Group General Manager appointments

The appointment of three Group General Managers to ENZ’s Leadership team completes the organisation’s recent change process.  

This week, ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu was pleased to confirm three new Group General Manager appointments to the ENZ Leadership team.  

As you may be aware, ENZ has recently been through an organisational change process, which is now complete with these latest appointments.   

Sahinde Pala has been appointed Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement; Julia Wootton is appointed Group General Manager, Strategy, Capability and Performance; and Anna Gestro has been appointed Group General Manager International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships.  

The Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement oversees the wider International team, alongside a newly created International and Sector Engagement (ISE) team, including four new International and Sector Engagement Leads.   

The New Zealand-based ISE team is led by Director International and Sector Engagement, Sharon-May McCrostie, who has responsibility for overall engagement and relationships with peak bodies.   

The team is the sector’s primary point of contact for ENZ in New Zealand.    

The ISE team is responsible for working across sub sectors and facing into offshore markets to ensure a seamless flow of market and sector intelligence. The team is the sector’s primary point of contact for ENZ in New Zealand.    

The ISE Leads are:  

Alana Pellow – with responsibility for Americas, Europe, Korea and Japan  

Alanna Dick – with responsibility for Greater China  

Alex Glidden – with responsibility for South-East Asia (excluding Philippines)  

Andy Walker – with responsibility for India, Philippines and Sri Lanka  

Read on more about ENZ’s new Group General Manager appointments below. 

Group General Manager appointments  

Sahinde Pala – Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement  

Sahinde Pala has been appointed Group General Manager International and Sector Engagement. Sahinde has been with ENZ since 2016 and has vast experience navigating international markets and developing smart strategies to boost student recruitment and sector engagement. She has also led the transition of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme. Sahinde will officially start in her new role on 17 March 2025.  

Julia Wootton – Group General Manager Strategy, Capability and Performance  

Julia Wootton comes with 10 years of senior leadership experience from Kainga Ora, the Department of Internal Affairs, and ACC. She’s an expert in strategy, performance management, and workforce reorientation, and she’s led successful transformation programmes across various Government departments. She will be joining ENZ on 14 April 2025.  

Anna Gestro – Group General Manager International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships  

Anna Gestro is currently CEO at HFC Engineering Group and has an impressive track record in global brand development, data-driven strategies, and audience engagement. Anna played a key role in transforming New Zealand Cricket into a more inclusive and purpose-led brand. Anna’s start date is still being finalised. In the meantime, Adrian Hirst will be Acting Group GM International Marketing, Brand and Scholarships.