It is not every day that Paul Henry
presides over a book launch, but it’s a ‘no brainer when the person whose book
you are launching is your best friend. Paul paid warm tribute to Diane Foreman
– exceptional entrepreneur, mentor, woman, friend – describing her as on the
hardest working people he’d ever met, and noting her many successes in business
and life. Celebrity photographer Norrie Montgomery captured the glittering
crowd at the Tamaki Yacht Club; a gathering of Auckland’s foremost
philanthropists, politicians and business people, that included the Honourable
Judith Collins, the Honourable Paula Bennett, Dame Rosie Horton and Sir David
Levene, Paul had the honour of officially launching Diane Foreman In
the Arena and raised a toast to Diane for yet another landmark achievement.
He then gave the floor to the night’s other speakers: Debra Millar, Jenni
McManus and Diane herself.
Debra Millar, Penguin Random House Publishing
Director, spoke of Foreman’s drive and determination in bringing her book to
fruition with the help of prominent business journalist, Jenni McManus. Debra spoke
with humility about what she described as the “minor role” she played in
bringing Diane’s book to publication and expressed a debt of gratitude to
Nicola Legat for having the foresight to commission a business book by Diane,
when she headed up the Publishing division at Random House New Zealand.
That
same spirit of generosity that imbued Debra’s words were reflected in Diane’s
speech, during which she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all who had
gathered to celebrate with her, in particular, Paul Henry, Jenni McManus,
Executive PA Debbie Gould and the publishing team at Penguin Random House.
Diane’s final words of appreciation were to her family and friends, and partner
Jason, for being her last line of defence and support network, enabling her to
pursue “every crazy scheme” she gets involved with. Diane gave everyone who
attended a copy of her book, encouraging them to read it and make a difference
in their working lives.
For more about Diane Foreman’s story, have a listen to
her interview with Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201768386.
Sarah
Thornton
Thornton
Communications Ltd
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