Joan began her career in media and advertising sales before undertaking an MBA at the University of Auckland. This led to her appointment as General Manager of Radio i and subsequently CEO of The Radio Network, where she led one of the country’s largest broadcasting businesses. Between 2005 and 2009 she was CEO of Fairfax New Zealand, one of the largest media companies in the country, guiding the business through a period of significant industry disruption and change.

Since moving into professional governance in the late 1990s, Joan has built one of New Zealand’s most extensive board portfolios, chairing and directing major listed companies and state-owned enterprises across critical national infrastructure, energy, retail, banking and broadcasting. As Chair of Mighty River Power (later Mercury) and of Auckland International Airport, she guided nationally significant infrastructure businesses through growth, capital raising and regulatory change, while her chairmanship of The Warehouse Group from 2016 to 2025 has seen her lead one of New Zealand’s largest retailers through digital and omni-channel transformation.

Alongside her executive and governance career, Joan has been a consistent and vocal advocate for greater diversity in leadership. She was a foundation member of Global Women and the 25 Percent Group, and co-founded OnBeingBold, which champions women leaders and provides mentoring and development opportunities for the next generation.

Joan has won a number of business awards, including being named the 2015 Supreme Woman of Influence in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards, the New Zealand Shareholder Association’s Beacon Award for 2014, and the University of Auckland Bright Lights Distinguished Alumni award in 2015. In 2024, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business, governance and women.