Sarah Williams

XIR

Chief Insight Officer

Being an XIR is being about the team.

Building cultures where people back each other, work with purpose, and achieve more than the sum of their parts.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve led and influenced teams on some of Aotearoa’s most complex electricity generation sites.

I quickly see what motivates people to do their best, and I’m just as quick to spot the barriers that get in the way.

My focus has been building high-performing cultures by weaving together continuous improvement, innovation, environmental leadership and safety.

These aren’t add-ons; they’re the foundation for delivering results in challenging, high-risk environments.

As an Expert in Residence, I work inside organisations as a hands-on, embedded advisor to shift culture from the inside out.

I support cross-functional teams to align around shared goals, create space for honest input, and translate strategy into practical action. That means fewer disconnects, stronger buy-in and a more resilient operation.

The result is a culture where people take ownership, performance lifts, and safety, delivery and engagement move forward together.