Elspeth Kennedy

Elspeth Kennedy

Inducted: 2018
Industry: Stockbroking, Governance, Philanthropy

Pioneering businesswoman Elspeth Kennedy was born in Invercargill and began her career at the Invercargill City Council and teaching music. Kennedy was the first woman to become a member of the New Zealand stock exchange and also the first woman to run her own broking business.

After a successful career as a stockbroker and director of various companies, Elspeth turned her energy to improving the care of the terminally ill. As chairwoman of the Nelson Tasman Hospice Trust from 1998 to 2014, she was instrumental in building the first hospice facility in Nelson which has since grown to a 10-bed palliative care inpatient unit

Elspeth was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, and a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in the New Year honours for her valuable voluntary service to the community.