Speakers

Ali Adams is ChristchurchNZ’s Chief Executive. She leads the city’s economic development agency with the support of six general managers who lead teams in pillars that each support a vital part of the agency’s work.

“Leading ChristchurchNZ is the best role in the world. It is a privilege to have that kaitiakitanga, that responsibility on behalf of all who call Ōtautahi Christchurch home now, and on behalf of my children and the children who will live here in the future. I love that I have responsibility to help grow this amazing place.”

Ali has a background in economic development, having led New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s work in Europe and before that, in the South Island. She has also worked in marketing, tourism and sports leadership, spending four years as the domestic manager for New Zealand Cricket. A Cantabrian by choice since 2003, she started her business career as a brand manager for Unilever after graduating from Cambridge University with a first-class honours degree in natural science

Sue Bagshaw works as a primary care doctor specialising in youth health at a one stop shop(YOSS) community youth health centre for 10-25 year olds, which she helped to set up, under a trust called Korowai Youth Well-being Trust. She is working with others to set up a Youth Hub of services, recreation, creativity and transition housing. She is a senior lecturer in adolescent health in the department of Paediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine, and she is an educator with the Collaborative Trust (a research and training centre for youth health and development, which she also helped to set up). She has 4 adult children and 7 mokopuna and despite being born in Hong Kong doesn’t look a bit Chinese.

As Amokapua | Assistant Vice Chancellor Engagement, Brett Berquist leads the University of Canterbury’s (NZ) engagement, institutional advancement, and strategic partnerships.

Employability has been a key focus of his career as an academic and administrator in Europe, the US, and Australasia.  Berquist transitioned from chairing applied languages to higher education administration during the early Erasmus years where he led a French business school from 10% to 98% participation in international education, including internships. He developed international internship programmes at five institutions establishing best practice guidelines for vetting and managing opportunities, through partnerships, alumni, and direct contacts. 

He served on the IEAA research committee and has spoken frequently on the role of internationalization in employability and co-chaired the content committee for the Global Internship Conference 2012-2019.

Wayne is the Chief Executive of ITENZ (Independent Tertiary Education New Zealand), a peak body association that represents the interests of independent/private training establishments, or PTEs.

In this role, Wayne works closely with providers and other stakeholders, including government ministries and agencies, WDCs, RSLGs, and other tertiary subsectors. He has been very involved with many aspects of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) and participates in a number of government-led advisory groups, including the Tahatū/Online Career Planning Industry Advisory Group.

Wayne’s background is in tertiary and international education.

Jon Hickford is Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Lincoln University and has lectured at Lincoln since 1989. His research has focused on the molecular genetics of livestock, with emphasis on genes that a) underpin milk, meat and wool production, and b) that make livestock more resilient to disease and environmental challenges. A key aim of his research is to develop gene-markers for livestock breeding, and he has been responsible for the delivery of twelve commercial gene-marker tests to market. Jon leads a research group that includes two permanent staff and has authored over 200 refereed articles in international journals. He maintains a high level of postgraduate supervision.

Jon teaches into or examines 17 courses at the sub-degree, undergraduate, diploma, and postgraduate levels in the areas of livestock production, wool science, molecular biology, genetics and breeding, and sustainability. He has regularly been asked to talk to farming groups in New Zealand and Australia and maintains a high level of activity in the rural and general media, with over 550 news, commentary, and opinion pieces in total. For many years he has been actively involved in recruiting young people into science and agriculture, spanning school, regional and national science and technology fairs, the Environschools programmes and Wrybill Trophy and the DairyNZ initiated “Soil makes Sense” programme.

Jon is married to Kim, lives in Lyttelton and has four children ranging from 9 to 22 in age.

Marian Johnson has been leading the Ministry of Awesome team since Sep 2017. As MoA's CEO, alongside the team, she pivoted the organisation to focusing on activating NZ's high growth startup and innovation sector. 5 years on and MoA is the most prolific early stage incubator in New Zealand in terms of capital raised and employment impact. They are also a startup services partner to Callaghan Innovation running a national incubator programme as well as 3 domain focused startup accelerators. In May 2022, Marian led the establishment of Electrify Aotearoa, NZ's first ever women founders' summit which was followed immediately by the establishment of the Electrify Accelerator which partnered with NZ's leading venture capital organisations to power the success of NZ's next generation of women-led startups. Previous to her role at MoA, Marian spent 15 years developing and executing business growth strategies for tech startups in NZ as well as with Universal Studios and Discovery Networks in the US and Europe.

Nigel trained as a Clinical Psychologist and worked for over two decades in the areas of forensic psychology and family therapy. In 2010, as a result of his passion for science and science education, Nigel was invited to become an associate of the world leading Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at the University of Otago. In 2012 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to psychology. He’s written eight books which have now been published in 19 countries and 10 languages.

Sacha McMeeking (Ngai Tahu) believes that equity is achievable in our lifetimes and is committed to growing the courage and imagination for concrete steps that further change.  She has held academic, practitioner and leadership roles with Ngai Tahu and UC, as well as leading a consultancy business and co-founding Tu Maia which supports Maori entrepreneurs to thrive.  She is currently the Executive Director of Maori, Pacific and Equity at UC and holds a range of advisory and Board roles.  Sacha is also an Associate Professor with an MPhil from Cambridge’s Judge Business School and was the inaugural Fulbright Harkness Fellow for emerging and established leaders.  Her research is interdisciplinary, with particular focus on systems change, mechanisms driving social change and the regeneration of Indigenous self-determination.

One of New Zealand's most recognisable faces, Mike McRoberts graces our TV screens weekday evenings bringing us our six o'clock news bulletin with co-anchor, Samantha Hayes. The former 60 Minutes current affairs host whose reporting career spans more than 20 years, is perhaps best known for his journalism work in some of the world’s most dangerous places, covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

We are excited to have Mike as our MC for CATE Conference 2022!

Chelsea is Chairperson of the New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA), the national industry body for games and interactive media. She works closely with government, tertiary education, trade organizations, and cross-industry partners to advocate for the game industry. After working in Medtech product development for many years, she decided to pursue her passion for video games, and brought her 10+ years of experience to New Zealand in 2019. She is now the Programme Manager for the University of Canterbury’s recently announced digital screen campus, where she is responsible for delivering the multiple work streams that support the launch of the new programme. 

Nathan Wallis has a legendary 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 is the host of the documentary “All in the Mind”, and co-host of the TV Series “The Secret Life of Girls”. His 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.