Leading Change: Emma Brand's Journey to Country Director - New Zealand

Emma Brand's path to becoming Veolia's Country Director – New Zealand reads like an adventure novel – complete with family legends, volcanic revelations, and an explorer’s spirit that spans generations.

From medicine to mountains

Growing up as a GP’s daughter, Emma was immersed in science from an early age. "As a kid, I was transported by National Geographic, atlases, and encyclopedias," she recalls. Initially drawn to medical science, she enrolled in chemical engineering straight from school but found it lacked the creative connection she craved.

A transformative gap year trip to Italy changed everything. Standing atop Mount Vesuvius, Emma had her eureka moment: "Why can't I study volcanoes?" This led her to studying geophysics at the University of Queensland, where she found the perfect blend of science, mathematics, and creativity.

A legacy of resilience and innovation

Emma's adventurous spirit runs deep in her DNA. Her great-great-grandfather, David Jollie Brand, was just 16 when he stowed away on a ship from Scotland to Quebec in 1868. After being cruelly abandoned on ice floes off Newfoundland's coast, he managed to survive and become a marine engineer, later helping construct Townsville Harbour's iconic breakwater in Australia.

From technical expertise to transformational leadership

Emma's career took her from Origin Energy, to Memorial University in Newfoundland, and eventually to BP in Alaska. Each move teaching her valuable lessons about leadership, diversity, and the importance of listening to every voice.

"I loved project management as it involved people problems – how do you bring people together and mesh everything to achieve outcomes," Emma explains. "The key is to inspire – to get them to connect to the 'why'."
 

Purpose-driven leadership at Veolia

During COVID-19, Emma began reflecting deeply on her contribution to the world. When the opportunity arose at Veolia, it felt right. "New Zealand is an amazing country and Veolia is an amazing organisation. And we both shared a common purpose of ecological transformation."

As the world's largest water company, founded in 1853 – just a year after her ancestor was born – Veolia represents the perfect marriage of Emma's values and ambitions. "Veolia in New Zealand exists to serve human progress. Our goal is to create a system that enables us to bring our global knowledge to bear, using the best of both worlds, public and private, to deliver real-world solutions for New Zealand communities."

Leading through change

Emma's leadership philosophy centers on continuous learning and authentic communication. "Truly exceptional employees are ones that reflect on their work, learn and grow, and test themselves in different situations," she believes.
Her advice to emerging leaders? Embrace curiosity over certainty. "I remember when I first graduated, I thought I had to know everything. But being comfortable with discomfort and asking questions is crucial for growth."

The future of water in New Zealand

Under Emma's leadership, Veolia is positioned to play a crucial role in New Zealand's water sector transformation. As a trusted community-focused water partner, Veolia brings both global expertise and strong local connections to deliver water solutions that truly serve Kiwi communities.

With her team of water industry experts and her own diverse background spanning continents and industries, Emma embodies Veolia's mission of ecological transformation – carrying forward a family legacy of resilience, while building a sustainable water future for New Zealand.

"Our water workers truly are the invisible heroes — turning up every day to ensure your morning coffee, shower, and clean tap water are simply there when you need them," Emma reflects. "It's this dedication to community service, combined with our global expertise, that positions us to make a real difference in New Zealand's water future."

As Emma continues leading Veolia's mission across Aotearoa, her story reminds us that the most impactful leaders are those who combine technical expertise with genuine purpose – and the courage to explore uncharted territories in service of a better tomorrow.