Society Insider: Billionaire philanthropist Jillian Friedlander’s Windsor Castle dinner; Renee Stewart’s Antarctic voyage with Deepak Chopra

The dinner was to recognise those who have made a significant contribution to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia.

Friedlander arrived as a guest of the Australian award hosts, in honour of her longstanding commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and its mission to enrich the lives of young people.

Jillian Friedlander at The Goring Hotel before her dinner at Windsor Castle.

“There are evenings that shimmer not simply for their setting, but for the purpose they celebrate,” Friedlander tells Society Insider.

“Windsor Castle, with its ancient stones steeped in history, resilience, and regal quietude, complemented what the award is all about.”

Friedlander says the values of the award, in both its conception and history, flow through to new generations.

She first met the Duke two years ago when he was in New Zealand on official duties, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. Edward’s late father, Prince Philip, established the global Duke of Edinburgh Award in 1956, with the New Zealand award following in 1963. It was named the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award in 2009 to honour Sir Edmund Hillary’s spirit of adventure.

Since its inception in New Zealand, more than 250,000 young people have been involved.

Jillian Friedlander attended a dinner at Windsor Castle, hosted by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Photo / Getty Images

The Hillary Award encourages young people aged 14-24 to develop outdoor skills, become physically active, volunteer in their communities, and undertake adventurous journeys.

Friedlander grew up on a farm near MacLennan, in the Catlins, where she had 121.4ha of native bush to explore. She achieved bronze, silver, and gold awards when she was a student at The Catlins Area School in Owaka. Her love of the outdoors was inspired by generations of her family and their knowledge of the bush and local fauna.

Prince Philip presented Friedlander’s gold award at Government House in Wellington in 1990.

In 2010, Friedlander became the first trustee on the Duke of Edinburgh NZ Board to have completed the award, and the youngest woman to serve.

Over seven years, she enjoyed helping shape the positive change seen in the award today, and its mission to discover the potential in NZ’s youth, facilitating new volunteers and partnerships.

Jillian Friedlander attended a dinner at Windsor Castle hosted by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Photo / Getty Images

She stepped down from the Hillary Award board to prioritise her health after being diagnosed with life-threatening ovarian cancer at age 40. But she says her commitment has endured through her work with the Friedlander Foundation, furthering the legacy of her father-in-law, Sir Michael Friedlander.

“The Friedlander Foundation continues to champion initiatives and support partnerships that build social cohesion, foster belief and passion in potential, and create lasting impact for young people across all facets of society,” she says.

The foundation works alongside the Hillary Award and other youth development programmes in the arts and medical research fields.

For Friedlander, the night was a celebration of her own family history and that of her husband, Daniel, who is the chief executive and director of property investment company Samson Corporation. His late mother, Harriet, and his father, Sir Michael, started the Friedlander Foundation in the 1960s. Jillian is now its creative director.

Daniel has long been proud of the fact that his wife can hunt, fish, and skin a possum.

Friedlander says the event at Windsor marked the “ongoing mission shared by many nations, to ensure that every young person is equipped to meet their challenges, expand their horizons, and become truly world-ready.”

The dinner was in the Crimson Drawing Room, an opulent chamber which was nearly lost in the 1992 fire that destroyed 115 rooms.

Jillian Friedlander attended a dinner at Windsor Castle, hosted by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Photo / Getty Images

Friedlander says the room has now been exquisitely restored and is home to selections from the Royal Collection, the largest private art collection in the world.

Society Insider understands no cameras were allowed in the state rooms, where the rest of the evening unfolded.

She wore an outfit by London-based New Zealand designer Emilia Wickstead – the Micheline Dress, with a Bibiana Wrap Cape in a deep burgundy, which complemented the decor of the Crimson Drawing Room.

Her jewellery was also from New Zealand makers; she wore pieces by London-based jeweller Jessica McCormack, and from Parnell’s Orsini Jewellery and Brent Sutcliffe.

Jillian Friedlander at Dartmouth House.

The day before the dinner, Friedlander, who was staying at The Goring Hotel in Belgravia, visited Dartmouth House in Mayfair, a Georgian masterpiece dating to the mid-18th century. It’s now home to the English-Speaking Union (ESU), a charitable membership organisation working with young people to improve speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding.

Friedlander says it was an afternoon of modern British elegance.

“Dartmouth House was once a private mansion of French-inspired refinement; today it stands as a sanctuary for dialogue, diplomacy, and global connection.”

Renee Stewart and Deepak Chopra’s Antarctic spiritual retreat

Renee Stewart in Antarctica.

Dancer, yoga and meditation teacher Renee Stewart – daughter of Kiwi supermodel Rachel Hunter – joined United States new age guru Dr Deepak Chopra as host of a spiritual retreat to Antarctica.

Guests on the Insider Expeditions’ Deepak Chopra Antarctica 2025 trip paid US$18,999 ($33,712) per person for a shared balcony stateroom.

On the 10-day journey, Chopra and Stewart took guests through an immersive voyage of spirituality, science, and nature, venturing to the Earth’s southernmost pole.

“It was an experience of a lifetime,” Stewart tells Society Insider. “Not only coming to Antarctica and being fully immersed in Mother Nature in its purest form, but also being able to share that space with Deepak Chopra.”

Deepak Chopra and Renee Stewart in Antarctica.

Co-ordinating the voyage was former The Apprentice New Zealand contestant Olivia Rogers. She is now the global programmes director for Insider Expeditions, which curates high-end travel experiences.

Rogers says having Stewart and Chopra together was fantastic.

“The whole voyage, with the wellness and spiritual complementing the breathtaking scenery, had many guests saying it was the best trip of their lives,” says Rogers.

Olivia Rogers in Antarctica.

Insider Expeditions’ founder, Carl Shephard, has known Chopra for years, and they are both investors in the Veteran Fund, an impact investors’ fund.

“Amongst their conversations, this Antarctica idea was born,” says Rogers.

Among the dozens of guests on the trip, Rogers says, were many “successful trailblazers”, particularly in the wellness and tech space.

Guests included Australian media mogul Clare Winterbourn, the founder of Born Bred Talent, and Mexican actor, singer and producer Diego Boneta.

Deepak Chopra and Clare Winterbourn.

The voyage on the Ocean Victory, a nine-deck, 189-passenger expedition ship, departed from the Argentinian resort town of Ushuaia, often called the “end of the world” due to its location on the southernmost tip of South America.

Renee Stewart takes a class on Ocean Victory in Antarctica.

Stewart says she guided passengers through movement and yoga sessions throughout the expedition, while Chopra, an Indian-American new age author and alternative medicine advocate, hosted workshops in “the stillness and wisdom of nature”.

Deepak Chopra in Antarctica.

Other highlights included a meditation on the water in a bay with Chopra, and United States indie singer Happie Hoffman singing an acoustic set, transmitted to guests through headphones, while they travelled around glaciers in inflatable boats.

Happie Hoffman singing an acoustic set in Antarctica.

Many passengers also braved the customary polar dip into the freezing Southern Ocean.

Amongst the wellness and spiritualism were also nights of dancing, and on the final night, a pyjama party and auction where more than $200,000 was raised for The Chopra Foundation, and its work in mind and body spiritual healing, education, and research for disadvantaged individuals and communities.

Stewart says the experience was made even more special for her because she was able to share it with her boyfriend of nearly two years, British businessman and actor Adam Sumner, his father Brian, and her best friend, Auckland-based media and marketing specialist Laura Haden.

Renee Stewart and Adam Sumner in Antarctica.Laura Haden and Renee Stewart.

Haden is the daughter of the late, great All Black Andy Haden, who was Hunter’s agent for 32 years.

Stewart brought Sumner to New Zealand for the first time at the start of this year, while she hosted a range of wellness and yoga retreats.

The London-based couple have since enjoyed some travelling through Europe, which Stewart has mixed up with teaching classes. She recently launched an online subscription platform called The Movement Library, where she teaches classes in breath work and meditation, with yogic practices, dance and free movement.

Renee Stewart and Adam Sumner.

Stewart says she will be back in New Zealand again in January, before joining Hunter to teach at the three-day Mana Retreat in the Coromandel in February.

Insider Expeditions’ Rogers also has a busy summer ahead.

Early last year, Society Insider revealed her romantic Antarctic proposal and impending baby news with a fellow travel aficionado, Aussie property builder Shaun Watkins.

The couple and their now 1-year-old son, Cruz, are currently based in Denarau in Fiji, where Rogers has launched Club Mum.

“It is a play on Club Med … for mums to escape with their minis to Fiji,” says Rogers, who, with Watkins, is also building some padel courts and a wellness space at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi Bay, Fiji.

Her Insider Expeditions travel schedule means the family won’t be home in New Zealand for Christmas.

“I will be running our Christmas Market event in Germany down the Danube River, which is very exciting,” Rogers says.

A good week for … Urban Polo across the ditch

Mark and Dominique Francis, Emma Jones and Karl Urban.

Urban Events NZ unveiled its inaugural F3 Polo Sydney last week with nearly 3000 polo fans in and around the marquees at the city’s iconic Centennial Park.

England took on Australia in the very first Ashes of Polo in the city, with England taking out the inaugural F3 Polo Cup.

F3 Polo Sydney at the city’s iconic Centennial Park.

Polo players of note included English star Jimbo Fewster and Australian Rich List fund manager David Paradice.

High-profile Australians spotted in the crowd included former cricket star Adam Gilchrist, former rugby league great Laurie Daley, former model Lara Worthington, model Nejilka Arias, influencer Emma Steel, and joint CEO at Centuria Capital Limited, Jason Huljich.

His Centuria New Zealand counterpart, Mark Francis, was there with his wife, Redroom Wellness owner Dominique, and Kiwi Hollywood star Karl Urban.

Mark Francis and Karl Urban at the F3 Polo Sydney. Jimbo Fewster and David Paradice.

“Our F3 Polo event in Sydney was everything we hoped for with the matches, the weather and the glamorous guests,” says Urban Events managing director Simon Wilson.

Urban Events will hold its Portsea Polo in Melbourne in February, followed by its annual events in Christchurch and Auckland.

Party People of the Week

Levi’s X Superette

American denim originators Levi’s teamed up with retailer Superette to present The Vinyl Bar on Saturday night, a takeover of Kemuri Hi-Fi under Commercial Bay. Flying in for a one-night-only performance was Australian funk-soul artist Don West, Levi’s newest ambassador, who completed the night with his authentic Motown, troubadour-inspired vibes.

Signature Levi’s cocktails flowed, including the Stauss Sour with gin, Nigori sake, yuzu, lemon and Japanese grape, the Red Tab Rum with Hennessy, Drambuie, Ratu rum, coffee, sesame syrup and Walnut Bitters and the Off The Cuff with Altos Tequila, Vida Mezcal, togarashi syrup and capsicum caramel.

Superette co-directors Rickie Dee and James Rigden hosted denim-clad influencers and friends of the brand, including Warriors player Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, models Daisy Clementine and Juliette Perkins, actor and singer Alex King and TikTok creator Josh Young.

Daisy Clementine and Alex King at The Vinyl Bar. Photo / Hope Patterson Justine and Juliette Perkins. Photo / Hope Patterson Josh Young. Photo / Hope Patterson Sophia Tipiwai-Brett and Ella Monnery. Photo / Hope Patterson Johnny Wana, Don West and Rickie Dee. Photo / Hope Patterson Georgia Payne, Don West and Estelle Schuler. Photo / Hope PattersonZoe Harwood, Josie Wiley and Maggie Kidd. Photo / Hope Patterson Don West performing at The Vinyl Bar. Photo / Hope Patterson

Lab Brow Bar’s glam Auckland launch

Lab Brow Bar founder Penny Mahoney welcomed a stylish crowd of media and VIP guests to celebrate the next chapter of her award-winning beauty brand at a stunning new flagship in the heart of Ellerslie Village.

The evening was a perfectly polished affair, where guests were greeted with chilled champagne and an overflowing grazing board that was almost too pretty to eat.

Attendees were treated to brow transformations, with Lab’s team of experts offering complimentary shaping, tinting, and lamination sessions throughout the night.

Founded in 2020, Lab Brow Bar grew from Mahoney’s small home studio in Hamilton into a full-service salon. Now her Auckland flagship is open, Mahoney has her sights set on further expansion, with plans to open two new Auckland locations each year.

Guests included the founder of Black Swan Productions, Solina Theron, editor of Apparel magazine Caitlan Mitchell, RevitaLash New Zealand’s Annemarie Mason and Ineke Pronk, Ray White Orakei’s Amanda Page, celebrity stylist Lulu Wilcox and former MasterChef New Zealand contestant Kavitha Singh-Willis.

Richard and Penny Mahoney. Photos / Anupam Singh Sophie Worrall, Amanda Page, Deborah Fasio and Alicia Haszard. Photos / Anupam Singh Peter Willis and Kavitha Singh-Willis. Photos / Anupam Singh Anita Bhana and Georgie Forgie. Photos / Anupam Singh Jess Paterson, Penny Mahoney and Tamzyn Fordham. Photos / Anupam Singh Solina Theron and Lulu Wilcox. Photos / Anupam Singh Ineke Pronk and Annemarie Mason. Photos / Anupam Singh Amanda Page and Deborah Fasio. Photos / Anupam Singh Caitlan Mitchell and Tess Woolcock. Photos / Anupam Singh

Ricardo Simich has been with the Herald since 2008 where he contributed to The Business Insider. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider. The weekly column gives a glimpse into the worlds of the rich and famous.