Ruth Tolise

Ruth Tolise joined the NZ Shareholders Association Board in September 2022.

Ruth is a first-generation New Zealand Samoan. Ruth’s mother was born in Taputimu, Tutuila but raised in her maternal grandmother’s village of Nofoalii, and her father is from Fai’a’ai, Savaii. In 2017 she was bestowed the chieftain title of “Fualau” from her father’s village in Fai’a’ai.

Ruth has 28 years of commercial experience in financial services, predominantly in the private sector. She has worked in the banking and insurance sectors, managed and led high-performing teams in various areas, including asset services (Corporate Actions, Settlements, Treasury), lending & operations, regulatory, risk and compliance, internal audit, and financial crime anti-money laundering. Ruth also worked as an Accountant for a global platform company that provided multi-channel wealth management services to clients with funds under management of over $1.5TN+.

Ruth currently works as a Senior Manager – Risk Enablement for TSB Bank. She is currently undertaking a Master’s degree at the Faculty of Law, the University of Auckland, specialising in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Giving back to her Pacific community, Ruth is a Trustee and Chairperson for a Pasifika Social Services organisation that provides social services to pacific people in the regions (Manawatu and Horowhenua). Ruth is also a mentor at Victoria University for final year Finance and Accounting students offering guidance in their transition to the workforce.