Qiulae Wong

For Qiulae Wong, sustainability isn’t something that demands attention — it’s something you grow alongside. Like a hedge of jasmine, it’s always there, quietly shaping the space around us. “Its nostalgic smell reminds us of the value of nature,” she reflects. “It sits in the background, but it’s constant.” That quiet presence mirrors Qiulae’s belief that real progress begins not with volume, but with listening.

As Leader of The Opportunities Party, Qiulae brings decades of sustainability experience into politics — from impact consulting in London’s fashion sector to leading the B Corp movement in Aotearoa and advising businesses at KPMG. Across these roles, one lesson has stood out: change happens when people feel heard. “Listen more than you speak,” she says. “And listen to as many different perspectives as possible.”

Her vision for the future is ambitious, but grounded in inclusion. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” she reflects, “but only if everyone is in one.” For Qiulae, listening is how we make sure no one is left behind — how policy, business, and systems evolve in ways that serve people and planet together.

Right now, she feels she is living through a defining chapter. “Every day brings a new challenge,” she says. “But I can see how everything I’ve done has prepared me for this moment.” The tension she navigates daily is making change feel both bold and achievable — pairing a compelling long-term vision with practical steps people can believe in.

Listening also shapes how she engages others. She believes in creating space beyond the day-to-day to spark imagination and connection. “Our thinking can become narrow,” she notes. “When we slow down and really listen, new possibilities emerge.”

Her understanding of sustainability is deeply relational. Drawing on manaakitanga — and her own cultural grounding in food and family — she speaks of the power of sharing kai to build trust and remove barriers. “It’s about respect, regardless of who you’re hosting,” she says. “Food has a way of connecting us.”

Looking ahead, Qiulae sees Aotearoa’s greatest strength in its creativity. “Our quirky, innovative spirit is our superpower,” she says. She points to initiatives like the food rescue movement as proof that when we listen to communities, solutions emerge that strengthen both people and nature.

If her work could plant one seed of change, it would be empathy and connection. “They’re the foundation of long-term success,” she believes. And her invitation to readers is simple: notice the small moments in nature each day. “We protect what we love — and we learn to love by paying attention.”

Read Qiulae’s full reflections in Blooming Sustainability — on listening deeply, growing together, and shaping a future that brings everyone along.

BLOOMING  Sustainability Questionnaire

Name: Qiulae Wong

Company & Title: Leader, the Opportunity Party

Website & LinkedIn Profile: www.opportunity.org.nz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/qiulae/

* Guiding Values | Kaupapa

If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?

It would be a hedge of jasmine. Its nostalgic smell reminds us of the value of nature. It’s in the background but always there.

A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:

I’ve always liked the quote: “A rising tide lifts all boats” - but I would also add something like - “but we must ensure everyone is in a boat.”

I believe that aspiration and ambition for a better future is key but we need to bring everyone on the journey.

If you could mentor a rising change-maker in Aotearoa, what advice would you share?  
Listen more than you speak. And listen to as many different perspectives as possible.

* Leading Change | Arataki

A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:  
I feel like I’m in one right now! Every day I’m facing a new challenge and learning something new but I constantly identify experiences in my past that have all led me here and equipped me for this role.

What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector?

Making change feel both ambitious and achievable at the same time. We need to take small steps to get where we want to go but we also need to paint a clear picture of where we’re going and how those small steps will get us there.

An area you need more support with:

I believe it’s important to go slow to go fast but that is really difficult in the world we’ve created today. It takes all of us to hold each other accountable to make sure we consider all angles and perspectives but also not get tied up in analysis paralysis.

An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:

Being half Chinese where food and family is so important, that sense of manaakitanga and hosting your guests has always resonated with me strongly. It’s about respect regardless of who you’re hosting and I love how sharing kai can instantly connect us and remove walls and barriers to cooperation.

Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:

Listening first! And getting creative to help take us out of our day to day - our imagination so can be so now the same on your powerful.

What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?  
Our quirky, innovative spirit. We have always succeeded by doing things differently and as a small nation that is our greatest asset.

* Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki

Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability:

• Doughnut Economics

• The Great Simplification

• The Art of Gathering

Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend:

I’m not sure I could say anything new here that your readers won’t already know! I would only add: gatherings with your whānau, friends and community. They are the reason we do what we do and we need resilient connected communities to safeguard our environment so human connection is a critical part of our work.

I would recommend the book above - ‘The Art of Gathering’ as a way of thinking about why and how we gather.

A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:

The food rescue movement is an important one that has continued quietly building momentum and is so important for not just reducing waste but building community resilience and food security. I think it’s a great example of how what’s good for nature is good for people, business and the economy too. And how embedding these initiatives in community makes it the most enduring.

If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?

Empathy and connection is the foundation for our long-term success.

The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability:

• Kat Lintott

• Tessa Vincent

• Kaitlin Dawson

* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:

Make a daily note of all the little things in nature! And encourage little people (if you have them in your life) to do so too. The shade of a tree, the taste of a homegrown tomato, the smell of a native bush. We protect what we love.

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