his international postings by his husband, Pieter Lewis. HE Keith Smith, Canadian High Commissioner to New Zealand , University of Ottawa, 1997) has held various positions within Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, including as director of Intergovernmental and International Relations. From 2013 to 2016, he was the director of Policy, Research and International at the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). He also served as the director general of Policy and Communications at the CHRC. From 2016 to 2018, he worked for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada as the director of policy. In this role, he dealt with a wide range of justice files, including an Indigenous rights framework, criminal justice system and family law reform, 2SLGBTQI+ issues and international human rights and justice matters. He joined Justice Canada in August 2021 as the director general of the UN Declaration Act Implementation Secretariat, leading on the development of a whole-of-government action plan to achieve the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He is a member of the Thessalon First Nation, a signatory to the Robinson Huron Treaty. Louisa Wall, Former MP & Chair of Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board Louisa Wall (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato, Ngāti Hineuru) is former MP (2008–2022) and former inaugural Ambassador for Pacific Gender Equality (Tuia Tāngata). She currently chairs the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board, advancing iwi priorities and Te Tiriti-based accountability within the health system. A leading advocate for human rights and inclusion, Louisa is recognised for her role in key legislative reforms including Marriage Equality, Safe Areas around abortion facilities, and protections against image-based sexual abuse. She brings extensive experience across governance, diplomacy, and community leadership, with a longstanding commitment to equity and social change.