I’m Bex.

A leader, coach, and advocate dedicated to disrupting the status quo - dismantling internal and external systems to expand human potential.

With a background in gender pay equity campaigning, I came to realise systemic change alone is not the solution. We cannot rely on systems that create inequities to fix them. That can only be achieved by courageous, compassionate women - like us.

Challenging the status quo has always lit me up. Being outspoken is in my nature — and I love it.

Growing up, my family had complicated dynamics. Social services and Police were regularly involved. As a teen, I developed a disregard for authority and was readily labelled difficult.

In my early 20s, I channelled that fire into endurance sports — cycle touring, Ironman triathlons, ultramarathons. Pushing my mind and body made me feel invincible. I thought I was unbreakable.

Until in 2019, my sister died by suicide — and my world fell apart. Grief wasn’t something I could outrun. There was no “toughing it out” through this. I had to surrender. It led me through the dark night of the soul — questioning life, purpose, and what truly matters.

Bex Howells finishing an Ironman triathlon – symbolising self-trust, personal growth, and the courage to become unstoppable

From grief to gender pay advocacy.

During this time, I began training as a social worker but when I was required to complete six months of unpaid work to “prove my worth,” I knew it was exploitative. I refused to comply and dropped out — but I couldn’t let the issue go. I decided to write a Master’s thesis on unpaid training as well as launch and lead a nationwide campaign for paid training in female-dominated professions.

I was determined to expose this hidden gender pay gap.

I engaged extensively with students, unions, universities, MPs, and the media — including TEDx. I presented the petition to Parliament in May 2024. In June 2025, the Education and Workforce Select Committee decided to take no further action. Gutted but undefeated, I remain committed as ever to championing women’s rise.

I no longer wait for system change.

Now, I work with women to dismantle the internalised narratives that keep us undervalued and underestimated - so we can succeed on our own terms. Through powerful coaching, self-leadership work, and purpose driven strategy, we disrupt with integrity and lead with the courage of our convictions.

Because the world doesn’t need more conformity. It needs you - alive with purpose, steadfast in your authority, and leading the work only you can do.

Bex Howells delivering a petition to MPs for paid training in female-dominated fields to address workforce shortages and advance equity.

Ready to create a ripple effect that feels alive, aligned, and unstoppable?

  • Terry Taylor, Specialist Medical Laboratory Scientist & Former President of the NZ Institute of Medical Laboratory Science

    [Paid Placements Aotearoa] that Bex headed grew from an idea to a national campaign that involved exceptional leadership and strategy to ensure success. It has been a remarkable achievement that shows exactly the type of determined, dedicated and courageous person that Bex is. To see this from an idea to a parliamentary rally and select committee appearance with all the associate media and public commitments in between says it all about Bex and her leadership skills and development of critical thinking and analysis.

    To watch the development of Bex across all aspects of building and implementing a strategy and her development into a confident and exceptional media and public voice has been awe inspiring. Clearly Bex has a huge future in mentoring and coaching others to work on and achieve their goals. Bex is a rare talent that I have no doubt will make every path a winner no matter what she chooses to chase.

  • Associate Professor of Social Work, Dr Hay

    Bex Howells’ leadership in the paid placement campaign in Aotearoa New Zealand has been exceptional, demonstrating a thoughtful and considered approach that ensures multiple perspectives are heard. Her ability to listen and navigate complex discussions has brought this critical issue into the public arena in a meaningful way. Her determination is evidenced in the significant growth of the campaign since its launch, and the subsequent media and political attention. The campaign messages are evidence-based which adds credibility and urgency to the need for rapid and extensive policy change.  Paid placements would have  life-changing impacts on the wellbeing of thousands of students engaged in professional and vocational higher education courses in Aotearoa New Zealand.  Through her efforts, Bex has sparked important and far-reaching conversations, including in government policy spaces, that are contributing to the shaping the future of fair and sustainable workforce practices.

  • Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers' Association

    Bex’s passion and drive for seeing change that improves the lives of those who are unfairly disadvantaged was evident during our work with her on the Paid Placements campaign. Bex has a knack for not only truly hearing and understanding the issues from those experiencing hardship, but communicating those issues to others with clarity, strength and connection. She truly understood the very essence of how much paid placements would mean to our social work students and profession through her expert engagement skills. She demonstrated the ability to connect this issue to not only the immediate needs of students now, but also the workforce challenges that unpaid placements are exacerbating into the future. She involved our students and our profession in a way that brought hope for the future and a clear direction for change. Her mahi has brought this issue into the spotlight in an easy-to-understand way and provided a solid foundation for this advocacy to continue. In social work, we hold true to the professional value of mātātoa – moral courage in the face of uncertainty and challenge – Bex exemplified this value throughout the campaign, and we are so grateful for her courageous spirit.