Change Portfolio Manager, University of Auckland

Celine Gilbert and Abigail Vallis bring extensive experience in change management across multiple industries. Now working in the tertiary sector, they are part of the University of Auckland Change Practice, partnering with leaders and programmes to navigate complex change in a federated environment.

Their work focuses on strengthening adoption and embedding new ways of working across faculties and professional services, particularly within large-scale digital and service transformation initiatives. Through this, they have developed a shared interest in the gap between successful project delivery and sustained institutional change.

They are particularly interested in how universities can move beyond a project mindset towards continuous change leadership, building the capability to absorb, adapt, and embed change over time.