Inspiring Wāhine Rural Conference & Events Committee member & Workshop Host.

Serena Lyders, of Ngāti Pōrou descent, resides in Murihiku/Southland. She is a mother of six adult children and a proud grandmother to six beautiful grandchildren. Serena is the founder of Whānau Consultancy Services, a company that provides a diverse range of services with traditional healing and other wellbeing services.

With deep roots in the shearing industry, Serena is the fifth generation in her family to work in shearing sheds. She grew up in Ohai, Western Southland, where she started in the sheds from a baby and was senior wool handler at about 13. Her extensive experience in the shearing industry has given her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by this often-overlooked community. Serena has dedicated her life to addressing issues such as long hours, transient work, and limited access to essential services like counseling, addiction help, and mental health support.

After transitioning from shearing to becoming a primary bilingual teacher, Serena furthered her commitment to helping others by becoming a social worker, a role she has fulfilled for over 16 years. Her work focuses on supporting young people and addressing the high suicide rates among young Māori. Serena organizes courses for rangatahi that cover topics like mental health, financial literacy, and cultural education, aiming to equip young people with the skills and confidence to thrive.

Serena's passion for her work is driven by her desire to create a better world for her family and community. She strives to utilize her skills to foster change and support others in realizing their potential. Her dedication to addressing the social challenges within the shearing industry and her unwavering commitment to her values make her a powerful advocate for resilience and community support.

Recent awards:

2022 Winner NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards – Rural Champion

2023 Winner Kuma Māori Business Awards – He pito Mata – Emerging Business Leadership

2023 Finalist Findex Southland Business Excellence Awards – Rural Sector Excellence Award