Karly Boast

Karly brings over 20 years of people strategy, organisational design, culture experience and leadership capability across some of New Zealand’s most dynamic sectors, including tech, professional services, finance, retail, legal, construction and hospitality.

Named NZ HR Director of the Year in 2025, Karly is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading voices in commercial people strategy. Karly is a regular conference speaker, panellist, and industry judge, and a featured contributor to HRD New Zealand.

Karly believes people and leadership impact are the core commercial conversation in any organisation and a company’s biggest competitive advantage.

She’s built and led People functions through every stage of growth, from start-ups becoming category leaders, to founder-led businesses scaling into complex organisations, including leading the People function inside an NZ tech business through a Best Places to Work win in 2024.

Her expertise spans organisational design, people strategy, leadership capability, culture, and AI-optimised workplaces – ensuring LEAD’s clients receive exceptional leadership solutions across all sectors, and that newly placed executives are well-supported as they step into their roles and deliver the change that moves businesses forward.