Agnese Abelite’s career has been shaped by curiosity, a trait that’s taken her from Latvia to the UK and eventually to New Zealand, where she has built a remarkable path in the registry world. From her early days at the Companies Office reviewing financial statements as Assistant Registrar to her current role as Product Management Lead at Foster Moore, Agnese has been at the forefront of registry transformation, shaping global solutions that power economies around the world.
With over a decade of experience in public service and now thriving in the private sector, Agnese brings a rare mix of deep legislative knowledge, empathy for users, and a strategic mindset, a true unicorn in the registry space.
In this conversation, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at her journey, what she’s learned along the way, and why she believes strong human relationships are at the heart of successful registries and thriving economies.
You’re originally from Latvia, lived in the UK, and now call New Zealand home, how did that journey happen?
It all started back in 2004, when Latvia joined the European Union. That opened the doors for people like me to work and travel freely across Europe. For me, it was a financial decision as much as a personal one; at the time, in hospitality industry you could earn ten times more in London than in Latvia. I moved, not just for the opportunities, but also to learn English and see more of the world. London became a great base for travel, and eventually, I met my amazing husband there too.
His childhood dream was to live in Australia, believe it or not, inspired by Nicole Kidman! His original plan changed when he discovered New Zealand, a country even further away, and a couple of months into our relationship, he announced he was moving here. I’ve always loved travelling, so I could not say no to the adventure, so when I finished my degree in tourism and environment, we set off, trying to get from London to Auckland without taking a single plane.
We almost made it! Our plan was to travel overland and by cargo ship, but a few cancellations meant we had to fly a couple of times. Still, we crossed 20 countries and spent a year on the road. By the end of it, we actually missed routine and working life. We landed in Christchurch just ten days before the February 2011 earthquake. That was a dramatic welcome, we were right in the heart of the city. We almost left, but instead we got on a camper van, travelled around New Zealand, and fell in love with the country. We eventually settled in Auckland, and that is where my registries career began.
Did you ever imagine you’d end up working in registries, and what surprised you most about this world?
Not at all! I had never even heard of registries before I arrived in New Zealand. My first job in Auckland was at the Companies Office. I started as a temp while on my working holiday visa. It was actually a really laid-back interview; I mostly talked about my travel adventures, and somehow, I was in.
I spent the next year reviewing financial statements in the compliance team. I never expected to work in government for long, yet I quickly fell in love with the registry world. It is impressive the way a single register can transform a country. I had the opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s leading registry model to countries seeking recognition for ease of doing business and improved credit access. What surprised me most was the culture, so supportive and growth-oriented. If someone saw potential in you, they would back you and give you the opportunity to grow.
From there, it all moved fast. I had interviews for new roles almost every year: compliance, stakeholder engagement, financial conduct operations, change management, and project delivery. I loved the variety and the chance to make a real impact. It all started with a happy accident, but it turned into a purposeful career.
During your time at the Companies Office, what was one project that really tested you but left you proud?
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) replacement project was definitely the most challenging and rewarding work I did at the Companies Office. It is one of those invisible registers, quietly doing its job in the background, but due to its silent nature not widely understood, even internally. I learned everything there is to know about secured transactions registers and together with the Australian PPSR project team, visited registries in Norway, Jersey, and the UK. It was eye-opening to meet so many experts and realise how this “silent” register had such a big impact.
There was a strong focus on stakeholder engagement, with particular attention given to carefully planning the API community’s transition to the new register in a big-bang go-live. Customer feedback highlighted concerns about relying solely on RealMe for authentication, so we became the first register in New Zealand to introduce alternative login options via Facebook and Google.
The project spanned three and a half years, largely due to an extended discovery phase and the complexity of API integrations involving around 200 users - including banks, credit agencies, finance companies, car dealers, and software vendors. Our motto was: no one gets left behind. We ran national training sessions, and I still remember standing in front of hundreds of people with my baby bump, introducing them to the new system. Seeing their reaction to the new interface made all the effort worth it. It was a massive change, and a proud moment.
PPSR is certainly my favourite of all the registers.
What is so unique about PPSR?
What makes the New Zealand PPSR unique is the way it has embraced APIs as the primary channel for use. Rather than relying on a government-built website as the main point of access, the majority of PPSR transactions flow through intermediaries who consume the APIs and integrate them directly into their own solutions. This reduces the burden on the registry itself, fewer calls to the call center, fewer support demands, and shifts innovation to the private sector, where providers can create tailored user experiences for different industries and consumers.
The benefits of this model are already clear. For example, MotorWeb packages PPSR searches into full vehicle reports, making it seamless for the public when buying a second-hand car. Similarly, financial software like InterSoft automates loan registrations and searches, embedding PPSR compliance invisibly into the lending process. In both cases, the register is doing its job in the background, while the user interacts with services that feel natural, efficient, and right when you need them.
It made us imagine a future where registries have no front-end at all, only robust, well-documented APIs. Government focuses on being the trusted source of truth, while private innovators compete to deliver the best services on top of that trust infrastructure. The challenge, of course, is balancing accessibility with innovation, ensuring that while intermediaries drive awareness and better user experiences, baseline affordability and equity remain protected. This balance will define the next generation of registries.
What’s your best memory from your time at the Companies Office?
Definitely, the culture. We genuinely celebrated each other. We had morning teas for no reason other than just to connect, and every time there was an Olympics or international sports event, we would decorate our pods based on different countries drawn from a lottery and bring in food from those places. We used to organise scavenger hunts, after-work drinks, and we even had a dragon boating team, which really helped strengthen those relationships. But what stands out the most is my boss at the time, Lawrence Wells, he truly believed in me. He would call me into his office and say, “Agnese, we have a problem,” and we would work it out together. He gave me so many opportunities to grow, and I will always be grateful for his support and trust. His belief in me and in the value our work brings to the nation inspired my path in this industry. I remain here because I want to carry forward his legacy and ensure that the principles and impact he championed live on.
Moving from working in government to the supplier side with Foster Moore, what was the biggest impact of that change for you?
Moving from government to Foster Moore was a huge shift after 11 years at the Companies Office. I knew I was ready for something new, but I did not want to stay too far from the registry world. Foster Moore felt like a natural next step, especially since I already knew many people there from past projects, and I was curious to deepen my knowledge beyond New Zealand’s legislation.
It has been a learning curve, going from a structured, hierarchical government environment to a dynamic, often changing private sector setting was a bit of a shock, but also very exciting. I have come to really appreciate the global exposure and expertise here.
Agnese Abelite during her interview at a local Auckland Cafe
Congratulations on your recent and well-deserved promotion to Product Management Lead! What are some of your key responsibilities now, and what impact do you expect to have in this role?
Thank you! I am really excited about the new role. I see my job as bridging that gap between government and supplier, building trust, nurturing relationships, and helping deliver better outcomes through thoughtful product design.
My focus is listening to a different array of stakeholders and building strong relationships, both within the business and with our clients, because I truly believe that the best outcomes happen when we move forward as a team. By deepening our understanding of end users, intermediators, registry staff, we ensure we design tools that are meeting real world needs and not just ticking boxes.
While we talk about my career, it is very important for me to mention the inspiring, strong, and smart women that boosted my confidence and shaped my career. As a mum of three beautiful children, I wouldn't be the brave woman I am now without them.
What’s one trend you think will shape the future of registries in the next five years?
One trend I am really excited about is verification, particularly the shift in mindset around trust and identity in digital services. Coming from Europe, where everything is signed, stamped, and verified through a notary, I found it quite surprising that in some places like New Zealand, a screenshot of a signature on a PDF can be accepted as an official sign-off. It is great for speed and efficiency, but the lack of verification raises questions around trust. Globally, we are seeing registries beginning to evolve from being just data repositories to becoming truly trusted sources, and I think that transformation and finding the right balance is essential.
Registries today are playing a bigger role in verifying both individuals and entities, and that need for trustworthy digital identity is growing across all sectors. The days of physically walking into a registry office and being stamped by a clerk are mostly gone, but we still need confidence that the person or business on the other side of the screen is who they say they are. That’s why I think verification, and the frameworks and practices that support it, will shape the future of registries in a really meaningful way.
Governments often move slower than tech, how do you find the right balance between tech innovation and policy and legislation in product decisions?
It’s clear that governments are recognising the enormous potential of AI yet are often held back by slow-moving policy making. For instance, in APAC over 80% of government agencies acknowledge the need for AI regulation, but only about 20% have implemented it. It is a real disconnect between intent and action. Meanwhile, local governments around the world are deploying powerful AI tools, but only a few had public policies in place to guide such deployments.
This gap means technology progresses rapidly, while policy and governance trail behind. The best way to strike the right balance, in my view, is through collaborative co-design, where suppliers work hand-in-hand with government to pilot new products, educate stakeholders, and bake in ethics and safety from the outset. This way, we’re not just selling to government, we’re helping them shape policy and trust around AI, creating solutions that are sustainable, compliant, and broadly beneficial.
It is important for governments to have policy that supports development, otherwise, without clear rules, the uncertainty could or the lack of guidance and regulation could fire back and it could shut down useful innovation just because the right policies weren’t in place.
Little Bird Organics - Image courtesy of NZ Herald
Fun fact. You are a shareholder in Little Bird Organics. What drew you to support that business, and what have you learned from being on the other side of the table?
I’ve always been very health-conscious when it comes to food. I believe that what we eat really shapes who we are. For seven years I lived just down the road from Little Bird Organics in Ponsonby and I watched the business grow. I admired their philosophy of creating amazing food straight from nature: pure, unprocessed, and plant-based.
When the business announced it was in trouble and opened to crowdfunding, I didn’t hesitate. For me, it wasn’t just about saving a brand I loved, it was about being part of a community and supporting values I deeply believe in. As someone new to New Zealand at the time, being able to contribute and be welcomed into that journey felt amazing.
Since becoming a shareholder, I’ve loved reading the updates and seeing behind the curtain of how a business is run. It’s been eye-opening to learn about the challenges, like supply chains, storing fresh produce, and the impact of COVID. I’ve gained an appreciation for the resilience it takes to maintain a business and keep a strong brand identity even when times are tough.
What are your passions, other than registries, and what helps you disconnect from work?
Outside of registries, my greatest passion is my family. I have three beautiful children and a very supportive husband, and they are at the centre of my life. I also have strong cultural ties to Latvia and am actively involved in our local Latvian community. I founded and continue to manage a Latvian language school for preschool children here in Auckland.
To keep up with everything, I rely on sport to release energy and disconnect. I love ocean swimming year-round and running off-road, it’s my way of staying active and grounded. I also enjoy organizing social events, especially with colleagues, to get everyone out of the office and connecting in a fun way.
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Agnese Abelite has seen registries from every angle, and her ability to listen, lead, and translate complexity into action is exactly what the future of registries needs. Her journey reminds us that registry transformation is not just about technology or legislation, it is about enabling people, accessibility, and building trust. As the industry continues to evolve, voices like Agnese’s will no doubt shape a future that is more inclusive, more human, and more connected.