The BeConnected whānau is a team of trusted professionals known for getting the job done efficiently and without fuss. Our experienced and committed team listen with an expert ear to provide you with a tailored solution to make enduring positive change.
BeConnected operates as part of an ecosystem. As well as our dedicated team, we work with associates and partner organisations that cover a diverse range of skills, knowledge, and networks. This means we can always bring the best people and solutions to the table for you.
We can operate in leadership roles, or in the background to support leadership through coaching, mentoring, or strategic advice.
BeConnected is on both the All of Government (AoG) Consultancy Panel, and the Government’s Learning and Development Centre (LDC) Coaching Panel. To learn how to access us through these panels, fill out our contact form, or call Mo on 0274242155, or send an email to admin@beconnected.co.nz.
“When challenges arise, BeConnected brings the space and calm to navigate them. Like the eye of the storm, we provide clarity and direction to help leaders move forward with confidence.”
- Mo McConnell, BeConnected Founder
for positive change
Mo McConnell – Founder and Owner of BeConnected
Mo McConnell is all about empowering leaders and tackling complexity. With over 10 years of experience working with regional economic development, grants, and investments for the New Zealand Government, and seven years leading BeConnected, she’s helped plenty of clients land the funding and partnerships they need to make a real impact.
Mo’s deeply connected across government, regional groups, and iwi and Māori organisations. She’s great at bringing people and resources together to spark positive, lasting change. Originally raised all over the world by her humanitarian parents, Mo now calls Porirua and the Kapiti Coast home. She’s all about community and connection, and loves being involved in her daughter’s school whānau.
A certified coach through the NeuroLeadership Institute and a Conversational Intelligence practitioner, Mo is excited to keep using her mix of strategic know-how and facilitation skills to support local leaders and organisations through everything from lifestyle and leadership practices to emergency responses.
Siobhan Ryan is a BeConnected Associate. Siobhan has extensive experience in team leadership, fund management, policy design, strategic and operational improvement and relationship management. Siobhan is passionate about New Zealand’s primary industries and regional development, and has developed evaluation frameworks and set up programmes of work to be able to tell a compelling impact story. She is able to bring clarity and rigour to the development of proposals, projects and reports.
Rebecca Lyon is an Associate with BeConnected and prides herself on supporting others to find solutions together. Becks has had a very successful Management career in the New Zealand Public Service and has supported many people and teams to reach their goals through empowerment.
Becks has a straightforward style that cuts to the chase, she has over 10 years’ experience in delivering projects and programmes in government and in the regions of Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and the Hawke’s Bay. Becks has extensive experience in project and programme management, with a particular interest in tailoring to meet the client’s need in project initiation and the delivery stages. Becks is able to facilitate teams and large groups to reach common ground and understanding, while building trust and confidence.
Becks has a Master of Science and a deep passion for all things biological, particularly in soil, gut, animal and human health. She is also a certified PRINCE 2, Managing Successful Programmes and Portfolio Management practitioner.
Yvette Southorn is a BeConnected Associate. She has extensive experience working in the Public Service social sector, including customer service, operational improvement, service design and implementation. Yvette has a strong customer focus, and is skilled in relationship management, facilitation, communications, and developing pragmatic solutions.
Yvette is a trained PRINCE 2 and Agile SAFe 5 Practitioner.
Robyn Smits is a BeConnected Associate. Robyn has held senior roles in New Zealand’s public service, working on data management, research, evaluation and IT. She has over 10 years’ experience managing every aspect of projects — from defining project requirements and tendering, through to user testing and rollout.
Robyn specialises in developing business cases, initiating projects, managing contracts, and setting up systems and processes to monitor and evaluate projects.
Robyn’s qualifications include a Batchelor of Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science and a Master of Education. She is a certified PRINCE 2 practitioner, an Agile Scrum Master and a Better Business Case practitioner.
BeConnected’s services have been invaluable. Mo and the team brought the tension and analysis we needed to [stand up our Programme of work and secure investment].
Thanks for all your help with our funding applications for both Ngaa Rauru and Te Ranga Tupua. Without your experience and skill in navigating the governments funding streams it would have been difficult.
Thanks so much for your facilitation of our session … I noticed conversations in the teams about the results, some are delighted to understand more about themselves.
I had several really successful coaching sessions with Mo. All the sessions were positive learning experiences for me where I reflected on the challenges in my role and worked with Mo to take away new approaches to try out. I really enjoyed the combination of gaining insight followed by practical action.
Thank you for all your mahi with Tupuanuku it is the foundation [of our project] and providing guidance on the daily
As a small mana whenua-led project with high demands on time and energy, Rebecca helped turn seemingly complex fundraising into a straightforward step-by-step process that allowed us to meet funder expectations while staying true to our core work and values.
Be Connected has been an incredible force on my journey. Walking alongside me, they’ve encouraged radical actions, unwavering support, and the bold steps needed to elevate my vision to the next level. Their partnership is a game-changer.
“My expectations were exceeded with the outcomes of the [2024 Waitangi Housing] Expo and I would highly recommend the BeConnected team to anyone wanting a strategic but practical pair of hands to bring your vision to life on the ground.”