Owner and CEO of Stuff Ltd, journalist and media leader

Overview

Sinead Boucher is one of New Zealand's most influential media leaders. The owner, publisher and CEO of Stuff Ltd, she made global headlines in 2020 when she bought Stuff from its Australian owners for $1, returning the country's largest news organisation to New Zealand hands. She is a leading voice on the future of media, trust and journalism.

Who is Sinead Boucher? Born in Belfast and raised in Christchurch, Sinead began her career at The Press in 1993 before working in London for the Financial Times and Reuters. She returned home, became Stuff's first digital editor in 2007, then Group Executive Editor and CEO in 2017. In 2020 she led the management buyout of Stuff. In 2024 she split the business into Masthead Publishing and Stuff Digital, and in 2025 Trade Me acquired a 50 percent stake in Stuff Digital.

Career Highlights • Owner, Publisher and CEO of Stuff Ltd • Led the 2020 management buyout of Stuff from Nine Entertainment for $1 • Launched ThreeNews, the 6pm television bulletin produced by Stuff • Restructured Stuff into Masthead Publishing and Stuff Digital in 2024 • Made Stuff one of the largest B Corp media companies in Australasia • Chair of LINA, the Local & Independent News Association

Key Speaking Themes • The future of news, media and journalism • Leadership and transformation under pressure • B Corp values, purpose and the triple bottom line • Women in business and authentic leadership • Trust, misinformation and the role of local journalism

What Your Audience Will Gain Sinead shares an extraordinary insider view of one of the toughest industries in the world and a deeply human take on leadership, courage and reinvention. Audiences leave engaged and energised.

Ideal For • Leadership and CEO summits • Media, marketing and communications conferences • Women in business and International Women's Day events • Governance and B Corp events • Universities, journalism and policy forums

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Sinead Boucher speak about? The future of media and journalism, leadership, B Corp and purpose-led business, women in leadership and trust.

Who owns Stuff? Sinead Boucher is the owner and publisher of Stuff Ltd, having purchased the company from Nine Entertainment in 2020.

Why did Sinead Boucher buy Stuff for $1? The deal returned New Zealand's largest news organisation to local hands and gave Sinead and her team the chance to redesign the company for a digital future.

What businesses sit within Stuff? Stuff Group comprises Masthead Publishing (The Post, The Press and other titles) and Stuff Digital (stuff.co.nz, Neighbourly and ThreeNews).

Is Sinead Boucher still the CEO of Stuff? Yes. She resumed the CEO role in 2025 alongside her positions as owner and publisher.

Is Sinead Boucher available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Sinead speaks at leadership, media and women in business events across NZ and internationally.