Speakers
Meet our keynote speakers we have locked in for 2024
Bio
AI, Data and Emerging Tech Ethicist and Governance, IP and Critical Indigenous Research Services
Dr Taiuru is a leading authority and a highly accomplished visionary Māori technology ethicist specialising in Māori rights with AI, Māori Data Sovereignty and Governance with emerging digital technologies and biological sciences.
He brings extensive expertise in mātauranga, tikanga Māori, te Tiriti and advocacy for digital Māori rights and a profound understanding of the intersection between Māori knowledge and emerging technologies
Bio
It's not surprising that Inspirational International speaker Allie Mooney has been the recipient of “Speaker of the Year (Professional Speakers Association of NZ) award three times.
She has won many prestigious speaking awards as an award-winning global speaker and author. Most Inspirational Speaker, Most Humorous and Entertaining Speaker and her best-selling book Pressing the Right Buttons earned her “Author of the Year” from the Professional Speakers Association of NZ.
In 2009 she achieved one of the highest international accreditations in the speaking industry, the CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) award held only by 10 other Kiwis and 750 speakers worldwide.
Two years ago she was awarded the Global Speaker’s Federation Fellow designation. Showing her ability to speak across, ethnicity, regions and cultures.
She has spoken to over 75 international events in the past five years.
Prior to changing her career at 40, she Managed the First Class Lounge of Qantas International and the Frequent Flyers lounge of Ansett New Zealand. She describes herself as a “people interpreter” and has the Midas touch in being able to ‘speed read’ people, an essential skill at home and work. You will go away today with this same ability.
Bio
Host of the documentary “All in the Mind”, and co-host of the TV Series “The Secret life of Girls”, Nathan Wallis, Aotearoa’s renowned neuroscience educator, has been captivating audiences over 250 times per year to sell out events in New Zealand, Australia, & China.
With a profound reputation as a lively and engaging speaker, Nathan uses humour and plain language to condense twenty-five years of neuroscience research into his unique ‘tell you how it is’ style. You’ll be absolutely captivated and walk away jam-packed with more than a few “ah-ha” moments.
Nathan’s professional background includes being an early childhood teacher, child therapist, social service manager, university lecturer and neuroscience trainer. Nathan is also a father of three and foster father to many.
Bio
Michael joined the University of Canterbury (UC) in September 2020 as the Chief Digital Officer, with responsibility across digital experience, technology operations and the digital security of the University. He is leading a transformation programme of work to advance UC’s Digital capabilities, whilst also enabling multiple strategic initiatives underpinning it’s 2030 business strategy. Prior to joining UC, Michael had a long career working in Digital & IT at Air New Zealand. His prior roles including Head of Digital Ventures, Head of Delivery, Strategic Programme Manager and several IT operational portfolio management roles. Michael is still an Airline industry nerd to this day.
Michael is also a board director for a not for profit organisation in Christchurch, Techmate, who’s mission is to support those in our communities struggling to access and use technology with a range of free and very low cost services. Outside of work life Michael has a family of five, with his three children keeping him busy at evenings and weekends. When he does get some spare time Michael loves to walk with his partner and their dogs on long trails in the hills, play golf (badly) and is an avid snowboarder.
Bio
Professor Catherine Moran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Academic, leads the teaching and learning strategy and academic achievement of our ākonga.
Provides oversight of:
- Academic Governance
- Erskine Programme
- Future Learning and Development
- UC Online
- Kia Angitu | Learner Success
- Evaluation and Student Insights
- Academic Success and Transition
- Scheduling and Examinations
- Work-Integrated Learning and Careers
Bio
Ian is an experienced IT leader who understands how technology can support and help drive business outcomes. He loves helping people and wants to ensure alignment between the business and IT to transform organizations. Ian has an exceptional capability to be the translator between IT and business areas to drive the digital capability required in this technology-focused world. As an executive counselor, Ian is accountable to ensure you realize the value that you as an IT executive expect from Info-Tech's services.
Ian has over 20 years of public sector, education, and consulting experience, including higher education leadership, and has worked as the CIO for the University of Technology Sydney College and as General Manager of IT for NextEd Group Limited, one of the largest independent education providers in Australia.
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Taimalelagi Mataio Faafetai (Matt) Brown, is a New Zealand born Samoan author and renowned communicator who works to eradicate domestic violence by supporting those who perpetrate violence, to heal. A survivor of family violence and childhood sexual abuse himself, he originally started his domestic violence advocacy work by sharing his story with the men who frequented his busy barbershops as a way to foster vulnerability, healing, and connection. Matt believes his true calling lies in his work to redefine societies view of masculinity and to help end the cycle of domestic violence plaguing families all over the world.
For over a decade Matt has hosted free men’s anti-violence support groups from locations like barbershops, construction sites, gang pads, prisons and in indigenous spaces. He has facilitated multiple programs inside men’s and youth prisons and was named a Corrections NZ patron in 2020.
Bio
Kaila Colbin is founder and CEO of Boma, the 2022 Kea World Class NZ Friend of New Zealand award winner and a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator. She is a renowned and sought after international public speaker, having presented to more than 25,000 people about the exponential technological trends coming our way and how we can be more intentional, intelligent and courageous about the future.
A serial entrepreneur since the age of 22, Kaila has dedicated more than 15 years to enhancing Aotearoa’s global connectedness and championing Aotearoa on the world stage. She spearheaded the hugely successful SingularityU New Zealand and Australia summits and was formerly the curator and licensee for TEDxChristchurch in New Zealand and TEDxScottBase in Antarctica.
She founded the non-profit Ministry of Awesome and has extensive governance experience, including serving as chair of the New York-based Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, and deputy chair of ChristchurchNZ and Tātai Aho Rau CORE Education Ltd.
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Floating Rock remotely provides high-end CG services. Our core value is creating cinematic experiences with high quality. With broad experience in a variety of styles, we're able to take on an array of projects -- film, series, game cinematics, commercials... you name it!