The Full Story
About Arise
Arise was created out of the desire of one person, Rowena, to see positive and holistic change in the workplace. Find out below more of the journey from speech therapist to change entrepreneur...
Today, I leverage my expertise to help organisations navigate change and drive meaningful improvements in their organisations and communities. Our work is rooted in practical, real world solutions that enable businesses to grow and thrive in an ever evolving landscape.
Practical, real-world solutions that enable businesses to grow and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape
I’ve had an eclectic career spanning motorsport, primary industries, utilities, healthcare, disability sectors across a variety of activities such as consulting, change leadership, IT, senior leadership roles and transformation.
I began in motorsport, managing large-scale events across PR, logistics, track operations, and corporate development. I then moved into healthcare, starting as an allied health practitioner in London and progressing to senior leadership roles, including managing district-level stroke services. My passion for advocacy and systems improvement led me to leadership early on and I still have a strong affinity to social and community engagement activities despite years on corporate settings.
After relocating to New Zealand, I entered research, which sparked my interest in digital health. Over the past decade, I’ve led major projects and held advisory, directorship, and consulting roles. I also held operational leadership positions at one of NZ’s largest hospitals, overseeing diverse care teams and participating in various digital and senior leadership governance groups.
At PwC NZ, I worked across multiple Ministries, I helped advance disability services, staff capability, and digital health. I've delivered complex workshops, national education sessions, and supported a global study tour. I’ve also contributed to white papers and international service redesign initiatives.
I hold Prosci, Agile, SAP, and CIMS certifications. My CIMS expertise was critical during Cyclone Gabrielle and COVID-19 responses, building on earlier emergency centre experience.
I’ve long bridged IT and healthcare, recently leading ERP implementations, hypercare, and delivery portfolios as a fractional senior leader for one of NZ’s largest exporters. I still get a special place to engage in social community activities and entrepreneurial groups, and our team at Arise is increasingly tapping into and expanding these.
Now, I’m increasingly focused on relational AI by helping clients harness its potential to drive productivity and innovation.
Vision
Our vision at Arise is to transform workplaces by fostering a gracious and intentional approach to life and work. We believe every business holds untapped potential, and positive growth that can be achieved through thoughtful and strategic improvement initiatives
