Wellington, New Zealand — January 2026
Creative HQ has appointed six leading founders and startup operators as brand ambassadors, formalising a deeper relationship with people already closely connected to the organisation and the wider innovation ecosystem.
Meet the Brand Ambassadors
The new ambassadors are Brooke Roberts, Leighton Roberts and Sonya Williams (Co-CEO’s and co-founders, Sharesies), Brianne West (sustainability entrepreneur, founder of Incrediballs), Jamie Beaton (CEO and founder, Crimson Education), and James Fuller (CEO and co-founder, Hnry).
For Creative HQ, the appointments are less about profile and more about proximity — bringing experienced founders closer into the fold to help build capability, confidence and connection across the startup and innovation ecosystem.
Sharesies and Hnry are both alumni of Creative HQ programmes, making their return in ambassador roles particularly significant.
“This is about impact, not endorsement,” said Brett Holland, Creative HQ’s Chief Innovation Officer. “These are founders who have built extraordinary companies, and who already contribute generously to the ecosystem. What this partnership enables us to do is make their involvement more visible – and more accessible to founders who can grow faster with their help.”
As ambassadors, the group will be more actively involved in Creative HQ programmes and events, supporting founders through mentoring, storytelling and hands-on engagement. The role is intended to increase access to real-world experience and reinforce Wellington’s position as a place where ambitious tech companies can start, grow and stay connected.
“It’s no coincidence that Sharesies began in Wellington—New Zealand’s creative capital,” said Sharesies co-CEO and co-founder Leighton Roberts.
“Many innovative Kiwi companies made their start in Wellington because it has an active population of creative people—people who are happy to question the status quo and think outside the box. That’s a real asset in business.”
”Wellington nurtured us and it follows that Sonya, Brooke and I are stoked to be helping new companies as Creative HQ Ambassadors.”
Creative HQ expects the ambassadors’ involvement to strengthen founder pathways, deepen alumni engagement, and help amplify the message that Wellington — and New Zealand’s wider tech ecosystem — continues to produce globally competitive companies and leaders.
