The world's office is becoming increasingly borderless, and for a growing number of tech and creative professionals, there's no better place to plug in than Nelson Tasman.
That’s according to Rebecca Mitchell, a senior growth marketing manager at MYOB, currently spearheading major acquisition marketing campaigns within the corporation from her home in The Wood.
After working internationally with major companies for 13 years, including 10 years in London and three years with MYOB in Melbourne, Rebecca returned home to Nelson in 2022 for the birth of her son, Max, and initially planned to stay for her maternity leave.
But then she had an epiphany.
“I noticed there were lots of women doing really interesting things in tech, many of them doing it remotely for major national and international companies, and it struck me that we're all in our houses,” she says.
“Roles you historically expect to be based in places like Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, or Melbourne, and that's definitely seemed to have ramped up in the last year or so.
“It's clear that you can do big things from Nelson, so I decided to stay.”
To support fellow women in the sector, Rebecca launched an informal monthly lunch series. The group now has 12 members, many of whom have chosen to put down digital roots in Nelson Tasman because of its lifestyle and work-life balance.
“A lot of them have moved back from London, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland,” she says.
“It’s across a mix of industries from what I do, which is business software, to AI leadership consulting, renewable energy, digital design, telecommunications, sustainable products, and fashion retail.”
Rebecca also has friends running creative agencies, video production companies, design and marketing businesses, and launching brands from Nelson. She says there is also a strong community of tech professionals in Golden Bay and at Mahitahi Colab Māpua.
Recently awarded NZ Tech Marketer of the Year, Rebecca says the honour reflects what the region's expanding technology and creative sectors are achieving.
Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ali Boswijk says the region has a “very high level of work from home workforce participants”, with more than 18 per cent working remotely.
“We're seeing a growing community of highly skilled professionals who are choosing to make this region home while continuing to work at the highest levels nationally and internationally,” she says.
“Technology has fundamentally changed where and how people can work, and that's a real opportunity for Nelson Tasman.
“We have an enviable lifestyle, but increasingly we're also seeing the benefits of the experience, expertise and international connections these professionals bring to our business community.
“It's an exciting evolution of our regional economy, and Rebecca's success is a wonderful example of what's possible.”
