Helen Davidson

Helen Davidson is Chief Executive of ACE New Zealand, a member association that represents more than 265 firms that deliver engineering, technology, construction, infrastructure and environmental solutions across the built and natural environments in Aotearoa.

After studying law and biomedical ethics at the University of Otago, Helen worked for 15 years across health law, professional regulation, patient safety policy and biomedical ethics, both in New Zealand and Canada. She then moved to the engineering sector, spending five years on the leadership team at Engineering New Zealand before moving to ACE in 2021.

Helen is a passionate advocate for women in professional services and a driving force behind The Diversity Agenda, an award-winning programme to help engineering and architecture firms become more diverse and inclusive. She’s inspired to attract new talent into the professional services consulting sector, shining a light on the amazing work our professions do to build sustainable and resilient communities that benefit everyone. Her other roles supporting these outcomes include as Trustee and Immediate Past Chair of the Engineering New Zealand Foundation and Chair of the Directors and Secretaries Advisory Council of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC).