At WM New Zealand, International Women’s Day is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s an opportunity to celebrate the incredible wāhine shaping the waste and resource recovery industry. Across Aotearoa, women are breaking barriers, driving trucks, leading teams, and finding innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
Each day in the week leading up to International Women’s Day, stories about the incredible wāhine at WM New Zealand across Aotearoa were shared in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Saturday the 8th of March.
Alex Coxhead loves what she does at WM New Zealand. She has been driving trucks for over 20 years and has worked for WM New Zealand New Plymouth as a Class 4 driver for three-and-a-half years. Having originally started out as a loader driver, she has made it her personal mission to work her way up through the truck licence classes—funding most of them herself.
Alex says it’s great to see that a lot of women are having a go, and that the number of female drivers and operators is increasing. “It’s not always an easy job, it can be quite physical,” she says, mentioning she regularly clocks over 15,000 steps on her Fitbit a day. “But it’s a good physical—you get quite fit!”
There are lots of experienced men and women here at WM New Zealand who can guide you through. Take the opportunity to go for your hazardous goods and your truck licences—it’s well worth it.
Alex Coxhead
Skip Driver
Her advice to women thinking about joining WM New Zealand?
“Just give it a go, and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she says. “There are lots of experienced men and women here at WM New Zealand who can guide you through. Take the opportunity to go for your hazardous goods and your truck licences—it’s well worth it.”
For Sales Specialist Emma Finny, no two days are the same at WM New Zealand Northland—and that’s exactly what she loves about her role.
“One day I’m sorting out someone’s wheelie bin, then I’m into an outbreak in a kids’ centre that needs medical bins, or dealing with skips for building sites that are going for Green Star accreditation,” says Emma, who will celebrate her fourth anniversary with WM New Zealand this July.
Emma has watched Northland’s recycling capabilities expand significantly during her time with the company, particularly in the building and construction sector. “When I first started, there wasn’t a huge amount that could be recycled in Northland. In the last couple of years, it’s come leaps and bounds—that’s been really interesting and a great point of difference.”
When I first started, there wasn’t a huge amount that could be recycled in Northland. In the last couple of years, it’s come leaps and bounds—that’s been really interesting and a great point of difference.
Emma Finny
Sales Specialist • Upper North Island
Like many women in the workforce, Emma navigates the delicate balance of being fully present in her professional role while also being there for her family. Many women today face the impossible standard of working like they don’t have children and mothering like they don’t have a job. However, she credits WM New Zealand’s supportive culture for making this juggling act more manageable.
“I love that WM New Zealand is really supportive of me being a single mother. If my daughter is sick and I have to work from home, it’s never a problem. They’re always asking, ‘What can we do to help? Is there any workload we can pick up?’”
Her day begins at 5am with a walk alongside her “beautiful fur babies”—a ritual that helps clear her head before she prepares her daughter for school. Her non-traditional schedule allows her to check emails and address operational issues before the school run.
Strong relationships are also at the core of Emma’s success. She gives special recognition to dispatchers Amanda Kawana and Lavinia Backhouse-Smith, whom she calls her “two lifesavers,” especially while covering multiple territories. She also maintains excellent communication with operations staff, drivers, and customers.
When Andrea Navarro joined WM New Zealand’s Engineering Research & Development team as Project Coordinator, she was immediately welcomed by the 18-member Fleet team, who recognised her talent and dedication. Despite being the only woman in the team, Andrea found a strong and supportive culture that allowed her to thrive.
Andrea transitioned from a sales support role, drawn to the opportunity to combine her professional skills with her lifelong interest in automotive technology. Her role keeps multiple aspects of fleet operations connected, from tracking vehicle builds to configuring driver profiles in the ERoad system. She has also become increasingly involved with WM New Zealand’s expanding EV workshop operations as the company moves towards a more sustainable fleet.
“The team has really helped me develop professionally. They’re always encouraging me to ask questions, and we have a genuine support system here,” Andrea says.
Her presence in the Fleet team represents an important step in creating more diverse technical teams across the business. Andrea is now planning to further her technical knowledge by pursuing a Diploma in Engineering.
The team has really helped me develop professionally. They’re always encouraging me to ask questions, and we have a genuine support system here.
Andrea Navarro
Project Coordinator
WM New Zealand is proud that women make up a significant part of its workforce, with 488 women among 1,929 total staff (around 25%).
Of the drivers and operators, 94 are women—and that number continues to grow as more wāhine are actively encouraged to join these operational roles.
One region that’s making remarkable progress in welcoming women into operational roles is Taranaki. With the rollout of the new Taranaki municipal contract, 17 women drivers and operators have joined the region—a phenomenal achievement!
The celebration of wāhine at WM New Zealand wasn’t just limited to the women themselves. Male colleagues across the business played an important role in acknowledging and honouring their contributions.
From putting up posters around sites to organising special surprises, their support was felt nationwide. In Auckland, our incredible staff ensured visibility for IWD by setting up posters, while the UNI team went the extra mile by ordering 40 bouquets of flowers for female drivers and operational staff.
Across the country, teams hosted morning teas and BBQs to recognise the wāhine in their workplaces. One lucky department even enjoyed a visit from a professional massage therapist.
Through these acts of appreciation, WM New Zealand reinforced its commitment to an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone’s contributions were valued and celebrated.
