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I established IMS Projects in the UK in 2004 and quickly gained a reputation for a collaborative and outcome focused approach that delivers business success through people. In 2009, my family and I relocated to New Zealand and we currently live in Auckland. Today, IMS Projects is a respected provider of high-quality, innovative programmes and services that help Kiwi companies and their employees achieve world class levels of operational performance. We still look to deliver significant and sustainable results through people. Our services include Strategy and Planning, Operational Excellence, Innovation and New Product Development. I have a strong operational consulting background with a range of organisations including T-mobile, Bristol-Myers Squibb, de Beers Industrial Diamonds, Thames Water, Westland Dairy, Baker Boys, Kiwicare and the Midland’s region District Health Boards. I have worked in a wide variety of sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage, oil and gas, utilities, health local and central government and retail. I am also one of only a handful of coaches and trainers in the world certified as a Master NLP Practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and certified coach. I hold an MBA from Cranfield School of Management in the UK.

Alaa Dalghan is the Managing Director of Cognit DX, an advisory firm specializing in AI & Data Strategy, C-suite Advisory, Executive Training and Digital Transformation. An evangelist of emerging tech and innovation, with 18 years track record of advising C-suite in public and private sectors on transforming their business with technology. Thought leader and regular keynote speaker in major Tech conferences (80+ in 10 years). 65+ Masterclasses in 9 countries. Frequent TV and media appearances (10+ per year). Engaging presenter and storyteller

Arash Tayebi: Arash is co-founder and CEO of Kara Technologies. He received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Auckland. Lossing hearing in one ear in 2017 made Arash interested in the Deaf community and their problems. This experience was the impetus to form Kara. He recognises himself as a problem solver, with a passion to provide scalable solutions for the challenges of the modern world. He received the University of Auckland Blue Award for Innovation in 2019 and was recognized as one of the University of Auckland’s 40 Under 40 alumni in the Disruptors and Innovators category. Arash is a fellow at Edmund Hillary Fellowship.

I tap into the zeitgeist to lead people to think differently, find their personal motivation, and go that extra mile to deliver transformative outcomes at pace. Having worked at the intersection of customer experience, data and digital transformation for 15+ years, I've greatly enjoyed fostering world class customer engagement experiences, building customer centric organisations, whilst focused on delivering value and developing the next generation of talent. Currently I'm immersed in creating long term transformation value from AI in NZ's greatest organisation. I’m always open to opportunities for collaboration and innovation so if you’d like to have a conversation, reach out anytime!

Bruce completed a BE (1st class) and PhD in the Electrical Engineering Department of the University of Canterbury. After working with NZ Electricity for three years and a year at the DSIR in Wellington, he moved to Canada and spent ten years in the Computer Science Department of the University of Calgary. Returning to New Zealand in 1995, he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Auckland. He helped set up a new programme in computer systems engineering. Bruce also started the Robotics Laboratory. His long term goal is to design intelligent robotic assistants that improve the quality of people's lives, with primary research interests in human robot interaction and robot programming systems, and applications in areas such as healthcare and agriculture. He is the director of the department's robotics group and the leader for the multidisciplinary CARES robotics team at the University of Auckland. He has been vice-Chairman for NZ's robotics, automation and sensing association. For NZ's national science challenge Science for Technological Innovation, he was the theme leader for Sensors, Robotics and Automation and deputy director. One of his current research programmes is to develop robots to help care for people, which includes a multidisciplinary project undertaken jointly with Korean researchers and companies. Another research project is for orchard robotics, a joint project with NZ researchers and companies.

By combining the best technology and data with talented teams we can enable a better world for people and planet. I've assembled the best talent to do just that, delivering transformative change with value and impact: Data insight: combines AI, ML and advanced analytics with the best human expertise to empower Australasia's largest organisations to leverage their data, transforming data into actionable insights and foresight. Valocity: empowers people and planet with property, digitally connecting lenders, valuers, brokers, and real estate to enable seamless property valuations, transactions, and decisioning globally across almost 3000 cities around the world supporting a more sustainable property ecosystem. Generate Zero: is a carbon emissions platform that leverages AI to help organisations capture, measure, monitor, and reduce their carbon emissions to and achieve their climate and sustainability goals. ZEIL: digitally connects teams with talent, which I sold and have fully exited. My personal mission is to ignite the passion inside everyone so that they discover their own everyday success and happiness formula. I do this by being a tenacious and innovative entrepreneur, mother, mentor, and leader, empowering excellence, championing equality, valuing gratitude, and celebrating success. I am passionate to share my experience and foster knowledge by leading entrepreneurial thinking in schools and business, through public speaking including as a Celebrity Speaker, as well as charity, including working with UNICEF, the children's charity of the United Nations.

Darsel Keane is the Director of the University of Auckland's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is a subject matter expert in entrepreneurship education. Her current PhD topic relates to measurement of entrepreneurial mindset. She has led CIE in developing programmes that have made a substantial impact on participants. CIE's results have received international acclaim including being named in 2021 Newsweek Best Maker Schools and multiple awards including: 2021 Entrepreneurship Education Excellence Award – International Council of Small Business, 2021 Outstanding Student Engagement and Leadership – Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centres and 2020 Entrepreneurial University of the Year – Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities.

Seeking roles to advance, communicate, and apply knowledge to improve operations in and between organisations. I’m committed to an approach based on evidence (including empirical, rigorous modelling, and simulation) and the welfare of people. Research, Teaching, and Consulting expertise in: Supply Chain Management Operations Management Operations Strategy Inventory Management Demand Planning/Forecasting Retail Execution China Operations Engagements in Operations/Supply Chain Audit/Forensics, Process Improvement, and Optimisation, and In-house/customised short courses.

Dila joined Unitec Te Pūkenga over 12 years ago, where she worked across a number departments: from Operations to the School of Computing and IT to Industry engagement and partnerships. In her time at Unitec, Dila has established connections with a number of key external public and private stakeholders the relationships with whom led to the development of a number of programmes and micro-credentials including NZ Diploma in Cybersecurity and AWS re/Start micro-credential. In her currently role at Te Pūkenga as a Senior Implementation Lead, Dila continues to focus on the development of short and sharp training opportunities – micro-credentials

Eghbal is an accomplished cybersecurity expert with a background in network engineering and system engineering. Eghbal's career took a new direction when he joined the Ministry of Commerce as a network engineer and system engineer, where he gained valuable experience working with complex IT systems. He later transitioned into a role as a Principle ITSM Manager, where he honed his skills in IT service management. Eghbal's passion for the field led him to pursue a Master's degree in Information Security at UTM Malaysia, where he deepened his knowledge of cloud security, identity, and trust computing. He continued to pursue his passion by completing a PhD at AUT, where he worked on trusted computing and CASB in the digital forensic lab. His research has been published in top-tier journals, and he has presented at leading conferences, establishing himself as a thought leader in the field. Currently serving as a Cyber Manager at Mercury Energy, where he is responsible for developing and implementing the company's cybersecurity strategy. In this role, he works tirelessly to protect the company's digital assets against cyber threats, working closely with senior leaders to ensure that cybersecurity is embedded in the company's culture. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others, and his experiences have given him unique insights into the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity

An experienced technology executive with a strong record of achievement in New Zealand’s most complex organizations, spanning manufacturing, education, engineering, innovation, deep tech, and health. He is a sought-after international keynote speaker on topics such as sustainability, digital leadership, artificial intelligence, business strategy, organizational transformation, security, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He has been featured in publications including Forbes, Wired, CIO, and The National Business Review. In 2015, I was a finalist for New Zealand CIO of the Year, and in 2018, ranked among Australasia’s top 10 Innovative CIOs. He serves as a non-executive board member of the NZ AI Forum and has a wide international network through his previous roles as Advisor for Digital Innovation at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and CIO of Singularity Group Labs, Silicon Valley. More recently, he advises Boards and governments on the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence and large-scale transformations involving emerging technologies. As the CEO of Staples VR, Glen brings together governance, stakeholder groups, organizational leadership, internal teams, technology service providers, and appropriately sized technology solutions to achieve world-leading outcomes that set organizations ahead of their counterparts.

In her role as Innovation Director at Tech Futures Lab, Jade’s focus is to identify opportunities for innovation, both inside and outside the organisation, across postgraduate programmes and our strategic partnerships. A lifelong learner, Jade qualified from Stanford D.School with a Designing for Social Systems masterclass, has a Masters of Arts Management (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Design, both from AUT. Over the years, Jade has also guest-lectured across University of Auckland, AUT University, Massey University and of course, academyEX faculties; The Mind Lab, Tech Futures Lab & Earth Futures Lab.

Leadership and Management Capability Development, Resilience, Coaching, Mentoring, Stress, Mental Health, Career Development, Research and Advice. Over 25 years ago Dr. Lehan Stemmet developed an interest in how people deal with challenges through what started as a personal project he called 'Deal With It'. He is passionate about seeing people reach their full potential despite the challenges they may have experienced. He is often invited as keynote speaker to present the 'Deal With It' principles and mental health related topics to diverse audiences including senior executives, various professional and community groups as well as tertiary and secondary education students. Lehan has also been a mentor and coach for many people over the years. He links his observations over the years with some of the latest published research on stress and resilience, including his own research findings, and he presents it in an easy-to-understand and practically applied way. His work has been published in mainstream business media, academic research articles, books and encyclopaedias in several countries, including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, India and South Africa. Lehan has held various senior leadership and management roles in diverse industries. He taught a range of undergraduate and postgraduate management courses, including organisational behaviour, research methods and organisational change and development to senior executives as well as tertiary education students. He has an affinity for interdisciplinary applied research, broadly categorized in the behavioural and cognitive neuroscience space, but with particular focus on stress and resilience, and its moderators. He is qualified in biochemistry and microbiology, as well as in organisational and experimental psychology, and holds several qualifications from the United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand and South Africa. He lives in Auckland with his wife, Fredericka, and their three children.

As the Head of Data and AI for Australia and New Zealand at AWS, Mark helps Australia’s largest organisations leverage the latest technologies in these fields to drive innovation, increase efficiency and reduce costs. With fourteen years’ experience at Amazon, and a twenty-eight-year history of solving customer’s technology and business problems, Mark is passionate about the customer experience and forging long term partnerships. Mark has an extensive sales and infrastructure background, including having previously worked as a Client Systems Manager at IBM, specializing in Storage, Unix and x86 Technologies as well as diverse experience at solution providers in the Engineering field. Mark holds an Honors Degree in Science from Otago University.

I have an extensive background in solution & enterprise architecture which I have applied across multiple different industries. I believe communication skills are one of the key attributes of a great architect and I am confident in my ability to communicate concepts and solutions to both technical and business audiences. My communication skills are backed up by a sound grounding in architectural concepts and disciplines with the experience to know how to apply these to solutions. Specialties: Consultancy, Enterprise & Solution Architecture, ArchiMate Modelling, Architecture Principle Development.

With a 30 year career across corporate communications, HR, CSR policy, governance & consulting, I've held executive roles with major financial services companies CBA and AMP. My consultancy, Grow Group supports major change programs and business turnarounds; with clients from a diverse range of industries including telecommunications, FMGC, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and health. I combine extensive operational business experience with a curiosity for finding better ways. I'm at my best helping leaders and their teams refine, communicate and deliver their strategy. I've recently completed a Masters in Technological Futures building my knowledge in emerging disruptive technologies, new business models and innovation methodologies.

I am Co-Founder / CTO of Acumino (www.acumino.ai), Chair of the New Zealand Robotics, Automation, and Sensing network, an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Auckland, and Director of the New Dexterity research group (www.newdexterity.org).

I am dedicated to driving strategic customer and employee engagement, fostering growth, and ensuring delivery excellence across all industry sectors within New Zealand. With more than 25 years of experience across the technology sector, I’ve built a reputation for successfully leading large transformation teams in customer engagements, particularly within the NZ government sector. With extensive expertise in establishing new service lines and building teams across digital transformation, cloud, security, and network businesses. One of my core passions lies in mentoring and coaching, and I am excited about identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders. I’m dedicated to enabling our teams to make informed decisions while fostering a culture of accountability. As leaders, I believe we can all achieve remarkable results by providing unwavering support and the right tools to our teams. I also am a member of BigBrother which is incredibly rewarding.

At Tegel Foods Ltd, my leadership in learning and capability is at the core of driving organisational transformation. With a strategic eye, I devise comprehensive organisational capability strategies that are intricately woven with business objectives to promote employee engagement and continuous improvement. In collaboration with cross-functional teams, I've led impactful projects that address evolving needs. My approach is data-driven and adaptable, ensuring optimal people experiences and measurable outcomes, all while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in every initiative.

Education changed my life and the lives of my family. I now have the great privilege of working in the New Zealand ITP sector. I use the knowledge and understanding that I personally have of the challenges faced by students in tertiary study to provide the best possible learner-centred environment. I lead with transformative leadership techniques to build confident, high-performing teams. I have international experience which is part of my teaching and leadership practice. I am an experienced and motivated learner, ready to explore and embrace new beginnings in new places.