About Katrina Kidson
Work better
Katrina is deeply committed to creating happy workplaces, believing they perform better and are great for people. Her goal is to help you build a business that truly thrives, where you and your team can work with joy and purpose.
Highly experienced
Katrina’s diverse experience spans high-level international executive roles, CEO positions in medium-sized companies, and work within family businesses. This broad background allows her to quickly understand and address the unique challenges of various business environments, and to work effectively at different levels within your organisation.
Three words that often shape Katrina’s life are:
- Kindness,
- Curiosity, and
- Courage.
You’ll find her supportive, trustworthy and leave meeting with her feeling lighter and inspired.
Want to know more? Check Katrina’s LinkedIn profile, find someone who knows her and get their opinion.
Contact Katrina Today
Philanthropic Roles
Building strong and sustainable communities is a passion of Katrina’s and you may know her from some of her past roles include:
Businesses for Climate Action – Founder, Trustee, and passionate volunteer
Deputy Chair of Nelson Tasman Housing Trust
Sustainable Business Network – Business Connector
Organising the Mayor’s Xmas Lunch for 100 senior citizens.
She is currently supporting Hospice staff and patients with mindfulness and helps run a local mindfulness group.
Career summary
MWH - Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Leadership Team
In 1993, after finishing her Civil Engineering degree, Katrina started work as a consulting engineer. She worked for MWH (now Stantec) for 17 years, quickly being promoted through the organisation. Her final role with this business was being an Executive Officer on the Asia Pacific Leadership Team (across 1,300 people). Katrina’s role was the right hand of the Asia Pacific President, assisting him with the overview of operations and strategy implementation.
Achievements included:
- Shifting the strategic capability of the region by leading the development of the first integrated Asia Pacific strategy and implementation plans
- Enabling the delivery of significantly larger projects and better use of the design centre in India by leading the reorganisation of the Asia Pacific region,
- Supporting the President to reorganise governance of the region.
Because of her broad and strong management skills and excellent communication skills Katrina was asked to teach management at the MWH University.
Isthmus CEO
As first CEO for this firm Katrina reported to board with an independent chair. Key achievements include:
- Formalising company strategy,
- Separating governance and management, and overhauling the board reporting (including financial),
- Supporting shareholders with ownership succession planning
- Leading the “Best Places to Work” survey and addressing concerns and celebrating strengths.
Kidson Construction Managing Director and Director
Governance and leadership in a family business can be difficult with their own challenges. During her time as director she led the establishment of more formal governance with regular reporting and meetings.
Katrina assisted the business to get better clarity on its strategy and as Managing Director led the family shareholders through the difficult decision to sell the business. She arranged a successful sale of the construction business with a smooth transition to the new owners
How Working Better is transforming people’s jobs
Easily the best money I’ve spent on my business. Do it!
Katrina knows how to teach mindfulness in a work environment. I totally recommend her.
Katrina has a unique combination of huge business acumen with an insight into the human behaviour, self-motivation and reflection. I love working with her and find her to be practical, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful.
Katrina’s ability to help me work out what’s really going on is amazing. She’s independent, truly understands my role, and knows what will work in my situation. That’s hugely valuable.
Thank you for a fabulous workshop, the team loved it. Just what we all needed, a reminder to breathe. And I recommend doing it on a Monday morning, great way to start the week.
Life has suddenly become a whole lot calmer and enjoyable. What a relief! Thanks for your help, Katrina, it is extremely valuable.
Katrina has been running mindfulness sessions for our Nelson and Blenheim offices. The sessions have proved really popular. Katrina’s calm and gentle approach make each session an oasis and we all have gained some valuable insights.
Katrina’s business advice has been invaluable in assisting me. Katrina has a unique combination of business experience and a practical understanding of human psychology. Her advice skilfully brings an enlighten approach to business.
Working with Katrina has been a game-changer. Her deep business experience and insightful questions help me gain clarity and confidence. After our sessions, I’m less stressed and I feel re-energised. Simply outstanding.
