Better Business.
Empowering business for system change.
About Better Business.
Better business means more than sustainability, it means systems change. At Wao, we support businesses to shift the rules, values, and mindsets that drive how we work, consume, and lead. Our Better Business workstream exists to empower system shifters, people and organisations ready to rethink business as usual and design for long-term, regenerative impact.
Through grassroots networking like Green Drinks, strategic frameworks like the Climate Action Initiative, and the full-day Better Business programme at the Wao Summit, we help businesses embed climate action, circular thinking, and social good into their DNA. This is about more than reducing emissions, it’s about changing the system so people and planet can thrive.
Meet the team.
The Better Business workstream is led by a powerhouse team of system shifters who know that true transformation starts with courageous leadership and collaborative action.
Monique Kelly is the strategic compass of the team. With a background in international policy and standards, she brings a systems lens to every business challenge, weaving cross-sector partnerships into impactful programmes and summit experiences.
Kelcey Radford is the engine behind our events ecosystem—holding space for collective action through Green Drinks, the Better Events Collective, and Better Business activations. Her ability to connect people and ideas creates fertile ground for system change.
Arna Craig leads communications and engagement, translating complex climate and economic challenges into stories that inspire action. With an eye on long-term transformation, Arna brings clarity and momentum to the Better Business narrative.
Together, this team is not just supporting business adaptation—they’re shifting the very systems that business operates within.
Our Vision.
A regenerative economy led by courageous businesses that prioritise people, planet, and purpose. We envision a region—and a world—where systems have shifted, and businesses are key drivers of zero-carbon, thriving communities.
Our Mission.
To accelerate systems change through better business. We equip leaders with the tools, knowledge, and relationships to shift mindsets, redesign business models, and align purpose with practice—paving the way for a just, low-emissions future.
Green Drinks.
Green Drinks is where systems change meets a good chat and a great crowd. As our cornerstone Better Business event series, Green Drinks builds a culture of curiosity, courage, and connection. It’s where new ideas are sparked, local legends are celebrated, and unlikely collaborations take root.
Each month, we bring together entrepreneurs, change-makers, and impact-driven leaders to hear from expert speakers and each other. Whether you’re a CEO, startup founder, or simply business-curious, Green Drinks is your invitation into a movement of regenerative business and bold systems thinking.
Climate Action Initiative.
The Climate Action Initiative (CAI) is a practical and powerful example of systems change in motion. Developed in partnership with Environmental Accounting Services, CAI empowers businesses to understand and reduce their carbon footprint—while unlocking broader conversations about risk, resilience, and responsibility.
In 2024, this initiative was met with overwhelming demand, showing that businesses are ready for more than compliance—they're ready for transformation. With free emissions calculations, expert-led workshops, and sector-specific support, CAI helped dozens of businesses shift their thinking and start making tangible climate progress.
The success of CAI has proven one thing: when we equip businesses to lead, they shift systems from the inside out. We are actively seeking partners and funding to enable this initiative return in 2026.
Upcoming events.
Blog.
Speakers.
Want to run a Green Drinks events?
Get in touch to find out more : events@wao.co.nz