Elle Föenander – Gallerist
“It is the artists themselves [that drives me] — their capacity and courage to tell stories, to translate emotion and experience into form, giving a shape to what is often intangible. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling; curating is a way of honouring that. It’s about creating space for those stories to be seen, heard, and felt. To me, drive means staying with the kaupapa — the purpose… even when the outcomes are not clear. It is sustained by the artists: their brilliance, their stories, their inventive ways of meeting the world. Dialogue is essential, it is how we stay open, exchange perspectives, and learn to listen. It happens in conversation with artists, audiences, and with the work itself. Without dialogue, purpose can become static. With it, purpose stays alive.”
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Holly Sarah Burgess – Photographer
“My love for photography started on film, when my sister and I found a vintage camera at a market. I was 15 and living in Thailand with my whānau, and photography was a way for me to capture the colours and chaos that came with going to high school in a city like Bangkok. It was here [I found] my love for capturing the world around me, especially the beauty in the mundane, and the seemingly small details that make up our worlds. This love was deepened when I moved home to Aotearoa. The world around me keeps the spark alive. Despite it now being my full-time job, photography remains my favourite form of self-expression. To keep creativity flowing, I have recently been giving myself the space to take photos just for the sake of it, with no set intention.”
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Tiffany Low – Restaurateur
“For me, what keeps me going is knowing that I am laying the foundation for the future I want to have — one where I can eventually create more balance and spend quality time with a future family. Sometimes during the moments of burnout, it’s easy to lose sight of the vision, but I’ve got a great support system I can turn to. What really keeps me going is the community we’ve built and that in itself is so rewarding. I also believe there’s always room to grow, no matter how far you’ve come, so the drive to keep evolving and improving fuels me. To me, ‘drive’ means staying curious and embracing the constant learning that comes with juggling many moving parts. I’m most engaged when I’m learning something new. Now, with the restaurant being my own business — I’m much more hands-on overseeing every single detail, and I’ve had to learn a lot on the go, but my background in business and front-facing sales has definitely helped. I’m also a Capricorn!”
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Dominique Healy – Fashion designer
“Drive is about consistency, showing up and continuing to move forward one step at a time. I’m not trying to sprint. I want to create something that lasts. Staying creatively energised is one of the hardest parts. I don’t think I’ll ever have the balance totally right, but I’ll never stop trying. This year, I’ve been trying to live by the quote, ‘Slow down to speed up.’ It applies to so many areas of life, but especially creativity. It’s incredibly hard to tap into that creative space when you’re buried under emails, production timelines, and logistics. But I’ve learned that taking time, carving out space, is essential. You need to create the right environment for creativity to low, and that means slowing down, even when everything around you is telling you to speed up. In the early days, success felt tied to recognition or sales. Now, it’s more about alignment, feeling proud of the pieces we put out, the way we treat our community, and the kind of life the business allows me to live.”
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Jen Jones – Auckland Design Week Founder
“The first Auckland Design Week (ADW) took place in March 2024, after 11 months of planning; and we’ve just wrapped our second event in March this year. We’re now deep into planning for ADW 2026, taking place in March next year. A totally unproven belief that it would work; paired with absolutely no backup plan for what I’d do if it didn’t [was what got me through the uncertainty when we launched]! So it’s a good job we broke even in year one. Some may call this optimism or vision; others more like straight-up insanity — but I am okay with that! It’s not been without a lot of hard work and sweat equity; and every decision has been deliberate. Not cautious, but strategic. Although I never once entertained the idea that it wouldn’t work; I was surrounded by people who wholeheartedly believed in what I am trying to create and that certainly kept — and continues to keep — me going.”
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This article originally appeared in Fashion Quarterly‘s Winter 2025 issue.
Photography: Holly Sarah Burgess
Creative Direction: Georgia Bramley
FQ Lets Talk: What Drives You?
Join Fashion Quarterly and Lexus on July 2nd for an intimate evening of powerful conversation as we ask: What drives you? Hosted by FQ editor-in-chief Sarah Murray at The Hotel Britomart, this thought-provoking event brings together a powerhouse panel of women, including iconic fashion designer Karen Walker, gallerist Elle Föenander and Auckland Design Week founder Jen Jones.
From navigating setbacks to staying grounded in fast-paced environments, these women will share what fuels their passion, and how they continue to move forward with clarity and conviction. Through candid stories and reflective insights, our speakers will explore the pivotal moments, mindset shifts and lessons that have shaped their journeys.
Whether you’re building something new or seeking a renewed sense of purpose in your current chapter, this is your invitation to gather, reflect, and be recharged by real stories of passion, leadership and resilience.
