Tania Bearsley: Connector of People and UK New Zealander of the Year 2020

Tania Bearsley has recently returned to Aotearoa New Zealand after living in the UK for 15 years. A connector of people who enjoys helping individuals and businesses to achieve their goals through introductions, Tania was, until recently, KEA New Zealand’s Regional Director for UK and Europe. Following a career in hotels, catering and events, Tania volunteered her time as President of The New Zealand Society (UK) 2013-2015, produced colouring books for adults, and has recently been involved as research lead for Dream Catchers, a broadcast interview series which tells the stories of inspiring Kiwis in the UK. In February this year she was named the Air New Zealand UK New Zealander of the Year 2020, in recognition at her leadership of the Trafalgar Square peace vigil in the UK following the Christchurch mosque shootings.

"What I love about connecting people is that there is nothing quite like the power of putting two great minds together. Sometimes a year or two on from that initial nucleus of a connection, ends up this amazing story of a business transaction that was enabled, or a friendship that was born, or a new idea or collaboration that came together. It's all about engineering serendipity."